Morgan Hill’s Freedom Fest Fun Run hosted a record turnout for its annual race, which for the first time was a sanctioned US Track and Field 5K race.
Charles Weston reported 874 runners and walkers took part in the 5K and children’s 1-mile race. That was up from 669 the year before.
Part of that number was as a result of the USTAF Pacific Road Racing Circuit making the Freedom Run part of the 12-race series.
Weston said USTAF has already signed on for next year.
The record signups helped the Freedom Run to raise approximately $35,000 from the race.
Weston said the race went smoothly despite having to change the staging area nearly at the last minute because of ongoing construction at P.A. Walsh Elementary School.
Phillip Reid of San Luis Obispo won the 5K with a time of 14.42, finishing five seconds ahead of Darius Terry of San Jose.
Teresa McWalters of San Francisco took first among women with a time of 16:40.
Morgan Hill’s Jorn Jensen was the top local runner, coming in
30th overall.
Live Oak’s Kaylah Grant was the top local female runner, finishing with a time of 18:43.
She took 12th among all women.
For the kids, 9-year-old Bethany Chan took the top spot in the 1-mile, finishing in 6:06.
She was 30 seconds ahead of the first boy finisher, 11-year-old
Ryan Kenyon.
Full results can be found at racemine.com.
