Napa marathon produces world age group record
Tuesday, March 4, 2003
NOTES AND QUOTES for a Tuesday in the Napa Valley:
A world record came out of Sunday's 26.2-mile Napa Valley Marathon, as John Keston set a single age mark for 78 year olds at 3 hours, 36 minutes and 41 seconds on the course from Calistoga to Napa. The old record for 78 year olds was set by Warren Utes at 3:36:59.
The 25th annual marathon, sponsored by the Silverado Trail Wineries Association, produced race records for starters (1,873) and finishers (1,645). There were 2,223 official entrants.
"In the nine years we've been producing it, Gard (Leighton), Rich (Benyo) and I, we think this is the best," said David Hill, one of the race directors. "It was cool at the start, it was cool at the finish. We had very few people drop over from hypothermia.
"We couldn't have asked for better running conditions or weather. People were happy coming across the finish line."
Once again, runners were treated to a well-managed and highly organized race, with hundreds of volunteers along the route to provide assistance.
"We had a lot of people qualify for Boston, because of the weather and because it was such a nice day," Hill said Monday.
After the race runners received soup, rolls, assorted fruits, and bottled water. There was also a medical area for anyone in need of treatment.
"We've actually started the planning already for next year," said Hill.
Kenny Brown of Santa Rosa (2:30:12) and Beverley Anderson-Abbs of Red Bluff (2:59:10) were the overall men's and women's champions. Steve Radigan of Fremont finished in 3:11:60 and continued his yearly streak as the only participant who has completed all of the race's 25 editions.
The race began under clear skies and temperature in the mid 30s, ideal running weather. The race progressed under warming and sunny conditions. First held in 1979, the NVM served as the Road Runners Club of America national championship.
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In his final home game, Danny Workman of Napa grabbed eight rebounds and held Grand Canyon's leading scorer, Del Somers to 10 points Saturday night in UC Davis' 67-64 California Collegiate Athletic Association men's basketball win on Senior Night at Rec Hall.
"It was a nice way to send out our seniors and a great relief to get off the slide we were on," said UCD head coach Brian Fogel. "I also thought Danny Workman played a great game, holding Somers to just 10 points."
Workman went to Vintage High.
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Vintage High's Maika Watanabe is the No. 2 ranked wrestler in the country at 100 pounds by the United States Girls Wrestling Association. Watanabe, a senior, is entered in the fourth annual USGWA California Wrestling Championships for Northern California, March 16 at Edison High in Stockton.
Watanabe will also represent California at the sixth annual USGWA National Championships, scheduled for March 29-30 at Lake Orion High in Lake Orion, Mich.
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Bret Wedding started and pitched two innings, allowing three hits and one run, as Sonoma State beat Cal Baptist Sunday 5-4 in a non-conference baseball game at Seawolf Diamond in Rohnert Park. Wedding is a Napa High graduate.
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Juanita Jurand, who attend Vintage High, had four points for Solano Community College-Suisun in the Falcons' 51-45 loss to Fresno City Saturday in the opening round of the Northern California Community College Women's Basketball Tournament.
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Off to a good start in tennis for Vintage High is Reid Snowden. He's playing No. 2 singles and is the team's lone returning senior.
"He is one of our co-captains, so he is a leader as captain, but he is also a leader by example," said Tom Jensen, the Crushers' coach. "In my opinion Reid is what is meant by student-athlete. He obviously takes his school work seriously and he takes his tennis seriously.
"He has worked during the offseason to improve his skills and always works very hard during practice."