Sacramento Running News

Kevin Pool gets the win. (SRN Photo)

It always seems like summer is finally winding down when cross country races pop up on the calendar.

This year, for your running pleasure, there are three PAUSATF Grand Prix cross country races in the Sacramento area. These races are quite competitive as they draw talented runners from across Northern California.

It was a little hot, but there was a good crowd on hand as The River City Rebels hosted the first of these races today in Granite Regional Park: the First Annual Rebels XC Challenge

Today’s race followed the usual format, with separate races for women, masters men, and open men. For this race, the women ran 5K and the men ran 7K.

Also, since they were already set up for a race, the Rebels decided to throw in a “Citizens” 5K before the main events, and 50 or so non-PA runners took on this challenge.

In the competitive races, the women started first. There were about 75 women in the field and Roseville’s Lindsay Nelson was the first to complete the loop, clocking an impressive 17:23. Filling out the overall top three were Ashley Carroll, of Menlo Park, in 17:42; and Valerie Young, of Novato, in 18:01.

Valerie Young was also the top masters woman, and she was followed by Folsom’s Midori Sperandeo, in 18:04, and Sacramento’s Jaymee Marty, in 18:18.

The Masters Men’s race was next and Jose Pina, of San Jose, led the field, finishing the 7K in 23:25. Lincoln’s Marcelo Lerda was 2nd in 23:42, and Mason Myers, of Carmichael, was 3rd in 24:10.

In the Open Men’s race, Folsom’s Kevin Pool took top honors with a blistering 21:20 finish. (That’s a 4:55 pace!)

Chasing Pool into the finish line were Miguel Nuci, of Turlock, in 21:22; Kenny Rakestraw, of Berkeley, in 21:38; and Jose Morales, of Turlock, in 21:43.

Complete race results are here.

This being their first running of this race, the Rebels were careful to pay attention to details and as a result the race seemed to run smoothly. Most importantly, there was an adequate supply of porta-potties.

The next local cross country race on the schedule is the Buffalo Chips’ 3rd Annual Willow Hills XC, in Folsom, on October 8th.

Following that is the Golden West’s 2nd Annual Ancil Hoffman Challenge, on November 11th.

Now, rummage around in the closet and see if you can find that old pair of cross country spikes!

Midori Sperandeo leads the women at the start. (SRN photo)