The Running Chicken 5K/10K returns to Santa Margarita Lake
Several hundred runners brave cloudy skies to participate in the event
– More than 400 runners and walkers braved the cloudy skies to participate in the 8th annual Running Chicken 5K/10K at Santa Margarita Lake.
The run has raised money for the “Run 4 Bitti and Brynn Foundation.” The foundation raises money for scholarships and athletic shoes for student athletes. It also supports youth and high school sports programs.
The Foundation was created to honor the memory ot Bitti and Bryn Frace, who were excellent runners at Atascadero High School. The remarkable sisters were killed in a traffic accident on their way to Chico State University in January 2018. Before the run, Coach Roger Warnes and Warren and Sharilynn Frace greeted the runners and talked about the sisters.
Despite the threat of rain, several hundred runners turned out for the runs along Santa Margarita Lake.
In the 5k race, the top five finishers were 41-year-old Jameson Mora of Paso Robles in 16:28; 15-year-old Robert Pullen of Santa Margarita in 19:26; and 24-year-old Garrett Stouffer of Atascadero in 20:04. Among the women, the first finisher was 34-year-old Kailyn Gunther of Santa Margarita in 22:56. Then came 16-year old Peyton Hamann of Atascadero in 23:42, and 40-year-old Shauna Dobson of Santa Margarita in 23:45.
IN the 10k distance, 31-year-old Connor Fisher of Reno, Nevada, finished first in 39:08. 16-year-old Rudy Uribe of San Luis Obispo was second in 40:02. 20-year-old Dane Hardy of Atascadero finished third. 4th place went to 18-year-old Zachary Rubin of Tempelton in 41:09.
Among women, 28-year-old Nora Pizella of Reno finished first in 43:52. (Nora was Brittni’s roommate at Chico State.) 17-year-old Tilly Ralston of Atascadero finished second in 47:34. 16-year-old Bella Tomasini of Atascadero was third in 47:35.
The Running Chicken Event is held on the first Sunday of each year at Santa Margarita Lake.
