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Sealy, Lund romp to Dammit Run victories
By Dick Sparrer
It's tough. It's hot. It's grueling. And by the event organizers own admission, "this is not a race for the faint of heart or the timid."
Yet for whatever reason, runners keep coming back for more year after year as they compete in the annual Dammit Run in Los Gatos.
They were back again on Aug. 18 to compete in the 28th Dammit when six runners defended age division titles they had won a year ago, and Kenrick Sealy reclaimed the crown he had held for back-to-back years in 1995 and '96.
Sealy returned to the winner's circle by covering the 5-mile course in 27:45.24. He outran Edward Burns (second in 28:01.94) and defending champion Gary Blanco (third in 28:42.64) to the finish line.
Rudy Munoz was fourth in 28:53.18 with Steve Lopez fifth in 29:13.78. Lopez had finished 18th a year ago.
Jim Angelopoulos and Ryan Jensen were other runners returning to the top 20 for a second straight year. Angelopoulos, 15th last year, was 10th in 29:49.26, and Jensen, 20th last year, was 18th in 31:39.22.
Yvonne Lund made the most of her Dammit debut, winning the women's overall title. She ran 33:28.44 in just her first year of competition in the race that starts at the high school track, travels up the Lexington Reservoir and returns to the high school.
Lund finished over a minute ahead of runner-up Susan Brewer (second in 35:09.34), and Abigail Galloway was third in 35:52.35. Galloway had finished 12th in 2000.
Mary Vidovich, fourth last year, was fourth again, running 35:54.10, and Lisa Renteria was fifth in 36:06.19.
Debbie Follmar, seventh last year, was 10th in 38:08.45. Others returning to the top included Athena Philippides, eighth last year, who was 17th in 38:50.53, and Dawn Wells, 10th last year, who was 18th in 38:57.56.
Follmar topped a list of six defending age group champions this summer. The 47-year-old from Saratoga won the women's 45-49 age group for the second straight year.
Kyle Cronin was a repeat winner in the boys' 13-and-under division, Philippides nailed a second straight win in the women's 40-44 group, Dan Anderson won again in the men's 45-49 division, Greg Burke defended his title in the men's 50-54 class, and Steve Lorenz made it two straight in the men's 55-59 division.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
