Flathers Satisfies Coach’s Goal, Then Wins Race

Winning the 8K women’s division at the 15th annual Bastille Day Celebration in Newport Beach Saturday wasn’t part of the game plan for Kelly Flathers.

But once she satisfied the immediate goals set forth by her coach, Bill Sumner, there was only one thing left for the 28-year-old from Huntington Beach.

Win the race.

“My goal was to average 5 minutes 40 seconds a mile for the first three miles,” Flathers said. “Coach said then it’s your race, do what you want the next two miles, but I want the first three at 5:40.”

Flathers, who graduated from Mater Dei High, moved into second midway through the race.

“Right before the three-mile mark I was going with Kathy [Smith] and I was thinking, ‘You know, she’s in great shape, so I’m going to stick with her,’ ” Flathers said. “And then I heard her say, ‘Don’t sit on me, just go by me.’ ”

Flathers next surged ahead of Vista’s Jane Despas with about a mile to go and finished nine seconds ahead in 28:57.

“I was wondering how my speed is because [Despas] has an incredible kick,” Flathers said. “So I’m thinking, ‘Don’t even be anywhere near her on the last straightaway.’ ”

Sumner said he was surprised with the victory, particularly since Flathers is still recovering from a knee injury suffered during the Chicago Marathon last fall.

“We’re just bringing her back, we were real cautious today,” Sumner said. “I really didn’t think she’d win this race, so she kind of surprised me by winning it. But she’s strong as an ox and she works hard.”

Jacques Sallberg of Pasadena was the overall winner (24:59) after passing Laguna Niguel’s Danny Reed just after the mile mark and holding on for a 20-second victory. Joey Gomez of Fullerton was third (25:20).

In the 5K race, Ryan Rekers finished first in 16:09 and Jen Blair won the women’s division in 18:59. Both are graduates of Corona del Mar.