Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Runners keep resolution in New Year's run

By Dick Sparrer

Watch what you eat, and get a little more exercise. Have a familar ring to it?

Well, for many folks, those are the resolutions they make just about every New Year's Eve. Then, by New Year's Day, those resolutions are lost to bowls of clam dip and Fritos during the Rose Bowl.

But there were at least 266 folks in Los Gatos who started the new year off right. They decided to ring in the new year by keeping that resolution, and competing in the sixth annual Resolution Run up to Lexington Dam and back.

Jim Angelopoulos covered the five-mile course in 27:03 to finish first overall on New Year's Day, and Lou Kobin was first in the women's competition.

Angelopoulos, 35, finished more than a minute ahead of his nearest rival.

Paul Cox, who still holds the school record in the mile at Los Gatos High, was second to Ange-lopoulos. Cox, 34, covered the course in 28:13.

Mark Mehlert finished third overall in 28:33 with Todd Morton fourth in 28:39, Jeff Candello fifth in 28:43, Kevin Weiby sixth in 29:11, Andrew Read seventh in 29:36, Victor Ragni eighth in 29:43, Greg Burke ninth in 29:58, Ralph Gamez 10th in 30:02, Chris Blancarte 11th in 30:04, Brent Knudsen 12th in 30:20, Bob Anderson 13th in 30:20 and Steve Twesten 14th in 30:31.

Kobin finished 15th overall in the Resolution field, good enough for a victory in the women's division. Kobin, 29, covered the five miles in 30:42 to finish nearly a minute ahead of Christy Runde, who finished second in women's competition in 31:33.

Julie Rohloff was third among the women in the race in 32:56, with Sue Francis fourth in 33:28, Katie Scott fifth in 34:31, Erin McCarthy sixth in 35:11, Laura Ezell seventh in 36:11, Joanie Popeo eighth in 37:02, Dena Noble ninth in 37:28 and Leslie Conover 10th in 37:35.

Men's age group winners in the Resolution Run included: under 18--1) Chris Blamcarte, 29:11; 18-29--1) Morton, 28:38, 2) Paul Bauman, 32:01; 30-39--1) Angelopoulos, 27:03, 2) Cox, 28:13; 40-49--1) Candello, 28:43, 2) Read, 29:36; 50-59--1) Burke, 29:59; and over 60--1) Dale Fambrini, 38:18.

Women's age group winners included: under 18--1) Conover, 37:28; 18-29-- 1) Kobin, 30:31, 2) Runde, 31:33; 30-39--1) Rohloff, 32:40, 2) Ezell, 36:11; 40-49--1) Francis, 33:22, 2) Scott, 34:31; 50-59--1) Georgia Riley, 38:07; and over 60-- 1) Diane Bromstead, 44:08.

The race course follows the Dammit trail, weaving to the top of Lexington Dam on the Los Gatos Creek Trail. The start-finish line was on the track at Los Gatos High School, which is appropriate since proceeds from the run benefit the Los Gatos High track-repair fund. "Our goal is to resurface our track every five or six years," said co-meet director Willie Harmatz.

Harmatz and Brad Armstrong of Athletic Performance served as the meet directors. Athletic Performance and the Los Gatos Athletic Association were the co-sponsors of the race that started the new year.

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