23rd annual race draws all ages; Hollister’s Collins, 10, takes
sixth place in 5K event
By Angie Young
Special To The Free Lance
Morgan Hill – The wintry weather took a breather last weekend, allowing favorable running conditions for the American Association of University Women’s 23rd Annual Wildflower Run. Several hundred local and out of town athletes pounded the pavement in Morgan Hill neighborhoods and countryside on Sunday, thanking the powers that be for the lack of winds, rain and freezing temperatures. The 2K, 5K and 10K races proved to be a hit with the runners.
According to AAUW-MH volunteer Kathy Sass, the first Wildflower race took place in 1983 at Santa Teresa Road in Morgan Hill. Back then, only 200 female runners signed up to compete. Slowly, the idea caught on among the rest of the athletic community. This year’s event included 515 entrants. Race proceeds go to scholarship programs geared for high school seniors set to enter college or for those wishing to continue their education beyond a two-year stint at a junior college.
13 newcomers from the San Jose State University cross country team had strong finishes in the 10K. Jose Burrola, 22, cruised to a dominant victory in the race, posting a time of 33:45. Fellow Spartans Sean Dundon and Gordie Throne gave the school a sweep of the top-three places by finishing in 35:30 and 36:00, respectively.
“This is the first time I ran this race,” Burrola said after dusting the field. “It was very challenging and I got a PR.”
The female overall winner was Gilroy’s Kari Ann Bertrand, 35, who topped the competition by zipping past the finish line in 37:37.
“I’m happy with the race . . . however, this will be my last one for a while,” says Bertrand, who is ten weeks pregnant with her second child.
SJSU’s Erica Sahli, 19, finished right at Bertrand’s heels at 37:42, and teammate Tiffany Hall, 20, took third in 38:27. The two Spartans ran most of the race in a trio with Bertrand. Sahli and Hall noted the lack of a horde of runners at the Wildflower.
“I’m used to running in races like the Mercury News 10K where there’s lots of people,” Hall said.
At the start of the 5K, children lined up at the front, much to the dismay of some runners.
“They shouldn’t be standing in the front,” one competitor commented before the race. “They’re going to get bowled over.”
That same runner later ate his words when some of those kids dusted him at the finish.
One such speedster was Hollister’s Ruben James (R.J.) Collins, 10, who finished sixth overall in 20:25.
“I wanted to see how many people would pass me,” Collins said. “Not that many did, and I passed a lot of people.”
R.J.’s sister, Angelica Collins, 8, also did her family proud by finishing in 22:44.
High school students from the South Valley dominated the 5K winners’ circle, with Live Oak alums taking the top-three spots. Jesus Atanacio (17:56) was the champion, Andrew Taylor came in second at 18:50, and Daniel Beckwith finished third in 19:33.
Female leaders included Ann Mari Rich – the winner with a time of 20:39 – and second-place Suzanne Hancock (21:01). Live Oak freshman Olivia Duran (22:07) overshadowed the rest of the pack.
“It was a hard-core race . . . so I kept within my pace,” said Duran, who was pleased with her results.
The 2K run had young competitors toeing the line, including some tiny tots ranging from 5 to 12 years old. Joel Hall from Morgan Hill won the event in 7:42. It was his first race outside of school and he plans to do the Wildflower again next year. Rich Thomas was close behind Hall in 8:06, and Alexander Richardson came in third at 8:57.
Sarah Gilbert won the girls’ race in 8:37, Katie Machado took second at 8:52, and Alissa Pham followed in 10:34.
The Wildflower is not only for the fleet-footed, but also for those who love to run ultra-marathons. San Jose’s Jean Suyenaga, 39, had just competed in a 50-miler the week before and plans to do another on April 22. After competing in 26 marathons and four ultra-marathons, Suyenaga had a sunny view of this year’s Wildflower Run.
“The race was relaxed, although you get the adrenaline rush at the end, towards the finish,” Suyenaga said. “The energy from the volunteers and other runners pulled me through to the end.”
For detailed information on the 2K, 5K and 10K results please go to www.aauw-morganhill.org.
