Youth was first as 30-year-old Eddie Herena won The 1000-Mile Club 3-Mile Run with a time of 18:02.
The event at San Quentin started officially at 8:30 a.m. March 7, but Rahsaan Thomas hit the track at 7:13.
“The early bird catches the worm,” said Thomas, San Quentin News sports editor. “I had a lot to cover this morning, so I wanted to get out here and knock this down.” His time: 28:17.
Abdul Qadiyr Morceli, 32, came in second with a time of 19:05; Brian Ballard, 40, next at 19:52. Rounding out those that finished in less than 20 minutes was Larry Ford, 58. He finished with a time of 19:59.
“I try to make them feel bad,” said Ford, smiling. “I’m going to give them a run for their money every time we hit this track.”
Leroy Lucas dropped out of the race after eight laps due to an ankle injury. “I put on too much weight,” said Lucas, 38. After resting a few minutes (and limping the rest of the way), he went on to finish with a time of 31:39.
Angel Armengol, 29, finished just over 20 minutes at 20:06. It was his first time running a 3-Mile Run. “It felt good, you know. I feel really good too.”
Herena averaged 1:30 per quarter mile, a solid pace for a 1,000-Mile Club runner.
Other racers were: Ramirez, 20:52; Sandoval, 31, 20:55; Williams, 52, 23:17; Moody, 44, 23:29; Gazzeny, 47, 25:16; Hunter, 54, 28:03; Beason, 34, 28:38; Lucas, 38, 31:39; Barnes, 64, did not finish (1.5 Mile).
