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 with the set-up of 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 Calvarese 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 was 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 Occhialini (14), 33:35; Gino Occhialini (14); Brandon Brewer; Frankie Torres (14), 19:36; Esai Torres (9), 24:49; Kolton Sundquist (14), 25:42 and Isaac Castillo (10). For women 14 and under, Emily Phillips (13), 26:25; Cruz Sanchez (10), 43:40 and Katrynce Burra (9).
For men in the 15-19 age category, Willem Gervais, 23:48; Jordan Brewer, 21:06; Erick Hebert, 19:37; Edward Chabarria, 19:27; and Ben Schneider, 36:30. The female age 15-19 runners included Julie Hill, 46:27; Katelyn Sundquist, 44:00; Emis Ground 41:18; Madelyn Bryant, 41:14 and Cyndy McMillian, 36:34.
In the 20-29 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 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 men’s 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; Laura 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; San Marcos High School cross-country coach Eloy Collazo, 24:54; Eric Rindahl, 21:42; Randall Villapando, 26:11; Dave Carlsberg, 33:56 and David Kerns, 39:11. For the women, the runners included Rhonda Deschner, 52:15; Laura 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.
In the men’s 50-59 age group, runners included Paul Hernandez, 29:40; Domingo Crest, 24:58; Greg
Pannell, taking some time off from running triathlons, ran 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 and Deb Burley, 36:22; Mary Arizpo, 36:12 and Teresa Medina, 32:39.
In the men’s 60-69 age group, Ronnie Murphey came in at 32:43. There were no women in that age group 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 with a 34:05 time.
Thanks to all who came out for the event.
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