It’s a scenic race, but it’s a fast one

Sue Doyle

CORONA DEL MAR -- The 39-year-old man who won Saturday’s 19th annual

Scenic 5K run in less than 15 minutes might have set a new course record.

Danny Reed of Laguna Niguel finished the race in 14 minutes and 59

seconds. He finished 57 seconds before the second-place winner, Gus

Hermes, 37, of Irvine.

Race officials will check previous race logs to see if Reed set a record,

said Marilyn Fisher, race director.

“He was way ahead of everybody. People joked that he would pass the pace

car,” Fisher said.

Thousands of adults and children turned out for the morning trek that

spun through streets of Corona del Mar. Men’s and women’s categories were

staggered to begin within 20 minutes of each other.

But not everyone had to run in the race.

Other adults took it easier and walked a two-mile course. Groups of

employees walked together and were easily recognizable in their matching

T-shirts, Fisher said.

There was a special “dolphin dash” for children who ran down Ocean

Boulevard, turned around and came back to receive a trophy and a water

bottle.

One local favorite, Christy Crandell, walked the entire 5K on crutches.

She finished in one hour and 55 minutes and received rounds of cheers

from the crowds.

Crandell’s persistence made officials consider a special courage award

for next year’s race, Fisher said.

“We need a courage award because she’s done it every year. She’s an

inspiration to us all,” Fisher said.

Some participants take their running seriously, while others just come

for fun, said Jim Skahan, race chairman.

The race raises money for the community. Half of the money goes to the

Chamber of Commerce for the beautification of Corona del Mar. The rest

goes to the city for recreation programs.

The remaining winners for the men’s category were Jose Ramos, 25, of San

Juan Capistrano in third place; Erik Kloster, 31, of Newport Beach in

fourth place; and Angelo Decollibus, 43, of Anaheim in fifth.

The winners for the women’s category were Kelly Flathers, 28, of

Huntington Beach in first place; Kathleen Smith, 34, of Irvine in second;

Dolly Ginter, 36, of Huntington Beach in third; Teresa Vega, 25, of Chino

Hills in fourth; and Ginny Hogan, 31, of Newport Beach in fifth place.