Burst of energy begins holiday festivities at Village Runner 4th of July 5K
More than 2,400 runners and walkers completed the scenic course of the anuual Village Runner 4th of July 5K. Photo
Independence Day may have fell mid-week this year, but it did not deter out-of-area runners from traveling to the South Bay for the annual Village Runner 5K race. Two of the top three finishers in the male and female categories reside out of the area and were among the thousands of participants and spectators who began their holiday celebration at the early morning run in Redondo Beach’s Riviera Village.
Running conditions were ideal and provided fast times on the course that began and finished on Catalina Avenue in with the majority of the race run on the Esplanade north to Torrance Boulevard and back. More than 2,400 entrants completed the course amid a sea of red, white and blue.
Aaron Sharp celebrates as he nears the finish line to win the Village Runner 4th of July 5K. Photo
Aaron Sharp, 32, of Port Hueneme was ecstatic after finishing first in his fourth competition of the annual race. His time of 14 minutes, 45.43 seconds marked the fastest time in the Village Runner 4th of July 5K in over five years.
“I came here to win and that’s what I accomplished so I’m very happy,” Sharp said. “It’s been four years since I’ve run this race and I’m very pleased with my time. Now I’m going to party all night long.”
The field was loaded with talent including the 2011 men’s and women’s champions who failed in their attempts to retain their titles.
Almost duplicating his winning time from last year, David Cardona, 20, of Torrance placed third in this year’s event with a time of 15:17.93. The North Torrance High School and El Camino College alum finished behind Sharp and Jacques Sallberg, 37, of Pasadena who posted a time of 15:01.24. Sallberg won the Village Runner 4th of July 5K in 2010 with a time of 14:50.7.
The first female to cross the finish line was Tanya Zeferjahn, of San Clemente, who used her long strides to post a time of 16:48.6. The 28-year-old defeated Juliane Masciana, 27, of Austin, Texas (17:15.15) and Nathalie Higley, 42, of Redondo Beach (17:33.45) for the women’s title.
“This was my first time running in the race,” said Zeferjahn, who was barely out of breath at the end of the race. “I moved back to Southern California a few months ago and I was looking for the fastest race around and this was it. I’ll take a little rest and then maybe go surfing before watching the fireworks tonight at the pier in San Clemente.”
After Mayor Mike Ginn welcomed participants and spectators to the event, Katie Parkinson drew applause by singing a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner while Paul Amarillas performed his yearly duty of displaying Old Glory high above the crowd.
Parkinson enters her senior at Redondo Union High School this fall and is a member of the Sea Hawk’s track and field team. She continued to receive accolades for her singing performance after completing the 5K race.
“This was fun,” Parkinson said. “I’ve been singing since I was five years old and sing with my church youth group at Branch of Hope and have been in a lot of theater productions including musicals. I submitted a video of myself singing the National Anthem to the Village Runner and was really excited when they picked me to perform at the race.”
Cash prizes were given to the top the male and female finishers and special medals were awarded to the top three in each gender’s age group.
San Clemente resident Tanya Zeferjahn captured the women’s division with a time of 16 minutes, 48.67 seconds. Photo
Top males listed in their respective age groups were Zeph Ricojarami (1-8, Los Angeles, 22:23.07), Ian Irish (9-12, Palos Verdes Estates, 19:57.17), Casey Celestin (13-17, Palos Verdes, 16:09.81), Jose Lezama (18-24, Gardena, 15:21.97), Justin Cross (25-29, Los Angeles, 16:32.60), John Poray (30-34, San Pedro, 15:28.69), Humberto Sanchez (35-39, Redondo Beach, 16:31.43), Sean Sheil (40-44, Torrance, 17:25.14), Jon Megeff (45-49, Rancho Palos Verdes, 16:33.23), Rich Gust (50-54, Hermosa Beach, 17:58.72), Denny Nivens (55-59, Hermosa Beach, 18:59.38), Ed Avol (60-64, Manhattan Beach, 19:24.65), Vic Heckler (65-69, Los Angeles, 21:38.92), Susumu Niimi (70-74, Manhattan Beach, 27:17.29), Frank Greene (75-79, Torrance, 25:56.13) and Bob Trujillo (80 and over, Rolling Hills Estates, 28:34.66).
Females recognized for winning their age divisions were Vivian Reha (1-8, Redondo Beach, 26:08.02), Sydney Bloch (9-12, Redondo Beach, 22:26.54), Abby Hong (13-17, Manhattan Beach, 19:24.03), Syd Osmun (18-24, Draper, Utah, 19:28.60), Alieh Zamany (25-29, Palos Verdes Estates. 20:50.25), Cambria Wu (30-34, Torrance, 18:43.83), Susan Mitchell (35-39, Venice, 20:21.03), Kaci Bathurst (40-44, Manhattan Beach, 20:41.34), Tami Shalvarjian (45-49, Manhattan Beach, 21:04.20), Renee Williams-Smith (50-54, Hermosa Beach, 21;01.20), Julie McKinney (55-59, Palos Verdes, 25:13.13), Monyean Acuna (60-64, Hermosa Beach, 28:35.53), Jinny Blandford (70-74, Redondo Beach, 26:20.22), Johanne Mulligan (70-74, Redondo Beach, 38:56.59), Sue Hughey (75-79, Manhattan Beach, 43:14.51) and Kazuyo Callihan (80 and over, Torrance, 48:47.71).
Complete results are available at www.resultsbyprimetime.com.