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Persson, Joseph
race to 5K wins
By Sharon Robb
STAFF WRITER
Posted December 29 2003
HOLLYWOOD · Every runner had his or her own plan for the
inaugural FedEx Orange Bowl Trek For The Coast 5K Run.
Some
were working off holiday meals and gearing up for the New Year's
celebration.
Women's overall champion
Marlene Persson, 33, of Deerfield Beach, one of the state's top
elite runners, was getting in a speed workout. She is training for
the Feb. 1 Toyota Prius Miami Tropical Marathon.
"My training
has been going well after having injuries with my calves on and off
for the last two years, so today's race was a good indicator for
me," said Persson, who won in 18:38. She finished nine seconds ahead
of Pope John Paul II runner Jackie Areson, 15, of Delray Beach.
"Today was windy and I couldn't hang with the guys."
Jackie
Lowther (21:36) won the women's masters title and Donna Coopman
(25:32) won the grand masters.
Men's winner Zepherinus
Joseph, 28, of St. Lucia was visiting family in Pompano Beach and
Fort Lauderdale and wanted to get a run in. Joseph, who ran 2 hours
and 16 minutes in his marathon debut, won the men's race in 16:04,
averaging 5:10 a mile. He was never challenged by the men's field.
Roberto Castillo, 47, of Miami won the masters title in 16:59 and
George Manekas, 51, of Hollywood won the grand masters title in
18:14.
Joseph's personal best is 14:24 for a 5K. He is trying
to qualify in the marathon (2:14) for his country for this summer's
Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. He attended Central Arizona for two
years before transferring to North Florida where he plans to finish
his degree while putting in 110-mile training weeks in
Jacksonville.
"I wanted to get a long run in but then when I
saw there was a race I just jumped in it," Joseph said. "I signed up
late this morning. It was a bit windy. I ran nice and relaxed. I
would like to think I have a shot at the Olympic team. It's been my
goal to make the Olympics ever since I started running," he
said.
Masters runner and age group winner Bob Bowen, 60, of
Davie was returning after a two-year's absence from running because
of a torn Achilles and appendicitis. Highland Oaks third grader
Jeffrey Tait, 9, of North Miami, one of the most dominant youth
runners in South Florida, wanted another trophy for his
bedroom.
Whatever reason the large group of runners and
walkers got a little more than they bargained for with high winds
and cold early in the final race of the year Sunday morning on the
out-and-back 3.1-mile certified course on the Hollywood
Broadwalk.
Tait said he tucked in behind the bigger runners.
Tait won the 10-and-under age group title in 22:22. "That's a little
slow for me but it was windy," Tait said. Joseph led from the start
and had no one to tuck behind.
Walter McLeod, executive
director of the Washington, D.C.-based Clean Beaches Council, a
six-year-old non-profit organization helping to protect and preserve
the nation's coast including the Hollywood Beach, was pleased with
the inaugural event and said it will return next year under the
auspices of Davie-based Runner's Depot, organizers of this year's
event.
McLeod said the race was staged to promote his
organization and raise awareness to protect beaches. Other races
have been held in Tampa/St. Petersburg and Seaside. It was the first
series race staged in South Florida. Next year the race is expected
to be held New Year's Eve.
"We are really trying to raise
awareness and get the people in Hollywood more involved with the
beach as a resource," McLeod said. "Everyone understands the
recreational and economic benefits of the beach but more people need
to understand they need to preserve the beach, too. This race is
just the start for us. We are hoping it becomes a tradition in
Hollywood."
5K RESULTS
MEN OPEN: 1. Zepherinus Joseph,
St. Lucia/Pompano Beach 16:04; 2. Ramad Hicks, Fort Lauderdale
16:45; 3. Bryan Sharkey, Miami 16:53.
MEN MASTERS: 1. Robert
Castillo 16:59; GRAND MASTERS: 1. George Manekas 18:14.
MEN
AGE GROUP: 10-under: 1. Jeffrey Tait 22:22; 2. Jacob Isenberg 27:55;
3. Justin Soden 30:17; 11-14: 1. Tyler Zenga 19:38; 2. Jonathan
Railey 20:48; 3. Brett Kaplan 23:39; 15-19: 1. Darius Hicks 18:08;
2. Aaron Baker 20:22; 3. Javier Sanchez 22:57; 20-24: 1. Patrick
Kerr 26:45; 2. Andrew Edwards 27:16; 25-29: 1. George Diaz 26:01; 2.
Harry Escarge 31:44; 30-34: 1. Jimmy Villalobos 16:55; 2. Seth
Waller 18:19; 3. Kevin Channer 18:22; 35-39: 1. Chris Dickerson
17:15; 2. Jon Williams 19:09; 3. Neal Levine 20:31; 40-44: 1. Allen
Notkin 18:25; 2. Mike MacConnie 18:32; 3. Rob Hernandez 18:38;
45-49: 1. Bob Dugan 17:43; 2. David Kroupa 18:10; 3. Cleber Sirianni
18:16; 50-54: 1. Jeff Hlinka 18:34; 2. Jay Jacob Wind 19:36; 3. John
Treleaven 19:40; 55-59: 1. Dan Healy 19:07; 2. Larry Starr 20:24; 3.
Edd Kreiling 21:00; 60-64: 1. Bob Bowen 23:15; 2. Alan Ashton 23:51;
3. Donald Murray 27:55; 65-69: 1. Michael Goldman 22:16; 2. Louis
Best 23:43; 3. Herb Berman 24:28; 70-over: 1. Martin Quinn 26:11; 2.
Edward Grant 47:32; 3. Herman Smolar 48:28.
WOMEN OPEN: 1.
Marlene Persson, Deerfield Beach 18:38; 2. Jackie Areson, Delray
Beach 18:47; 3. Alexandra Alves, Switzerland 19:29.
WOMEN
MASTERS: 1. Jackie Lowther 21:36; GRAND MASTERS: 1. Donna Coopman
25:32.
WOMEN AGE GROUP: 10-under: 1. Samantha Railey 29:57;
2. Rylee Simons 40:58; 11-14: 1. Kelly Matthewman 27:23; 2. Michele
Railey 27:23.1; 15-19: 1. Czamille Wright 23:14; 2. Alyssa Stewart
24:23; 3. Nichole Stout 41:16; 20-24: 1. Daniela Mizrahi 41:35;
25-29: 1. Amanda Keigans 24:12; 2. Katie Arnold 28:52; 3. Sara
Gielow 29:53; 30-34: None; 35-39: 1. Arminda Ruiz 23:08; 2. Darlene
Finnegan 23:56; 3. Lori Miller 30:54; 40-44: 1. Debbie Weiner 23:24;
2. Patricia Soden 23:43; 3. Flora Greenfield 25:34; 45-49: 1.
Cynthia Raes-Barnard 22:20; 2. Sherri Lantz 24:20; 3. Bonnie Stewart
25:10; 50-54: 1. Anita Reibel 28:32; 2. Debi Treleaven 29:11; 3.
Gwenn Floyd 34:09; 55-59: 1. Maria Clavijo 30:33; 60-64: 1. Judy
Savitt 27:49; 2. Diane Berman 46:38; 3. Patricia Lemarier 48:37;
65-69: None; 70-over: 1. Miriam Gordon 40:47.
Sharon Robb can be reached at srobb@sun-sentinel.com.
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