Running and Fitness: A great turnout at the Firecracker 5K on Thursday

By Moe Johnson

On Thursday evening the Firecracker 5K was run out at the River Ridge Business Park and despite the very warm temperatures, a record 205 runners showed up to run the race.

The Parks and Recreation staff was glad to see the large turnout and did a great job getting everybody registered and at the starting line on time. The temperature started to be suited for running at the start time.

David Alexander from the San Marcos Runners Club helped set up the timing clock and finish chute and then found time to run the race himself.

It was a fun night for me as I was able to greet some running friends I had not seen in many years.

John Calvaresee was present and I had a chance to visit with him. John has run about 150 marathons and paced me in my first marathon down in Houston. John’s knees are causing so much pain and trouble that he had to give up the running and now comes along to add support.

Pablo Rodriquez was John’s driver and ran the race. Pablo was one of the first members of the San Marcos Runners Club when we had our first meeting and was instrumental in getting it established and between the two of us we checked out a lot of the early running courses we had here in San Marcos.

There were a large number of local and area runners that entered the race. It was a good time to renew old friendships and talk over running stories.

I think every runner there knew someone else at the race.

Listed are the names of runners from the central Texas area of San Marcos, Kyle, Buda and Martindale and times if they wrote them down.

For men 14 and under; Trey Lawler (11 years) 40:04, Drao Occhilalini (14) 33:35, Gino Occhialini (14), Brandon Brewer, Frankie Torres (14) 19:36, Esai Torres (9) 24:49, Kolton Sundquist (14) 25:42, Isaac Castillo (10). For women 14 and under: Emily Phillips (13) 26:25, Cruz Sanchez (10) 43:40, Katrynce Burra (9).

For men in the 15 to 19-year-old age category; Willem Gervais 23:48, Jordan Brewer 21:06, Erick Hebert 19:37, Edward Chabarria 19:27, Ben Schneider 36:30.

For the females aged 15-19 runners included; Julie Hill 46:27, Katelyn Sundquist 44:00, Emis Ground 41:18, Madelyn Bryant 41:14, Cyndy Mc Millian 36:34.

In the 20-29 year age category for men the entrants included; Stephan Chitta 30:57, Brandon Kent, Josh Walker 26:12, Daniel Hernandez 19:55, Alison Munoz 28:49 and Robert Gomez 37:00.

For the ladies in the 20-29 year age category runners included; Jessica Jenkins 49:00, Kylie Kirkpatrick 52:47, Mariam Black 33:30, Samantha Bryant 32:39, Mindy Maul 32:50, Jenny Wallace 31:58, Andrea Friesenhahn 31:40, Britni Dunn 30:57 and Natasha Brewer 30:07.

The 30-39 age category had Carlos Molina 30:25, Joe Merchant 21:38, Robert Seibert 19:39 and Peter Molina 26:01.

The women runners in that age group included; Allyssa Lash 38:04, Cristina Pinkard 37:59, Liesela Austin 31:15, Katy Blake 35:00, Julie Villapando 28:24, Laaura Chabarria 37:45, Heather Seibert 31:33, Anna Jaso 26:25 and Danette Myers 28:10.

The 40-49 age group in the men’s category included; Art Mendez 29:47, Cross Country coach at San Marcos Eloy Collazo 24:54, Eric Rindahl 21:42, Randall Villapando 26:11, Dave Carlberg 33:56, and David Kerns 39:11.

For the women the runners included; Rhonda Deschner 52:15, Llaaura Eiser 52:15, Polly Haynes 48:30, Brigitte Payne 39:47, Rae Ann Roberts 37:35, Tracy Davis 35:37, Laura Mason 33:25, Dorina Cockman 32:47, Debbie Schneider 31:27 Heather Brewer 28:47 and Nancy Ralston 28:40.

At the 50-59 age runners included; Paul Hernandez 29:40, Domingo Crest 24:58, Greg Pannell took some time off from running triathlons to run a 29:56, Robert Kantz 29:31 and Skip Gibbons. David Alexander ran a 31:24 after starting the clock for the race.

The women runners included; Kay Gibbens 38:57, Charlene Martinez 38:37, Nelda Pannell ran a 37:59 after race walking a half marathon in Seattle on Saturday in 2:45, Eva Sanders, Deb Burley 36:22, Mary Arizpo 36:12 and Teresa Medina 32:39.

In the 60-69 age group, Ronnie Murphy came in at 32:43. No women in that age from the area.

In the 70-and-over category for men, Luke Oliver ran a 47:30, Carl Schreiber finished second but no time recorded and Russell White ran in at 34:05.

Thanks to all who came out for the event.

Dr. Maurice Johnson is a professor at Texas State University in the Department of Health and Exercise Science. His column appears every Sunday in the Daily Record.

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