Sacramento Running News

By John Schumacher

Hungary’s Adam Kovacs and Turlock’s Kimberly Cloud came to the Super Bowl Sunday 10K Run eager to get in good, fast training runs to help them reach their 2013 goals.

On a cool, fun-filled Sunday morning, Kovacs and Cloud wound up winning individual titles in the fourth annual race to kick off Super Bowl festivities.

Kovacs, 26, won the men’s race with a 30-minute, 39.8-second effort. Vacaville’s Cheyne Inman, a member of the Sacramento Running Association’s Elite Team, finished second in 30:58.3 with Sacramento State’s Matthew Frazier third in 31:37.1.

Cloud crossed the line in 38:20.6, ahead of Sacramento State teammates Justine Rea (38:58.0) and Emily Johnston (38:58.1).

The Sacramento Running Association put on the race, which attracted 1,420 entrants, plus 200 relay runners and 200 kids for the Future Stars 40-Yard Dash. The 10K course crossed the Guy West Bridge and went through Campus Commons before returning to the Sacramento State campus.

Kovacs said he’s in the United States for 3 ½ weeks looking for shorter races to get in quality speed work in search of attaining the national standard of 2:17 to qualify for the marathon in the World Championships.

“I’m here to do some fast training in good weather,” said Kovacs, who owns a 2:18:48 marathon best. “At home right now there’s a lot of snow.”

Kovacs, who just graduated from the University of Miskolc in Hungary, said he would likely stay in the Sacramento area to race in the Valentine’s Run on Saturday.

Cloud, 37, said she didn’t expect to win the women’s race.

“I was going out to get a good hard, tempo run, just to see where my fitness is,” said Cloud, a high school English and P.E. teacher who is coming back from injury. “I just wanted to get back into racing. It worked out wonderfully. I’m so excited.”

Cloud said she planned to watch the Super Bowl later in the day to cheer on the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is from Turlock.

“I just enjoy the game of football,” she said. “Of course I’ll be cheering for my hometown boy Kaepernick.”

The Super Bowl 10K Run featured plenty of football flavor. Detroit running back Jahvid Best, a former Cal star, helped start the Future Stars 40-Yard Dash on the Hornet Stadium football field before delivering the countdown to start the 10K.

A tailgate style spread including hot dogs and beer and a large-screen video of 49ers highlights added to the football atmosphere. Many runners also ran wearing jerseys of their favorite NFL teams.

Best played two seasons for Detroit after a record-setting career at Cal that included marks for most all-purpose yards in a single season (2,247 in 2008) and most rushing yards in a single game (311 against Washington in 2008). He also led the Pacific-10 Conference in rushing yards with 1,580 in 2008.

“I like being around kids and having a good time,” said Best, who is from Richmond and has family and friends in the Sacramento area. “It was fun.”

Nevada City’s Angie Marino, 40, ran the race wearing a Kaepernick 49ers jersey. “I heard a lot of ‘Go, Niners,’ and ‘Go, Kaepernick,’” she said.

The race benefits Sacramento Running Association programs, Sacramento State track and field and Arden Arcade Rotary.

Complete results are here.