Juan Paredes returned to Redondo Beach Monday to capture his second Village Runner 5K race this year shaving 43 seconds off his winning time at the St. Patrick’s Day event.
The 26-year-old runner from Los Angeles beat a field of nearly 3,000 runners to win the 23rd annual 4th of July 5K presented by UCLA Health Systems with a time of 14 minutes, 50 seconds.
“It was great winning again,” Paredes said. “It was a very competitive race with a tough field. It was only at the end that I was able to pull away. The conditions in Redondo Beach were ideal.”
Paredes edged Luis Ibarra, 36, a native of Aquas Calientes, Mexico now living in Montebello who placed second at 14:53 just ahead of Redondo Beach’s Stewart Harwell, 32, the top local finisher at 15::04.
“It was a tactical race,” said Ibarra, a member of the Mexican National team who placed sixth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at last year’s Pan American Games. “Juan surged the last half mile and broke up a tight pack.
Harwell said he trained every day for the race.
”I was so pleased to place in the top three in my hometown,” Harwell stated. “I love running by the beach. The race was a lot of fun and I had two great guys to run with.”
Ana Cristina Narvaez, 24, who also represented Aguas Calientes, Mexico, ran 17:13 to win the women’s race finishing ahead of former Loyola Marymount distance runner Grace Graham-Zamudio, 22, of Santa Clarita who finished at 17:38. Alison Kielty, 29, of Torrance ran a 17:56 to place third.
“I ran by myself the entire race,” said Narvaez who, like Ibarra, is a member of the Mexican National Team. “Everyone was cheering for me when I finished. I think the guys were getting jealous as I placed 25th overall.”
Graham-Zamudio won the Saint Patrick’s Day 5K and began her Independence Day with the goal of duplicating Paredes’ feat.
“I only got second but Ana is a great runner,” Graham-Zamudio said. “The first two miles she went for it. I tried to close the gap but couldn’t.”
The American Cancer Society was the race’s charity beneficiary, partnering with Relay for Life South Bay to utilize the proceeds to support the charity’s cancer research and free patient programs.
Race Director Mike Ward was pleased with the level of competition and turnout for the community event and was excited to have his former running coach at El Camino College, Dean Lofgren, be the recipient of the inaugural Running Coaching/Mentor Award.
“The race was great and went off very smoothly,” Ward said. “Of all the years we’ve had this race, this is the best it’s been. The staff did a great job. Coach Dean Lofgren actually got me my job at Village Runner many years ago.”
Actor Blake Cooper Griffin of Necessary Roughness presented to the award to Lofgren.
“This is such a great community event and a fantastic way to start off the 4th of July,” Lofgren said. “I’m humbled to receive this award as there are so many great running coaches in the South Bay/”
Two of Lofgren’s former runners at El Camino – Teddy Kassa and David Cardona – finished 5th and 7th, respectively.
“It was nice to see Dean being honored. He very much deserves it,” said Cardona, a three-time winner of the 4th of July 5K. “I was a bit disappointed not winning the race, but at the moment my main focus is for the fall in cross country. I did give them too much room in the first mile to get too far ahead, but the most important thing I have learned from Dean is perseverance. The past year I have spent at his side as the assistant coach at El Camino College. He has great workouts, recovery runs, race expectations and does his best to accommodate for the different talents of runners at El Camino. But it’s the idea that no matter your talent level, you have to keep up the hard work and give it your all.”
Also receiving an award prior to the race was Kayla Montgomery, who runs for Lipscomb College in Nashville, Tenn. despite battling the ravages of multiple sclerosis.
Introduced by Jac Folkert of UCLA Health, Montgomery was presented with the Pathfinder Award by actress and Manhattan Beach resident Teri Polo, best known for her roles as Robert DeNiro’s daughter in the Meet The Parents movies.
“I really liked the course. It was not too hilly and I love running by the ocean. Being land-locked, you don’t have that opportunity very often,” Montgomery said. “This past week I pulled an abdominal muscle which was painful but I just ran through it. It is a little sore now. One person said hello to me during the run. It was Coach Lofgren who gave me a pat on the back.”
Males winning their age divisions included: Parker Frey (1-8, 22:22), Aidan Pulmano (9-12, Rancho Palos Verdes, 21:32), Carson Bix (13-17, Torrance, 16:21), Alejandro Martinez Ambrosio (18-24, North Hollywood, 15:31), Paredes (25-29), Harwell (30-34), Ibarra (35-39), Aaron Munger (40-44, 16:44), Moises Serna (45-49, Wilmington, 18:56), Evan Silva (50-54, 18:32), Richard Gust (55-59, Hermosa Beach, 18:36), Ed Avol (60-64, Manhattan Beach, 20:34), Steve Notaro (65-69, Torrance, 22:07), Walt Whitaker (70-74, 27:30), Dave Girin (75-79, 27L12) and John Zablocki (80-99, Harbor City, 37:07).
Female winners in their respective age groups were: Caitlin Haley (1-8, Manhattan Beach, 27:09), Kate Gil (9-12, Torrance, 23:31), Melia Chittenden (13-17, Manhattan Beach, 20:14), Narvaez (18-24), Kielty (25-29), Lindsey Young (30-34, Redondo Beach, 18:42), Luz Diaz (35-39, 20:54), Heather Buchta (40-44, Lawndale, 20:00), Kari Suer (45-49, Redondo Beach, 24:01), Linda Buck (50-54. Redondo Beach, 23:01), Sachiko Ishii (55-59. Torrance, 24:38), Leslie Lewis (60-64, 25:04), Sharon Lotesto (65-69, Torrance, 23:49), Sue Reinhardt (70-74, Rancho Palos Verdes, 32:22), Nancy Ripley (75-79, Rancho Palos Verdes, 38:35) and Chelsea Caloia (80-99, Austin, Tex., 49:51).
Winners of the Firecracker Dash for Kids were: Gavin Stahly (1-5), Redondo Beach), Becker Lopes (6-7. Palos Verdes Estates), Sebastian Lamb (8-9) and Cheyenne Acvet (10-12).
For complete results visit racewire.com.
