SUNRISE · It looked more like a 20-year reunion than a
road race.
Several members of the South Florida running
community came together to help raise money for one of their
own despite scorching heat and little shade at Markham Park on
Saturday.
"I
ran with people today I haven't seen in 20 years," said
University of Miami cross country and track coach Mike Ward.
"All the old-timers came out."
Longtime runners Alan
Miller, John Whitt, Carol Virga, Sharon Beal, Ron Raymond,
Jorge Ramos, Frederick Franklin, Jim Werring, Brian Peroni,
Luba Bozanich, Jim Richardson and Jack Detling were among
nearly 600 runners and spectators who raised about $15,000 at
the 5K For The Love of Hector.
The race was held for
Hector Rodriguez, 61, of Hollywood, who hadn't miss a day of
running in 24 years before March 29, when he suffered a heart
attack and subsequent brain damage.
Rodriguez is
undergoing physical therapy at the Florida Institute for
Neurological Rehabilitation in Wachula.
The money
raised through race entries, silent auction and raffle will
help pay medical costs.
It was the first time so many
running clubs, stores and race directors have come together to
help a runner.
The race started 22 minutes late because
cars were lined up at the front gate trying to get in at for
the start. Nearly 200 runners registered on race
morning.
"This was a great tribute to Hector. ... I got
a little choked up on the starting line. ... Over 500 runners
in the heat of the summer," said Miller, a longtime friend and
training partner who annually traveled to the New York City
Marathon with Rodriguez and Werring. "There are guys here who
drove from Jupiter and South Miami."
Miller and several
of his friends bought a color television in the silent auction
to put in Rodriguez's hospital room. Miller also bought a Don
Shula autographed football for $290.
Sam Madison's
autographed football went for $60.
Byron Willis, 17, of
Upperroom Christian, who was leading for most of the race
until he cramped and had to walk for a while, was the winner.
He finished the 3.1-mile race in 16 minutes, 50 seconds. It
was Willis' second road race win in two weeks.
"I am
really getting ready for track season," said Willis, who won a
free entry into the ING Miami Marathon/Half Marathon, donated
by race director Robert Pozo.
"I had a long run
[Friday] and didn't take in enough fluids, which is why I
started cramping. I had no idea I won the race until they
called my name."
Kim Delaney, 36, of the Runner's Edge
Racing Team, the state's top women's team, won the women's
race in 18:50, followed by teammate Marlene Persson, 35, in
18:57.
Results
MEN OPEN: 1. Byron Willis 16:50,
2. Craig Peroni 16:53, 3. Joel Cardoso 16:58; MEN MASTERS: 1.
Colin Ansine 17:32.
MEN AGE GROUP: 9-and-under: 1.
Andrew Iglesias 22:57, 2. Ricardo Vazquez Jr. 39:09; 10-12: 1.
Jeffrey Tait 20:31, 2. Bryce Hill 20:42, 3. Antonio Jurko
25:21; 13-14: 1. Kevin Bonilla 17:52, 2. Stephen Chung 18:45,
3. Mark Cheribin 20:31; 15-19: 1. Mike Jones 18:07, 2. Travis
Nichols 18:15, 3. James Hertfield 18:28; 20-24: 1. Andrew
Reger 21:50, 2. Joseph Zowrocega 24:13, 3. Tim Waterhouse
27:01; 25-29: 1. Frankie Ruiz 20:10, 2. Dennis Gooven 22:23,
3. Earl Allen 23:08; 30-34: 1. David Schneider 17:26, 2.
Michael Giacobbe 18:44, 3. Rustico DeJesus 24:27; 35-39: 1.
Jon Williams 17:58, 2. Chris Oesch 18:00, 3. Doug Horn 19:22;
40-44: 1. Dale Ruby 18:11, 2. Walthon Maxwell 18:12, 3.
Eduardo Viera 18:34; 45-49: 1. Harrie Olsthoorn 17:44, 2.
Randy Fisher 18:02, 3. Jorge Ramos 18:10; 50-54: 1. Brian
Peroni 18:30, 2. Mike Ward 20:31, 3. Noguera Amilcar 20:35;
55-59: 1. Herbert Weber 20:40, 2. Jim Werring 21:00, 3.
Gustavo Schmidt 22:08; 60-64: 1. Ricardo Luis Miranda 23:23,
2. Jose Santiago 24:11, 3. Mark Lewin 26:44; 65-69: 1. Louis
Best 26:25, 2. Don Kemp 26:37, 3. Robert Dombrowski 31:53;
70-and-over: 1. George McCuen 24:02, 2. Bebsie Thompson 24:56,
3. Adalberto Martinez 27:25.
WOMEN OPEN: 1. Kim Delaney
18:50, 2. Marlene Persson 18:57, 3. Stella Shalem
20:39.
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