They ran for nearly a half an hour.
But when all was said and done, less than 23 seconds separated the top four finishers in the Los Gatos Dammit Run a year ago.
It was a brutal 5-mile run that ended up being a sprint to the finish line.
Kenrick Sealy outsprinted Russell Hill to the finish line. Sealy won the 22nd Dammit Run in the record time of 27:39.60, but Hill was a close second in 27:49.10.
Rick Roman was close behind in third in 27:55.80 with Jason Balkman of Saratoga fourth (28:02.07).
But that was last year. And things will be different when the runners hit the trail for the 23rd running of the Los Gatos Dammit Run on Aug. 17.
Runners will be on a new course this year. But the new course is actually an old course. Runners will return to the old loop course that was the Dammit Run many years ago.
Sealy is not the only 1995 winner expected back to defend a title in the Dammit. Dina Farage won the women's title last year, and should return in '96.
Lisa Renteria of Los Gatos and Debbie Follmar, Matthew Van Dyke, Mark Carroll, Hank Nothhaft, Ross Malinowski, and Fran Charters of Saratoga were other top local finishers a year ago.
Race-day registration will begin at 6:30 a.m., and the starting gun will blast at 8:30 a.m. All finishers will receive ribbons, and the West Valley Track Club will provide computerized results.
The preregistration entry fee is $8 ($20 with a T-shirt), and the fee is $15 on race day ($30 with a T-shirt). For more information, call 354-7365 or 395-4311.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, August 14, 1996.
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