Reid, Cridebring win 10k races; Mallory, Ferrara top 5k runs
The California Family Fitness Super Sunday Run started with live music, footballs tossed around and a pair of kids’ races to set the tone for a fun, festive day.
At the end of the ninth annual event, participants celebrated the day with a tailgate party featuring free food and beer, yard games, and a bounce house for the kids before the New England Patriots-Philadelphia Eagles showdown.
In between, athletes of all shapes, sizes and affiliations covered the 10k and 5k courses before descending on Sacramento State University’s Hornet Stadium for the end zone finish.
San Luis Obispo’s Phillip Reid and Sacramento’s Alycia Cridebring captured 10k titles and Sacramento’s Anthony Mallory and Roseville’s Lauren Ferrara took home 5k honors on a beautiful, sunny Sunday morning.
More than 2,500 runners participated in the event, organized by the Sacramento Running Association (SRA) and presented by California Family Fitness.
The 10k race is part of the USATF Pacific Association Grand Prix Championship and is the first event on the championship schedule. The $3,000 prize purse and championship designation resulted in the deepest fields in race history in both the men’s and women’s events.
Reid, a member of the HOKA ONE ONE Aggies, captured the men’s 10k title and set a new course record in 30:26. Aggies teammate Gordon Sturgess (30:35) and Strava’s Trevor Halsted (30:40) took home the next two spots.
“We brought a lot of good guys up for the race,” said Reid. “It was a good day for our club and we always like racing in Sacramento.”
“I am pretty familiar with the course having run Eppie’s Great Race a bunch of times so I knew I needed to run as hard as I could when I hit the bridge.”
“It was a really good day and good race and you have to take advantage of those days when you have them.”
The races were a good way to prepare for the rest of Super Bowl Sunday.
“I have family in Philadelphia so I am definitely pulling for the Eagles.”
Cridebring, the SRA Elite runner and former UC Davis standout, delivered a strong performance for the win in the women’s 10k with a 35:19 effort. Strava athlete Amy Schnittger (35:56) and SRA Elite athlete Lindsay Tollefson (36:03) rounded out the top three.
“The course had so much spectator support, which was really nice,” said Cridebring. “I run this course so much in my training so I kept telling myself it was like another repeat.”
“I was running with Amy (Schnittger) for awhile, but at about two miles, she settled into her pace and I kept at mine.”
“I really ran it for the football award,” joked Cridebring, cradling the custom football awarded to the champions in each race.
As for the game, Cridebring is not too interested.
“I don’t even have a TV,” she added.
Both with three runners in the top four slots, the HOKA ONE ONE Aggies and SRA Elite captured the men’s and women’s team championships, respectively.
Defending champion and SRA Elite athlete Mallory covered the 5k course through Sacramento State’s campus in 16 minutes and 32 seconds, culminating with a sprint down the football field to edge out runner-up and West Valley runner Tony Bolin by two seconds (16:34). Noah Seto of Wilton was third (17:28).
After the win, Mallory turned around and ran the 10k as part of the championship ring challenge in 32:51, good for 10th place overall.
“I really want that ring,” said Mallory. “And I love to support SRA.”
“The 5k is what I really wanted to run and I wanted to keep my winning streak alive,” he added.
“I gave a little surge around 800 meters and his (Bolin) response lagged a little so I knew I could surge again and edge him at the end.”
“This race is near and dear to me since football is what got me into running in the beginning.”
As for the big game, he is very interested.
“Patriots for sure, you have to pull for the G.O.A.T.,” he said, referring to Tom Brady. “I am a Niner fan but you have to respect what he has been able to do.”
Ferrara delivered a strong performance in the 5k with an 18:42 finish. San Francisco’s Katie Famous (19:07) and 53-year old Beverly Anderson-Abbs of Sacramento (19:37) finished second and third, respectively.
“This is my first time at this race,” said Ferrara. “I ran with some friends and we each ran our own pace but had a good time.”
And her Super Bowl plans?
“I am not really a football fan, but I am having a party,” she said with a smile.
The Super Sunday Run kicked off the 2018 Buzz Oates Run Sac Series, a yearlong competition for area runners of all ages and abilities. Next up in the series is the four-mile Valentine Run on Feb. 10.
The Sacramento Running Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding new ways to encourage people of all ages and abilities to run. The SRA is committed to developing new, quality running events that appeal to a broad variety of runners.
Other SRA events include the Credit Union SACTOWN Run on April 8, the Gold Country Half on June 10, the Capital Cross Challenge on September 29, the Run the Parkway on November 4 and the 36th annual California International Marathon on December 2.