Zukerman wins 4th straight Manhattan Beach 5K
Patrick Fitzgerald, left, and David Williams join winner Chase Zukerman at the finish line of the Manhattan Beach Yuletide 5K race. Zukerman has won four consecutive Manhattan Beach 5K events
Although the number of participants decreased from nearly 600 in 2008 to 332 in 2009, Race Director Jeff Atkinson couldn’t help but smile when 18-year-old Palos Verdes resident Chase Zukerman crossed the finish line first at the annual Manhattan Beach Yuletide 5K.
Zukerman won his 4th consecutive Manhattan Beach 5K, held twice yearly at low tides in June and December, with a time of 16:18, bettering his winning time of the 2008 Yuletide race by one minute and ten seconds. He also placed first in the 2008 and 2009 summer runs.
Atkinson, a former Olympic distance runner and graduate of Mira Costa, coaches the Palos Verdes High School cross country team with Brian Shapiro where Zukerman played a vital role in helping the Sea Kings win CIF and State Division 3 championship last season.
Former Mira Costa cross country standout David Williams placed second with a time of 16:26 and Patrick Fitzgerald, of Downey, finished third at 16:29.
Liliana Hernandez, 22, of Glendale was the top female finisher with a mark of 18:55. Rosario Castaneda, of Los Angeles, placed second at 19:08 and Dora Perez, of Oxnard, was third with a time of 19:29.
Local male winners in their respective age groups included Justin MacDonald (Manhattan Beach, 11-14, 18:54), Zukerman, Williams, Mike Spencer (Torrance, 45-49, 18:24), Chuck Kaminski (Manhattan Beach, 50-54, 20:04), John Kaneshiro (Gardena, 65-59, 26:32) and Paul Dorr (Manhattan Beach, 70-74, 34:35).
Females placing first in their age groups were Madison Westergaard (Palos Verdes, 1-10, 25:45), Liane Teplitsky (Manhattan Beach, 30-34, 21:31), Dolly Boden (Manhattan Beach, 40-44, 24:14), Diane Silva (Manhattan Beach, 45-49, 21:18), Nancy Wheeler (Manhattan Beach, 55-59, 25:40), Sue Reinhardt (Rancho Palos Verdes, 60-64, 26:54) and Dorothy Higi (Manhattan Beach, 75-99, 55:39).
In the 400-meter run for kids ages 4-6, Manhattan Beach 5-year-old Maximilian Wuelfing placed first with a time of 2:23.
Nine-year-old Ian Irish took top honors in the 1K run for kids ages 7-12.
Complete results are available at MB5K.com.