Report from Long Beach Neighborhood Foundation
The third annual Wrigley River Run and Tadpole Trot, presented by Buono’s and the Naza Family, held this weekend (June 12), was dominated by a an established champion. Reigning Long Beach Marathon champion, Eli Rodriguez of Whittier, completed the triple crown of Long Beach running by winning the 5k and 10k at Wrigley, and now holds the title at all three of Long Beach’s premier races. Rodriguez had some tough competition but eventually took the 10k by ten seconds and then came back to win the 5k by six seconds.
This was a much faster field than last year when Mark Vishnevsky cruised to comfortable victories in both races. Vishnevsky came in 3rd in the 10k this year and sat out the 5k which he had won in 08 and 09. For the women, 19 year old Michelle Wethern won both events by comfortable margins. Road Runner Sports donated shoes to the male and female winners of the events so Wethern and Rodriguez both went home with two pairs of shoes each for their efforts.
The event’s organizing entity, the Long Beach Neighborhood Foundation (LBNF), reports that more than more than 700 people participated in the events: the 5 and 10k’s and the Tadpole Trot kids run. The event generated more than $30,000 in donations and registrations from the community. Net proceeds from the event will be used to support programs that benefit at-risk youth in Long Beach and college scholarships to local high school students.
In addition to Buono’s (the official Pizza of the Wrigley River Run) and Naza, many local businesses supported the race through monetary and product donations including AECOM, Altus Realty Solutions, AA Graphics, Tutti Frutti and the Amat Family.
There was plenty of music with Zero Period playing at the finish line, a Poly HS Jazz combo and Stan DeWitt’s band on the course in addition to the Wilson HS cheerleaders providing encouragement to runners and walkers along the course. LBNF President Gavin Mc Kiernan said, “As this event grows we are proud that the top runners as well as the casual athletes flock to our event but more than that we are happy to have been able to put on an event that involved so many diverse parts of our community. Three Long Beach high schools participated in a significant way and many businesses responded affirmatively to our call for support for a family-friendly community event, showing that this community can and will come together outside of Downtown and Belmont Shore, where the overwhelming majority of events in Long Beach currently take place.”
The 5k and 10K race courses went from Holy Innocents Parish on Pacific Avenue to Burnett Street, west to the LA River Trail, and back to Holy Innocents. The kids in the Tadpole Trot were the highlight of the event for most as they were cheered to the finish by the “Shoe Dog” (a man in a full body Dalmatian costume who ran the 5k and cheered on kids in the Tadpole Trot) and the Wilson HS cheer squad.
All participating tadpoles received medals, day-passes donated by the Aquarium of the Pacific, and shirts provided by JL Racing all for just $5. Children in attendance also enjoyed pre- and post-race fun in a bounce house and ate food from Noah’s Bagels and Buono’s. Evelyn Elisara of Wilson HS saw the runners off with the national anthem in the 10k after Councilman Dee Andrews inspired the crowd. For the 5k Matthew Paige of Twain Elementary sang after Councilwoman Tonia Reyes-Uranga warmed up the runners. Post-race food and drink from Buono’s, Clif Bar, El Paisano Market, Noah’s Bagels, FRS, and Myoplex refueled the runners.
If you want full results of the event visit www.wrigleyriverrun.com.