Lead Runners Get Unexpected Break During Marathon

Race officials at the Pacific Shoreline Marathon should have known when a downpour began just after dawn Sunday, things would not go their way.

Heavy rain and wind kept participation to about 5,000, many of whom donned raincoats, ponchos or trash bags to brave the marathon and half-marathon courses, starting at the Huntington Beach Pier.

But Mother Nature was only part of the problem. At about the midway point of the marathon, the lead pack of four runners was misdirected by a volunteer to turn too early, thereby skewing the final results.

Gilbert Salazar won in 2 hours 27 minutes 26 seconds.

“This is a [personal record] by like 10 minutes,” said Salazar, 26. “If it’s an accurate time.”

Salazar, who lives in Long Beach, was among the runners who turned early. Keith Iovine, 36, who finished eighth, was in a group just behind. He was not pleased with the turn of events.

“I knew I was closing in on the top four or five positions,” said Iovine, of Culver City. “Then I saw them turn around so quickly, and I was way behind, and I thought something must have happened.”

Tim Carlson, 49, a friend of Iovine from Culver City, was riding a bike along the course to support his friend. He came upon the scene soon after the first group of runners had made the premature turn. Carlson said he saw the volunteer conferring with race officials. When subsequent runners approached, they were directed past that point by more than half a mile, Carlson said.

“All they’ve got to do is find out who was leading the race and say, yeah, they turned around [early],” said Iovine, an Olympic qualifier in the 1,500 meters in 1988. “If it was an Olympic trial, everyone would be disqualified who ran the shorter course.”

The race was an Olympic qualifying race, sanctioned by USA Track and Field. But in adverse conditions, no one was close to the qualifying time (2:20 for men.)

“One of the volunteers miscued,” race promoter Herb Massinger said. “The lead vehicle went the right way, and one of the volunteers misdirected the runners.”

Massinger said the results would stand. “An official from USA Track and Field was here. [The finish] is going to stand as it is. Athletes are not going to be disqualified.”

In 1995, Massinger noted, “they ran them the wrong way at [the Disneyland Marathon]. But they had a certifier at that race to remeasure at the distance.”

Mission Viejo’s Carey Edge won the women’s marathon in 2:50.29. Edge, 39, attended Brigham Young from 1981 to 1985 and competed in the 1984 Olympics for Ireland. Edge and Salazar each won $700.

Officials had hoped for as many as 7,000 participants in the marathon, half-marathon, 8K and 5K races, but the rain kept away all but dedicated runners. Massinger said 2,387 ran the half-marathon, and estimates just under 700 ran the marathon.

Gus Mojarro, of San Gabriel, won the half-marathon in 1:09.11. “The conditions at the beginning were terrible,” said the L.A. probation officer, 35. “It was coming down cats and dogs. But midway through the race, it began to break up and it became pretty pleasant.”

Salazar said he was using the race as a warmup for the L.A. Marathon in March.

Sarah Burns, 24, of Glendora, last year’s winner of the half-marathon, won again Sunday. Salazar and Burns each took home $200.

“It was a lot different than last year,” said Burns about the conditions. “I wanted to break 1:20, because last year I ran 1:21 here, so I wanted to go a bit faster. But with the conditions, I soon realized I’d be happy with the win.

“Driving down the 605 [Freeway], I saw the rain, and I thought, I wish I was still in bed,” said Burns, who at Azusa Pacific twice set the school record in the 10,000 meters. “But I’m glad I did it.”

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Race Results

PACIFIC SHORELINE

Marathon

1. Gilbert Salazar, Long Beach, 2:27.26; 2. Alvaro Morales, Glendale, 2:27.34; 3. Robert Leonard, Van Nuys, 2:29.06; 4. Dave Parcel, Costa Mesa, 2:31.33; 5. Jose Ortiz, Wilmington, 2:35.23; 6. Enrique Santoyo, Glendale, 2:40.01; 7. Leoguamex Juvenal, Santa Barbara, 2:40.05; 8. Keith Iovine, Culver City, 2:41.03; 9. Robert Planta, Rancho Santa Margarita, 2:41.53; 10. Rob McNair, Huntington Beach, 2:42.09.

