琉璃神社鈥檚 Brad Bickley set the pace in the first event of the season in the Interior Running Association Road Race series.

On Sunday in Lavington, Bickley completed The Starting Block 10K in 33 minutes 37 seconds.

Penticton鈥檚 John Heinrich was second in 35:49, while Kamloops runner Ian McKinley was third in 36:37.

Heather Johnson of Fruitvale was the first woman to cross the line in 42:14.

In addition to Bickley winning the men鈥檚 25-29 age group, Richard Dueck of 琉璃神社 topped the men鈥檚 45-49 division in 39:20, good for seventh place overall.

Lake Country鈥檚 Quinn Middleton won the men鈥檚 20-24 age division, placing 10th in 39:49.

Other age group winners from 琉璃神社 were: John Wickenheiser (M 60-64) in 44:35; Siobhan McManus (F 30-34) in 46:02; Diane Leonard (F 70-74) in 52:54; and Kara Crampton (F 20-24) in 53:50.

The next race in the 2017 IRA season series is the Rivers Spring Runoff March 12 in Kamloops.