Hundreds spend Christmas on the run
Former Olympic distance runner Jeff Atkinson didn’t reach the pinnacle of competition at the 1988 Olympics Games in Seoul, Korea by taking time off – including holidays.
As race director of the Manhattan Beach 5K runs held during the Summer and Winter Soltices each June and December, Atkinson not only opted to hold the 2011 Yuletide 5K on Christmas day, but decided to schedule two races in an afternoon where most people are recovering from the stress of shopping and wrapping or napping after engaging in extravagant feasts.
More than 460 people, including many out-of-state visitors, participated in the aptly-named Christmas Day 5K where the low tide and pleasant weather provided perfect running conditions.
In the first race held at 3 p.m., Peter Cohen, 19, of Manhattan Beach was the first to cross the finish line, completing the course in 17 minutes, 41 seconds. Rich Gust, 52, of Hermosa Beach finished second at 18:39 and Jo Astoria, 46, of Vancouver, BC, placed third at 19:02.
Cambria Wu, 33, of Torrance took top honors in the female division with a time of 18:49 finishing ahead of Tiffany Smith, 26, of Los Angeles (21:10) and Jill Smith, 22, of Rochester, VT (22:28).
Males winning their respective age groups in the 3 p.m. race included: Julien Peterman (1-10, Manhattan Beach, 23:08), Joey Merkin (11-14, Manhattan Beach, 35:04), Cohen (15-19), Matthew Daniel (20-24, Manhattan Beach, 22:29), Stephanus Malaiholl (25-29, Garden Grove, 20:42), James Mosier (30-34, Hermosa Beach, 24:08), Richard Borsini (35-39, Redondo Beach, 20:37), Rick Maynard (40-44, Mission Viejo, 20:20), Astoria (45-49), Gust (50-54), Greg Smith (55-59, Rochester, VT, 27:00), Gerry Mescall (60-64, Chino Hills, 32:54), Marty Friedman (65-69, Manhattan Beach, 22:11), Paul Dorr (70-74, Manhattan Beach, 47:07) and Frank Greene (75-99, Hermosa Beach, 26:54).
Females placing first in their age groups in the 3 p.m. race included: Grace Regenstreif (1-10, Manhattan Beach, 35:04), Talya Holenstein (11-14, Hawthorne, 36:04), Katie Wycoff (15-19, Manhattan Beach, 23:46), Jill Smith (20-24), Tiffany Smith (25-29), Wu (30-34), Jeff Maynard (35-39, Hermosa Beach, 22:30), Harmest K. Charma (40-44, Fullerton, 27:06), Joan Krull (45-49, Manhattan Beach, 25:03), Susan Siegmund (50-54, Los Angeles, 28:09), Sheila Daniel (55-59, Manhattan Beach, 30:03), Sharon Lotesto (60-64, Torrance, 25:11), Clara Pentreath (65-69, Granada Hills, 31:34) and Carolyn Merritt (70-74, Palos Verdes, 35:31).
In the 5 p.m. contest, nearly 300 people donning glow necklaces ran the luminaria-lined course with Chase Zukerman, 19, of Palos Verdes taking the overall title with a mark of 17:07.
Eder Chavez, 26, of Montebello placed second at 17:53, just ahead of Atkinson who finished at 18:31 on his hometown course.
Laura Guidolin, 14, of Arcadia, 20:18 was the first female to finish in the 5 p.m. race, followed by Alison Atkinson, 45, of Manhattan Beach (20:44) and Yvette Sandoval, 16, of Lawndale (21:12).
Males winning their age groups in the 5 p.m. race included: Will Bond (1-10, Manhattan Beach, 23:01), Duncan Reid (1-14, Colorado Springs, CO, 20:17), Zukerman (15-19), Christian Elder (20-24, El Segundo, 20:24), Eder Chavez (25-29), Jack Rosenfeld (30-34, Los Angeles, 18:58), Mark Noonen (35-39, Manhattan Beach, 22:40), Geoffrey Kinsey (40-44, Long Beach, 20:36), Atkinson (45-49), David Garrett (50-54, Albequerque, NM, 21:11), Aurelio Chavez (55-59, Montebello, 21:21), Don Ocana (60-64, Placentia, 31:29), Peter Rech (65-59, Manhattan Beach, 23:56), Bill Bond (70-74, Dallas, TX, 27:48) and Dick Windishar (75-99, Manhattan Beach, 33:28).
Females taking top honors in their age divisions included: Lizzy Blackwell (1-10, Salt Lake City, UT, 37:20), Guidolin (11-14), Sandoval (15-19), Mana Okita (20-24, Lomita, 28:42), Amber Lyon (25-29, Santa Monica, 24:59), Lauren Phillips (30-34, Atlanta, GA, 25:14), Marissa Tiamfook (35-39, Los Angeles, 22:07), Vickie Chu-Hermis (40-44, Modesto, 27:33), Atkinson (45-49), Helen Herrick (50-54, Manhattan Beach, 25:10), Charisse Lum (55-59, Torrance, 29:12), Jean McGrane (60-64, Gardiner, NE, 46:28), Barbara Freeman (65-69, Torrance, 52:30) and Sharolyn Conant (70-74, Manhattan Beach, 47:51).