Wet weather didn’t discourage participants of the 1K fun run,
the 5K and the 10K
San Juan Bautista – The threat of inclement weather on the chilly Saturday morning didn’t deter runners from several counties from participating in the 23rd Annual Hollister Rotary’s Mission 10 foot races.
This event is a favorite among the south valley athletic community because of the pastoral backdrop and small town charm of San Juan Bautista. The competition is divided up into three distinct events: the one-mile fun run, the run/walk 5K, and the mid-distance 10-miler.
For the first time, Hollister Rotary included the One-Mile Elliot Swank Fun Run for kids. Club member Swank, who died last year, was instrumental in helping with Mission 10 for many years.
At the start, the racers stood shivering in the misty air listening to the pre-race instructions given by Race Director Bill Tiffany. Athletic groups stood out among the racers ready to sprint at the onset of the siren; members from the South Valley Running Club, Tri-County Athletic Association, and the Wednesday Night Laundry Runners toed the line.
Carlos Siqueiros, 25, from San Jose zipped past the finish to complete 10 miles in an impressive 54:10 enabling him to win overall.
“Last year I ran it (Mission 10) slower. I liked this race but it got wet out there on the road,” he said. “I treated the race as a tempo training run.”
“I’d like to compete on a more elite level-run with the fastest people. I’m enjoying this while it lasts,” said Siqueiros.
Marina resident, Carmella Heinz, 35, crosses the finish in 1:08 taking the women’s title this year.
“I enjoyed the small town race atmosphere. I’m training for the Big Sur International Marathon,” said Heinz.
She trains with Stella Gibbs and with the Wednesday Night Laundry Runners in the Monterey area.
Gibbs, 47, took second in the women’s division with a respectable 1:09. The vice president of Pacific Metrics enjoyed her time in San Juan Bautista.
“This is a good race,” she said. “I started racing at Mission 10 over three years ago. I’m running Boston this year.”
Morgan Hill’s Ken Oliver, 44, placed 3rd in the 10-miler with 1:05:27 and was happy with the day’s events.
“Great race. I like the nice misty rain in the hills. The race is well run and I love coming to the mission every year.”
Due to the race timing mechanism malfunction most times for the 10-mile race weren’t available. Hollister Rotary Club regrets the error.
The 5K winners made their mark in Mission 10 history with the sizzling performance of Gilroy High’s Arnulfo Velasquez, 18, triumphing over the men’s division overall with a stunning 15:58.
“It was a good race. This is the first time I ran it.” The soft-spoken Velasquez took his 1st place trophy and joined the throng of teens in the crowd. Rico Vasquez, 18, followed closely behind Velasquez in 16:07. Third place finisher Mauricio Maia (40-49) completed the 3.1-miler in 16:27.
In the 13 to 18 age group, Hollister’s Amanda Boyd won the women’s title with 18:21; Jamila Saqqa took 2nd in 19:44; and Dana Basley finished 3rd in 20:11.
