Despite race day problems, South Valley runners fare well in
weekend’s Reek Run at Bonfante Gardens
By Angie Young Special to the Dispatch
Gilroy – Gilroy’s sizzling July climate wasn’t the only thing broiling Saturday at the Reek Run held at Bonfante Gardens. The run received mixed reviews from participants and spectators alike, due to some mix-ups that caused confusion during the race. Roughly 150 athletes ran into unexpected surprises with the ever-changing course.
The top three spots in the 5K men’s division were Gilroy residents Arnulfo Velasquez, 17, who zipped past the finish followed by Jaime Reyes, 15. Thirteen-year-old Juan Velasquez, Arnulfo’s younger brother, took third. Their official times were not kept because a locked gate on the course changed the route at the last minute.
In the women’s division, Tanya Ferreira, 17, from Royal Oaks grabbed the first-place finish in the 5K and recalled her experience.
“I saw the boys in front of me . . . but where did they go?” Ferreira said, referring to the Velasquez brothers and Reyes. Ferreira is a member of Hollister’s Tri-County Running Club and is visiting the South Valley for summer vacation.
European Hanneke De Groot of the Netherlands, who now resides in Gilroy, fell behind Ferreira and took second place.
“It’s unfortunate that we had to stop at the middle of the race. I had to make the best of it,” De Groot said. Diane Phariss of Watsonville sprinted to third place.
The 10K had its own challenges. The distance was mapped out to 6.2 miles, but because of missing personnel, race participants ran roughly 5.5 miles. The results: Tri-County Running Club member Jonathan Rivera beat the rest of the pack with a time of 32:27. The 19-year old from Hollister is taking the summer off from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.
“I started running the Reek Run in 2003, first the 5k and since then the 10K,” he said.
Rob Zimmerman, 37, also from Hollister and a part of the Tri-County Running Club, snatched second place with 32:54.
“It’s a beautiful course,” Zimmerman said.
Third-place winner Peter Hsia, 46, of San Francisco came in at 33:25. This was his first Reek Run.
South Valley Running Club’s (SVRC) Kelly Ramirez, 44, of Gilroy shut out the female competition in the women’s field with a 40:24.
“I’m here to support the Reek Run,” Ramirez said. Kim Moyano, 41, also from Gilroy and SVRC, closed in with 41:13.
Elia Wu, 46, of Mountain View captured third with a time of 41:35. “It’s a wonderful time (my son) Elijah and I spent together at the race. I’ll do this race again.” Elijah Guo, 16, seized a silver medal in his age division with 39:12.
