Absent from last year’s race, Redondo Beach runner Nathalie Higley returned to the streets of Hermosa Beach to win the women’s division in the 6th Hermosa Beach 5000, outpacing her nearest competitor by four minutes while breaking her own course record.
Higley’s time of 16 minutes, 56 seconds shattered the record of 17:20 she set in 2010. In 2009, she posted a time of 17:23 to capture the women’s title.
Higley was the fourth fastest runner of the day and easily beating the field of 134 women. Diane Silva, 48, of Manhattan Beach finished second in the women’s race with a time of 20:56 followed by Lisa Davis, 47, of Los Angeles who pasted a time of 21:23.
More than 400 people of all ages participated in this year’s event that included a Baby Jogger 5K and a Skateboard 5K for kids 14 and under.
The fastest time of the day went to Humberto Sanchez, 37, of Torrance who finished the race in 16:14, just 22 seconds off the event record of 15:52 set by David Williams in 2009. Sanchez held off 32-year-old Chris DeWitt of Torrance (16:20) and Aaron Munger, 36 of Palos Verdes (16:55) to secure the victory.
Male runners placing first in their age group were Wiley Cubic (1-10, 22:18), Kevin Mauge (11-14, Hermosa Beach, 19:14), Patrick Kinley (15-18, West Des Moines, Iowa, 17:10), Coca Puff (19-29, Rancho Palos Verdes, 17:56), Dewitt (30-34), Sanchez (35-39), Michael Fincham (40-44, Torrance, 18:01), Bob Krauth, 45-49, Redondo Beach, 18:41), Jim Newman (50-54, 20:42), James O’Brien (55-59, Rancho Palos Verdes, 20:12), Ken Taylor (60-64, Manhattan Beach, 26:17), John Clarke (65-69, Manhattan Beach, 23:02) and Bob Trujillo (80-98, Rolling Hills, 29:32).
Females finishing first in their age divisions were Piper Newton (1-10, Hermosa Beach, 23:34), P.J. Sundeen (11-14, Hermosa Beach, 24:44), Somer Dice (15-18, Manhattan Beach, 29:32), Megan McConnell (19-29, Redondo Beach 27:02), Laura Staves (30-34, Redondo Beach, 25:19), Nicole Butte (35-39, Redondo Beach, 24:49), Higley (40-44), Silva (45-49), Susan Meistrell (50-54, Redondo Beach, 23:17), Leslie Cohen (55-59, Santa Monica, 22:06), Janice Yates (60-64, Hermosa Beach, 46:24) and Sue Reinhardt (65-59, Rancho Palos Verdes, 26:40).
The Baby Jogger 5K was won by Bill Jordan, of Playa Del Rey, who pushed two youngsters across the finish line in 21 minutes, 15 seconds. Megan Caldwell, of Redondo Beach, was second with a time of 23:33 just ahead of Erik Orre of Gardena, who finished at 23:59.
Luke Personius took top honors in the newly-added Skateboard 5K, finishing the course in 19:07. Nick Stamolis was second at 19:38 followed by Dylan Ryan at 29:25.
Age division winners in the Kids Races were Quinn Satow (12, Hermosa Beach), Cole Gamble (11, Manhattan Beach), Grayson Doody (10, Hermosa Beach), Frankie Reid-Gagnon (9, Palos Verdes), Alex Mainvielle (8, Torrance), Mia Minestrella (7, Redondo Beach), Slater Smith (6, Hermosa Beach), Samantha Brecker (5, Redondo Beach), Patrick Behan (4, Hermosa Beach) and Wyatt Mason (3, North Hollywood).
