Brews and running shoes leads to world record for Windsorite

 

By Ryan Blevins

 

Beer and running do not usually go together, but for one Windsorite they are a perfect combination.

University of Windsor sprinter Corey Bellemore is one of the school’s top track and field athletes. After coming close to making the Canadian national team and competing for Canada in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Bellemore spent his summer competing and training for his upcoming collegiate season. Between workouts, Bellemore decided he would fly to London, England to compete in the Beer Mile World Classic (BMWC).

The rules of the beer mile are simple. Each runner must run four quarter mile laps. To begin the race, each runner drinks one beer. At the end of each lap another beer is consumed. Only traditional consumption methods are permitted (no shotgunning or funnels allowed) and each beer must be 355 millilitres in volume and a minimum of five per cent alcohol. A penalty lap is added onto the end of the final lap for any competitor who vomits during the race, which was not necessary for Bellemore, who kept his liquids inside his stomach.

Bellemore first completed a test run on a Windsor track and timed himself to see how his results stacked up to the national competitors. Shortly after the video of his impressive trial attempt hit the Internet he was contacted by the BMWC in London. He was extended an invitation to compete in the event in August. Not only did Bellemore compete, but he broke the world record, running the race in four minutes and 34 seconds. He was able to best the previous record by over eight seconds.

Although he runs competitively, Bellemore was unsure he would place first in the event.

“It was a little bit of both,” said Bellemore. “I obviously wanted to compete but I was also there to have fun. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do.”

Bellemore’s accomplishment went viral. The video of his record earned a spot on the American gossip and athletic news program TMZ Sports. Publications such as Canadian Running, Fortune and Draft have all featured stories on the runner. The most notable company to contact him was athletic apparel outfitter Adidas. After researching his track and field career, Adidas offered Bellemore a sponsorship deal, gaining exclusive apparel rights to the world record holder. For Bellemore, the agreement entitles him to free Adidas gear including shoes, track suits and shorts.

The beer of choice for Bellemore in London was Kingfisher, chosen with the help of an LCBO cashier when attempting to find a brand that fit the criteria. Bellemore has been in contact with other beer companies and may land another sponsorship.

Fellow beer mile competitor Lewis Kent was impressed but not surprised with the record setting performance of Bellemore.

“I’ve seen the videos and watched him run before. I knew he was good, but not that good,” said Kent.

Bellemore does not want to be known only for running and drinking. He has been running competitively since grade school and in his first year at Riverside Secondary School he won the junior WECSSAA gold medal for the 3000 metre event. In his senior season at Riverside he placed second in the all-Ontario finals for the 1500 metre event. Now in his final year at the university, Bellemore has a prestigious collegiate career, winning a Canadian Interuniversity Sports National gold medal as a member of the CIS record-setting 4×800 metre relay team.

University of Windsor co-track and field coach Kevin Johnston thinks Bellemore can help the University of Windsor team even when no beer is involved.

“He is skilled at a number of events and distances,” said Johnston. “We will have to figure out where he can help the team the most, depending on where everything falls.”

Bellemore’s next step aims for a big summer in hopes of making the Canadian national team in 2020.