Women’s Marathon

1. Carey Edge, Mission Viejo, 2:50.29; 2. Candy Clark, Huntington Beach, 3:10 34; 3. Jeannie Robinson, Long Beach, 3:18.20; 4. Carrie Blakemore, Goleta, 3:20.30; 5. Debbie Strosnider, Temecula, 3:23.03; 6. Donna Watts, Westlake Village, 3:24.12; 7. Brenda Moyer, Harleysville, Pa., 3:26.38; 8. Alfreda Iglehart, Los Angeles, 3:27.43; 9. Sena Hoodman, Huntington Beach, 3:28.29; 10. Jackie Delaney, Aliso Viejo, 3:29.44.

Half-Marathon

1. Gus Mojarro, San Gabriel, 1:09.11; 2. Joey Gomez, Fullerton, 1:11.35; 3. Chris Jaggers, Yorba Linda, 1:13.34; 4. Brad Alexander, Foothill Ranch, 1:13.40; 5. Gordon Duff, Huntington Beach, 1:14.05; 6. Dan Goldstein, Thousand Oaks, 1:15.00; 7. Sean Smith, Long Beach, 1:15.31; 8. Jorge Pacheco, Redondo Beach, 1:17.21; 9. Carlos Galdamez, Huntington Park, 1:17.22; 10. Dan Gaston, Huntington Beach, 1:17.42; 11. E. Kobrine, Newport Beach, 1:17.55; 12. Shannon Horn, Littlerock, 1;18.10; 13. Brian Schultz, Pasadena, 1:18.23; 14. John Moss, Pasadena, 1:20.05; 15. Servando Martinez, Los Angeles, 1;20.39; 16. Jim Morehart, Torrance, 1:20.46; 17. Dan Clemens, Los Angeles, 1:21.09; 18. Steve Sorkin, Tarzana, 1:21.14; 19. Pablo Rodriguez, Los Angeles, 1:21.37; 20. Matthew Wells, Huntington Beach, 1:21.43; 21. James Smith, Garden Grove, 1:21.53; 22. Patrick Copps, Newport Beach, 1:22.02; 23. Jerry Tabb, Costa Mesa, 1:22.16; 24. Ronnie Alvarez, Garden Grove, 1:22.19; 25. Scott McClure, Loma Linda, 1:22.30.

26. Brent Blackman, Los Angeles, 1:22.34; 27. Richard Lloyd, 1:22.37; 28. Sarah Burns, Glendora, 1:22.45; 29. Pedro Lopez, Santa Ana, 1:22.50; 30. Scott Kennedy, San Diego, 1:22.53; 31. Mike Zaragoza, Simi Valley, 1:22.59; 32. Felipe Dimas, Bell, 1:23.17; 33. Tom Harris, Upland, 1:23.22; 34. Espen Kateraas, Canyon Country, 1:24.09; 35. Patrick McDonagh, Costa Mesa, 1:24.15; 36. Juan Duarte, Corona, 1:24.15; 37. Chris Geer, Long Beach, 1:24.15; 38. Kim Hipsher, Los Alamitos, 1:24.17; 39. Mark Bradbury, San Clemente, 1:24.23; 40. Rich Devens, Fountain Valley, 1:24.27; 41. Edward Berry, Newport Beach, 1:24.31; 42. Ming Quon, San Marino, 1:24.33; 43. Chuck Fieland, Palmdale, 1:24.45; 44. Roger Forest, Huntington Beach, 1:24.59; 44. Gecko Cachero, Newport Beach, 1:25.12; 46. Don Newman, Northridge, 1:25.18; 47. Al Valdez, Anaheim, 1:25.24; 48. Tonson Tong, Long Beach, 1:25.28; 49. Shawn Haydan, Huntington Beach, 1:25.32; 50. Thomas Miller, Tustin, 1:25.37.