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Thousands swarm harbor area for Super Bowl 10K
by Jason Dietrich
This past Sunday, it wasn’t just Giants quarterback Kerry Collins who was hearing footsteps, as 7,000 registered runners, walkers and inline skaters converged on Redondo Beach’s harbor area for the 23rd annual Super Bowl 10K.
At the finish line, the race looked like an instant replay of two years ago. Meb Keflezighi, who won the men’s 10K event in 1999, and Sylvia Mosqueda, who took home the women’s first place medal the same year, repeated their past performances.
Keflezighi,
a native of the North African nation of Eritrea who trained at UCLA, finished
with a time of 29 minutes 53 seconds. Second place was Jason Balkman of Palo
Alto in 30:28, and Robert Aubrey, also of Palo Alto, finished third in 30:42.
Mosqueda, who lives in Santa Monica, had won the event three times before in ’86 and ’87 and again in 1999, crossed the line at 32:21, more than a minute ahead of her closest rival, Milena Glusac, who ran a 33:52. Carol Montgomerey of San Diego finished third in 34:38.
Keflezighi, who placed 12th in the 10K at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, also set a personal best there, running a 27:53. He could have done better in Australia if he wasn’t a little sick, said his coach Bob Larson, a retired track and field coach from UCLA. Two years ago, Keflezighi ran in the 28:40s to win the Redondo 10K. Before the race began, he said he was hopeful of repeating his win.
"But until you pass the line, you don’t know your fortune," he said.
Knowledge of the course also worked in his favor, said the 25-year-old Keflezghi.
"After a mile I knew I could start pushing myself. I knew where the hills were. It helps to know what’s ahead of you," he said.
Keflezghi is in training for the national cross-country championship later
this month, and the international championship in Dublin, Ireland in March.
The
34-year-old Mosqueda had not raced since coming off a world tour of 13 races.
"I just focused on the guys. I had no idea I was running like that. This
was my first race back, I didn’t know what kind of shape I was in, I was
really surprised at my time," she said.
In the 5K Jamey Harris of Eugene, Oregon won the men’s race with a time of 14:36. Matt Downin of Chula Vista came in second with a time of 14:42. Wilhelm Gidabuday of Riverside ran a third-place 14:50.
For the women, Courtney Babcock of Missoula, Montana raced Lyudmila Vasilyeva of Renton, Washington to the finish line. Babcock made it a fraction of a second ahead of her rival, and they both finished with 16:02. Christina Bowen, 17:09, finished ahead of Kim Kauls of Forest Lake with a time of 17:26.
In the inline skating event, first place went to Mark Christen with a time of 19:20. Mikael Weitze of Long Beach came in second with 19:21, and Scott Wolf came in third, a split-second behind, also with 19:21.
In the women’s skate, Peggy Girgenti won with 19:25. Linda Berry was second with 19:25 trailed by Kym Kucera with third and a time of 20:50.
While elite wheelers might average 22 miles an hour, the middle of the pack cruises at a more sedate 15 miles an hour. For those in the middle, the race is more about having a good time than winning, said race organizer Audrey Winthrop.
"Skating’s a little different than running. Skaters have whole conversations on the road. There’s a lot of camaraderie among the skaters, they tend to be an extroverted group," she said.
Kathy Coffman and Dave Chambers can see the racecourse from their South Redondo home. They competed in other races, but this time they skated their first Redondo 10k.
"It’s nice to have lots of people out here racing, not just the elite racers," said Coffman.
Willis Thomas, 75, has run the 10K the past 13 years. This year he entered the 5K fun walk to keep up with 77-year-old Maggie Wentz.
"I come out every year and do this because I can. It’s wonderful just to be out here," Thomas said.
Dave Johnston said he runs every year because he always remembers having fun, and conveniently forgets the parts he doesn’t like.
"The beginning and the end were fun, the middle is a lot of work," he laughed.
But the runners who might have had the most fun were those that took the time to dress the part. The costume contest was won by Mike Zapata as "Stein" from the Bad News Bears, and Robin Charin in the women’s division as a Matador. Her bull, Mark Ferris, got runner up in the men’s division.
"We were both going to walk the entire way. But then he started out running, so I did too. I thought he was going to suffocate in that hot costume. Afterwards, I asked him why he wanted to run, and he said ‘To prove I could do it.’ Now that’s just bull headed," Charin said. ER