Locals pace colorful Super Bowl 10k, 5k [update]

Photos by Ray Vidal

by Garth Meyer

In pre-race warmups, a man in a blue jumpsuit looking like Jack LaLanne jogged close behind a shaggy-wigged man in a brown robe, bermuda shorts and sunglasses. The 2024 Super Bowl Sunday 10k/5k was about to begin in Redondo Beach.

At the start of the 5k, amidst thousands of runners Feb. 11, a young couple carried a baby dressed as a football. Then a blue mass approached, a young woman, who temporarily got her arm stuck in the bulbous costume. The declaration taped to the front: “I suck at fantasy football.”

A guy ran by in a red and white T-shirt: “I’m only here for Taylor;” then a man in a “Montana #16” shirt; a girl in a “Swelce #13”; a guy in “Boycott Mondays,” looking ahead; then Barbie and Ken with a long paid-off dream house in their portfolio. Finally, Evel Knievel, in fact jogging near a canyon he could perhaps jump over, though it was underwater.

Far ahead, among the serious runners in the 46th annual waterfront races, six South Bay athletes finished in the top three for men and women, including a 13-year-old girl from Redondo Beach.

In the 10k, Shane Ely, 22, of Los Angeles, finished first overall with a time of 32:11, followed by David Delatorre, 22, of Rancho Palos Verdes (33:20) and Paul Rodriguez, 29, of Santa Ana (34:14). The top female 10k finisher was Abby Hong, 27, of Manhattan Beach, in 35:04. Ava Sorrell, 34, of Los Angeles, took second with a time of 36:42, and Madison Hirsch, 29, of San Luis Obispo, finished third (37:26).

In the 5K, Henry Falotico, 30, of Claremont, won with a time of 16:19, followed by Dan Zinchuk, 41, of Redondo Beach in 16:36. Brian Baker, 34, of Manhattan Beach, finished third (16:48).

Among 5K women, Kirsty Shapiro, 34, of Rancho Palos Verdes, took first with a time of 19:21. Brianne Mirecki, 31, of Culver City, finished second (19:47). Tiana Taft, only 13, of Redondo Beach, got third in 20:25.

The late Mayor Bill Brand, who died two days before of lung cancer, had been scheduled to welcome runners to the 10k. 

Before the start of the race, Councilman Nils Nehrenheim asked the runners for a moment of silence in Brand’s memory. ER

Preparations for the 46th annual Super Bowl Sunday 5k, Feb. 11. Photo by Garth Meyer