Local runners dominate Manhattan Beach 5K
More than 300 entrants completed the Manhattan Beach Summer 5K that started and finished under the pier. Photo
Patrick Sweeney is so familiar with the beach sand in his hometown of Manhattan Beach that he can out run his competitors either forward or backward.
Known for running barefoot or in Luna sandals, the 33-year-year old distance runner captured the 11th annual Manhattan Beach Summer 5K Saturday morning completing the out-and-back course on the hard-packed sand at low tide in 17 minutes, 59 seconds.
Accomplished distance runner Patrick Sweeney won the 11th annual Manhattan Beach Summer 5K before capturing the inaugural Backward Running Half Mile Sand Run. Photo
After runners were allowed to catch their breath, the inaugural Manhattan Beach Backward Running Half Mile Sand Run was held on groomed soft sand. Sweeney proved his talent in the cross-training technique by winning the event with a time of 3:40.
“I felt decent today,” Sweeney said modestly after besting Hermosa Beach runner Rich Gust’s 2011 winning time by 47 seconds. “This is a great event and it’s always nice to win a race in your hometown.”
Sweeney used a late kick to hold off Daniel Reiger, 17, of Palos Verdes who finished at 18:07. Manhattan Beach 15-year-old Matthew O’Brien placed third posting a time of 19:25.
Only 48 seconds separated the top three female runners. Kristina Fernandez, 26, of Manhattan Beach took top honors with a time of 22:03, defeating Redondo Beach 14-year-old Lily Zino (22:32) and Kaci Bathurst, 40, of Manhattan Beach (22:51).
“There was quite a bit of an incline which made it a little more difficult but the weather was beautiful,” Fernandez said. “I’ve run this 5K race before but only in the winter. This is much better because it’s warmer.”
Not only did 60-year-old Ed Avol win his age division, but the Manhattan Beach resident placed 13th overall turning in a respectable time of 20:59.
Many of the 315 finishers wore Club Ed shirts, representing the running group Avol founded nearly three decades ago. What began as an informal group of runners, the club has grown to over 100 members and usually meets three times per week with workouts allowing participants to train for 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon competitions.
Male runners finishing first in their age group included Matthew Peters (1-10, Redondo Beach, 25:23), Martin Plaschencia (11-14, Palmdale, 20:56), Reiger (15-18), Nick Ventura (19-29, Manhattan Beach, 20:20), Sweeney (30-34), Paul Cooney (35-39, Redondo Beach, 20:11), Michael Fincham (40-44, Torrance, 19:56), Lokor Wandu (45-49, 20:46), Mike Spencer (50-54, Torrance, 19:42), Scott Rosenlies (55-59, Bakersfield, 23:30), Avol (60-64), Marty Friedman (65-69, Manhattan Beach, 23:55), Paul Jacobs (70-74, Culver City, 30:31 and Frank Greene (75-99, Hermosa Beach, 27:46).
Utilizing the beat of music, Manhattan Beach’s Kristina Fernandez was the first female to cross the finish line under the pier. Photo
Females winning their age divisions were Carmen Mel (1-10, Manhattan Beach, 26:19), Zino (11-14), Lisa MacDonald (15-18, Hermosa Beach, 24:18), Fernandez (19-29), Kristy Jones (30-34, Manhattan Beach, 28:33), Maria Claver (35-39, Whittier, 31:35), Bathurst (40-44), Diane Silva (45-49, Manhattan Beach, 23:03), Cha Cha Gesten (50-54, Manhattan Beach, 28:27), Karen Funes (55-59, Redondo Beach, 28:56), Joan Hird (60-64, Alta Loma, 50:22) and Sue Reinhardt (65-69, Rancho Palos Verdes, 29:47).
Anthony Perez, 39, of Cucamonga finished second to Sweeney in the Backward Run at 4:33, just ahead of former Mira Costa girls distance star Savannah Pio, 18, who posted a time of 4:39.
Winners of the Kids Races which were run at appropriate age distances were Ben Hudnut, 10, of Los Angeles and Hermosa Beach’s Shane Mausser, 7, and 2-year-old Claire Vanderwey.