HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE >> Perfect weather greeted the 132 runners participating in the 13th annual Spring Has Sprung 5K run/walk and Kids K at Hidden Valley Lake on Mother’s Day. No one appreciated the running conditions more than overall race winners Evarardo Chavez, a standout athlete at Lower Lake High School, and Jennifer Perez of Hidden Valley Lake, a member of the Lake County Milers, the sponsors of the race.
Chavez won the men’s division in 17 minutes, 29 seconds (5:38 minutes-per-mile pace) followed by 13-year-old Andre Williams, a Kelseyville junior high student at 17:53 (5:46 pace). Third overall was veteran runner Kenny Brown of Santa Rosa at 17:55. Brown was representing Heart and Sole Sports of Santa Rosa, a longtime sponsor of the Spring Has Sprung run.
A pair of 10-year-old boys also turned in solid efforts. Wyatt Moore of Cobb ran at a 7:06 pace while Hunter Hartzog of Middletown ran at a 7:24 pace.
For posting the best overall men’s time, Chavez receives a free entry into the Santa Rosa Marathon/Half Marathon and a $25 gift certificate from Heart and Sole Sports.
Perez, the overall women’s winner, crossed the finish line in 22:09 (7:06 pace) and also received a free entry into the Santa Rosa Marathon/Half Marathon and a gift certificate from Heart and Sole Sports. No stranger to the winner’s podium, Perez also posted the top time in this race a year ago as well as a win in the 10-mile Vine to Wine run held last November at Brassfield Estate Winery.
Before the 5K start, younger runners tested their mettle in the half-kilometer (ages 4-5) and 1K (ages 6-10) races. Just like the adults, the kids received medals down to three places in each division at the awards ceremony along with event T-shirts.
For a complete list of Spring Has Sprung race results, go to www.lakecountymilers.com and click on Spring Has Sprung 2015 Results.
