Recent Mira Costa High School graduate Jacob Helfgott kicked off his summer with a championship Saturday morning edging David Cardona to win the Manhattan Beach Summer 5K.
Helfgott’s time of 17 minutes, eight seconds beat Cardona by one second who outdistanced third-place finisher Adam Villela, 17, of Orange (17:16).
Helfgott, 18, of Redondo Beach ran for Mira Costa’ cross country team last fall and competed in the 800, 1600 and on the Mustang’s 4×400 and 4×800 relay teams in the spring.
Helfgott credits this year’s win to running barefoot after finishing in fourth place in 2014 (18:19) while running in shoes.
“Running on sand, your whole foot has to work harder to maintain balance,” Helfgott said. “Running barefoot gives you a wider cadence. I had a little more left at the end this year, even though I’m a little out of shape right now.”
Helfgott plans to run cross country for one season at El Camino College before transferring to a four-year college.
The race served as a tune-up for Cardona, who will attempt a three-peat at the Village Runner 4th of July 5K next week.
Running and walking under sunny conditions, more than 400 participants finished the race that celebrates the Summer Solstice. The out-and-back course begins and ends at the Manhattan Beach Pier, running along the water’s edge during the lowest tide of the season.
“It was a great day. The June Gloom left and we had crystal-clear conditions,” Race Director Jeff Atkinson said. I saw David Cardona the day before and urged him to come out and win this race. It made for an exciting finish.”
Audrey Stansbury, 36, of Hermosa Beach won the Women’s Division with a time of 21:20. Kiah Fabien, 25, of Inglewood placed second (22:31) and Julie Shin, 40, of Torrance finished third (22:56).
Males winning their age divisions included Jacob Skura (Los Angeles, 1-10, 21:47), Matthew Taksa (Hanford, 11-14, 19:50), Helfgott (15-18), Cardona (19-29), Peter Farb (Torrance, 30-34, 18:37), Brett Thomsen (Redondo Beach, 35-39, 20:56), Tong Saetia (Hermosa Beach, 40-44, 19:28), Steve Ganteall (45-49, 18:56), Jake (50-54. 18:41), Jim Newman (55-59, 22:33), Michael Lindsey (Manhattan Beach, 60-64, 24:56), Marty Friedman (Manhattan Beach, 65-69, 23:36) and Bruce Timmer (Manhattan Beach, 70-99, 23:48).
Females age division winners included Francesca Gaulregy (Redondo Beach, 1-10, 25:49), Kate Augustyn (Eau Claire, Wisc., 24:13), Lily Zino (Redondo Beach, 15-18, 24:31), Fabien (19-29), Courtney Jones (Playa del Rey, 30-34, 24:35), Stansbury (35-39), Shin (40-44), Costanza Genoese Zerbi (Long Beach, 45-49, 24:57), Joanne Caruso (Beverly Hills, 50-54, 26:27), Suzy Ritchey (Torrance, 55-59, 26:34), Sharon Lotesto (Torrance, 60-64, 23:57), Susan Reichardt (Rancho Palos Verdes, 65-69, 30:18) and Phyliss Livingston (Manhattan Beach, 70-99, 48:59).
In the Kid’s Races, William Berger, 11, of Santa Monica won the 1K with a time of 3:00. The fastest girl was Libiano Alexandra, 9, of Hermosa Beach who finished at 3:15.
The 400-meter race was won by seven-year-old Jayden Kainsinger with a time of 2:02. Manhattan Beach three-year-old Chloe Icaza was the top female finisher at 4:07.
Results are available at racewire.com.
