PIEDMONT — Runners hailing from all over the United States participated in the 18th annual Thanksgiving Day Piedmont Turkey Trot through the streets of town.
The top three male finishers were Crosby Freeman, 35, of Oakland, posting a run time of 16:47; Brian Gillis, 31 of Emeryville, also with 16:47, and Cielo Aguilar, 22, of Oakland, with 16:57. The top three female finishers were: Jessica Huffman, 31 of Oakland, with 20:12; Kaitlyn Spees, 26, of Oakland, running at 20:45; and Andrea Hamlin-Levin 47, of Piedmont with 20:51.
Run organizer Marilyn Weber said a great time was had by all. Net proceeds from the Turkey Trot are donated to support the Piedmont High School track and field program, their cross country program and Piedmont’s Athletic Facilities Preservation Fund. The amount of this year’s donation is being tallied after expenses. New this year were two special award categories for the youngest participants. The top male and female finisher in the 11-to-14 and under-10 age categories each won an award.
“Coffee and hot cocoa before and after the race kept everyone warm,” Weber said.
Out-of-towners Lauren Anderson, 46, of Boynton Beach, Florida, posted a time of 26:99, while Brisa Bodell, 25, of Washington, D.C., ran the course in 26:59. Harper Fox, 15, came from Bend, Oregon, pacing at 27:45. Beth McKenzie, 32, of Seattle, ran at 29:11, while Brian Braden, 55, of Mount Kisko, New York, clocked 28:34.
Parker Douglas, 15, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, posted 41:31, while Graham Stone, 6, and Matthew Stone, 37, of Dover, Massachusetts, posted 44:24 and 44:54 respectively. Keegan Shelly, 12, paced Mark Shelly, 48, both from Tempe, Arizone, to clocking identical times of 1:04:16 each.
Most participants in the yearly 5K benefit fun run came from the East Bay — Piedmont, Oakland, Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville. There were 2,151 registered participants. Awards were presented to the top three male and female finishers in seven age categories. Overall finishers received a gift certificate for a turkey from Village Market. First-place winners in all age divisions received a pumpkin pie donated by Piedmont Grocery and a gift certificate from Transports running store in Oakland. All award winners also received a gift bouquet from J. Miller Flowers.
Many youth participated in the run including Tej Sidhu, 11, of Chico at 23:21; Ryan Riddell, 11, of Piedmont with 23:09; Zachary Foster, 7, of Piedmont with 29:26 and little Odin Williams, 2, of Piedmont with 43:52. Fellow 2-year-old Bennett Bitzer, of Piedmont, ran an impressive 33:32. The Givogri family of Trabuco Canyon made a showing with Jacquelyn, 11, clocking 37:42, Nick, 44, running at 37:44 and Juliet, 43, posting 39:49.
Many seniors showed their mettle with Chalice Fong, 82, of Oakland posting 52:26; Mary Kelley, 79, of Piedmont, with 51:25; Paul Hertelendy, 87, of Piedmont tracking at 52:26; Eugene Brown, 71, of Piedmont with 31:18; Janine McAuliffe, 68, of Piedmont with 34:34 and Len Goldman, 75, of Oakland, running 23:58. Kimon Papahadjopoulos, 52, of Berkeley, didn’t win a ribbon but he “won” for the longest name.
