By Paul Doherty Sports Editor Morgan Hill – Hard core fans of
physical exertion pounded the pavement in July’s boiling climate to
compete in Morgan Hill’s Independence Day Celebrations, Inc. 5K and
1-mile races. This summertime holiday favorite drew more than 500
participants from all over the Bay Area.
By Paul Doherty Sports Editor
Morgan Hill – Hard core fans of physical exertion pounded the pavement in July’s boiling climate to compete in Morgan Hill’s Independence Day Celebrations, Inc. 5K and 1-mile races.
This summertime holiday favorite drew more than 500 participants from all over the Bay Area.
Eyeing the arch of balloons marking the finish line, runners strode, sprinted, huffed and puffed their way to a healthier body and a sense of accomplishment.
The first place trophy was again awarded to Carlos Siqueiros, who finished in 15:29.
Siqueiros, who recently opened a running store in Cupertino, has won the 5K in three of the last four years.
“I feel really good about my time considering the mileage I’ve been putting on,” Siqueiros said. “I ran (a total) of 105 miles last week.”
Siqueiros, who has been training for marathon-distance races, used the 5K as more of a workout, he said.
“To have a 4th of July race is good for the community,” he said. “That’s why I keep coming back, because it’s a challenge and it benefits the community.”
Close behind Siqueiros was Sobrato’s stand-out sophomore runner Lance Wolfsmith, who finished in 15:47.
“There’s always good competition here,” Wolfsmith said. “It’s just nice running in front of a hometown crowd.”
Wolfsmith, who has also participated in the 5K four times, had a standout year running the mile for Sobrato finishing in the top five in the state for all sophomores.
“This doesn’t really compare to state, but it is a great way to help me build up my time for marathons,” he said.
Tanya Ferreira, 18, took first place for the women, clocking the 3.1-miler in 19:36 not appearing winded but refreshed as if on a routine morning jog.
“I run every week 50-60 miles,” Ferreira said. “I go out on a run before I go to chemistry class in the mornings and in the evenings too.”
On the other end of the spectrum, 81-year-old Glen Sievert took first place in the men’s age 70-79 group with a time of 36:09.
With the 70-79 age group being the oldest, Sievert was happy to win a race he has competed in every year possible.
“I only run about 100 steps and then I walk about 40,” he said. “That way I’m able to finish in decent time.”
In 2004 Seivert had an aortic heart valve replaced, keeping him out of the race in 2004 and 2005.
In the Kevin Kemp one-mile children’s run, San Luis Obispo’s William Ernst took first place finishing the mile in 6:42.
Ten-year-old Ernst competes in about three runs a year and has taken home more trophies than he can count, he said.
Second place overall but first place in the 9-year-old age group was Gilroy’s Owen Ibarra, who finished the one-mile in 7:34.
Ibarra said he got tired coming around the last corner into the final stretch, but knew he would finish.
Ibarra was one of 40 runners from the Tri-County Run Club out of Hollister, who had members competing in the male and female age groups in the one-mile and the 5K.
With a significantly larger turnout compared to year’s past, race director Charles Weston was proud of how smooth the whole thing went.
“We’re more organized every year, so it just keeps getting better,” Weston said. “I’m really proud of the volunteer group.”
In 2006 there were 370 participants in the 5K run, and this year there were 458.
The number of participants in the Kevin Kemp one-mile run has continued to grow exponentially since its inception in 2005 when there were only 17 registered runners.
Compare that to 2006 when there were 42 one-milers, and this year there were 127.
“More than anything these races are meant to get the town going and really get things started for a day of fun and festivities.” Westin said.
Complete race results will be available atwww.MHIDI.com on Friday, July 13, 2007.
