Erum Jaffrey
Assistant Editor
In spirit of Thanksgiving, people of all ages came out to run in the San Dimas Turkey Trot 5k,10k and Kids Run Nov. 22 at Bonelli Park.
Renegade Racing Management Company produced the event and partnered with Hope for the Warriors, all proceeds went to charity, benefiting military families.
The charity seeks to improve the quality of life for post 9/11 military men and women. Participants had the opportunity to dress up in Thanksgiving costumes and were awarded for best costumes.
“This race is a fun, festive way to celebrate Thanksgiving and it benefits a great cause,” Sponsorship Coordinator Andrea Kooiman said.
Winners were separated by categories of men and women and youth for 5k and 10k races.
Men and women categories were separated into age groups within four years.
The youngest men and women’s group was 20-24 and the oldest was 85+.
The 10k and 5k runs both started at the same spot, located at the south side of Puddingstone Lake, off Via Verde Park Road.
The 10k race circled around the lake and did a turn around Brackett Field Airport.
The 5k run circled Via Verde and was directed east of Puddingstone Lake.
Youth were divided into age groups of 6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15 and 16-19.
“The Kids Run is non-competitive and every kid gets a finishing medal,” Events Manager Rebecca Pizzitola said.
The top three overall best times for the half-mile Kids Run were: 11-year-old Marcos De La O at 2:41, 9-year-old Mackenzie Rios at 2:49 and 11-year-old Mikala Purugganan at 2:55.
Awards were given to fastest overall for 5k and 10k and fastest in each age group.
Winners received Turkey Trot medals pint cups and prize packs from Nature’s Bakery.
Overall, the winners for the 5k were Francisco Lopez from Eastvale; Stephen Tai from Fremont; and Michelle Ishio from Sherman Oaks.
The 10k winners were Scott Margiotta from Walnut; Frank Ross from Los Alamitos; and Isaac Moreno from Walnut.
Volunteers from local high schools helped throughout the race, from beginning to end.
“I got here at 6 a.m. and helped with registration and timing chip pickup,” Kirsten Palacios, a senior at San Dimas High School, said. “It was a long day, but I had a good experience overall.”
Many volunteers were associated with Key Club, an international organization that gives high school students an opportunity to volunteer around the community.
“I worked at station two, passing out water to the runners as they ran by,” Bonita High School Key Club member Raina Soteros said.
“I loved watching the race and helping out and want to volunteer more,” she said.
“We could not survive without our volunteers,” Kooiman said.
Erum Jaffrey can be reached at erum.jaffrey@laverne.edu.
