Distance runner Kirsten Leetch breaks 14-year record in 10,000m
Redondo Beach’s Kirsten Leetch set an American record for Master’s ages 50+ in the 10,000-meter race at the Mt. SAC Relays held at El Camino College. Photo by Dean Lofgren
Being the only non-college athlete competing in the 10,000-meter race at the Mt. SAC Relays, Kirsten Leetch set an American record for women over the age of 50 beating the previous record set 14 years ago by 12 seconds.
Running for Janes Elite Racing, Leetch posted a time of 37 minutes, 4.87 seconds in the College B event.
Leetch, a Redondo Beach resident who works at Students Sports in Torrance, is also an assistant coach for Redondo Union High’s cross country team helping husband and head coach Bob Leetch.
A 1984 graduate of Palos Verdes High School, Leetch remains the schools only state track champion. A 5-time All-American in cross country and track at UC Berkeley, she placed 3rd in the NCAA track championships and 2nd in the TAC (now known as the USATF Championships) for 10,000 meters in 1985.