In his 20th trip to the 55+BC Games, Duncan runner Hazura Sangha finally completed the sweep.
For the first time since he started competing, Sangha won gold in all five of his events — the 10km, 5km, 1500m, 800m and 400m — at the 2018 Games in Kimberley and Cranbrook on Sept. 11-15.
Not content just to win, the 86-year-old Sangha also set a provincial record in the 85-89 400m, his time of two minutes and five seconds taking five seconds off the old standard. He’s just three seconds off the world record of two minutes and two seconds.
Sangha ran all five of his races in the span of two and a half days. Although he notes that the events were spread out nicely, his conditioning also allowed him to participate in all the races.
“God is great,” he said. “My stamina is good. After I run a race, after two hours, I’m ready to run the next one. Most people choose one or two races over two and a half days.”
Having attended two decades worth of 55+ Games, he knows what constitutes a good event, and he was pleased with the Games in Kimberley and Cranbrook.
“The Games went all so very well,” he said. “I was very happy to attend. Everything was tickety-boo.”
Sangha conceded that he is “addicted to running.” In addition to attending 20 consecutive 55+ Games, he also never misses a stop in the Vancouver Island Race Series. Representing the Ceevacs Roadrunners, he ran in all eight races in the 2018 series, ranging in distance from the Bazan Bay 5k to the Comox Valley Half Marathon.
Sangha has said that he runs to stay in shape, and stays in shape so he can volunteer with a variety of organizations, to give back to Canada.
“I’m lucky to live in this place,” said Sangha, who served in the Indian Army before he moved to Canada. “When I die, I will ask, ‘what have I added to it?’”