Wednesday, January 25, 2012

SCA Road Running Grand Prix - LA Kings 5K Results

January 21, 2012

Wayne Scott Joness

Despite the uncharacteristic chill and light rain fall, members of USATF Southern California kicked off the 2012 Road Running Grand Prix with a strong turnout at the 2012 LA Kings 5K, held on January 21, 2012, at the STAPLES Center, downtown Los Angeles. While the two loop 5K course offers technical challenges for runners negotiating the many turns, the course is also dead flat. And across the board, USATF members strategized well and set new course records in all divisions.

Setting the first course record was Luis Ibarra (M25) representing Nike Run LA, with a time of 14:50, over thirty seconds faster than the 2011 course record of 15:21. Following Ibarra across the finish line was the first place record setting masters finisher, Christian Cushing-Murray (M44) 15:16, of Compex Racing.  Rounding out the top three finishers was Justin Patananan (M31), running 15:20, also representing Nike Run LA. New Cal Coast Track Club member Gabriel Hernandez (M32) finished fourth place overall, running 15:32, with Ken Ernst (M50) also of Compex Racing, coming in fifth at 15:44. Juan Morales of Cal Coast Track Club (M32) was the third place open finisher in 16:20, and Oliver Gallego (M50) of Elite Health Track Club was the third place masters finisher, 17:52.

Santa Monica based The Janes Elite Racing swept the top three finishing places, led by member Erika Aklufi (F35) 17:14, smoking the 2011 course record of 19:04. Aklufi was followed by team members Tania Fischer (F44) 18:02 and Adrienne Schumm (F25) 18:18. Cal Coast Track Club member Nicole Slykhous (F22) was fourth overall with 18:21, followed by The Janes Elite Racings’ Samantha Jones (F26) 18:37 and Emily Mitchell (F33) 18:40. Cal Coast Track Club again showed their depth, with member Hannah Rae Finchamp (F16) leading the youth division, running 19:05, followed by 2nd place masters finisher Rosalva Bonilla (F49) in 19:07, also of Cal Coast Track Club. Fellow Cal Coast Track Club member Yayoi Liu (F54) took home the 3rd place masters medal with a time of 20:43.

With the strong turnout by The Janes Elite Racing and Cal Coast Track Club, it is no surprise that these two clubs easily took the lead in 2012 Road Running Grand Prix scoring. The Janes scored highest with 4155 age-graded points, but Cal Coast Track Club was right behind them, with 4098 points. Both clubs are competing better than ever, and clearly upping their game, vying to claim the title of 2012 Road Running Grand Prix Champions.


 

SCA Grand Prix

LA Kings 5K

Saturday - January 21, 2012

SCA Grand Prix Standings: www.scagrandprix.org

Results

2012 LA Kings 5K Results

Awards - Overall Open Winners

Open 1st: Luis Ibarra, M-31, 14:49.7
Open 1st: Erika Aklufi, F-35, 17:14.3
Open 2nd: Justin Patananan, M-31, 15:20.4
Open 2nd: Adrienne Schumm, F-25, 18:18.3
Open 3rd: Juan Morales, M-32, 16:19.6
Open 3rd: Samantha Jones, F-26, 18:37.2

Awards - Overall Masters Winners

Masters 1st: Christian Cushing-Murray, M-44, 15:16.0
Masters 1st: Tania Fischer, F-44, 18:02.4
Masters 2nd: Ken Ernst, M-50, 15:44.8
Masters 2nd: Rosalva Bonilla, F-49, 19:09.4
Masters 3rd: Oliver Gallego, M-50, 17:51.8
Masters 3rd: Yayoi Liu, F-54, 20:42.5

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