Thousands of runners turn out for the very popular Wharf To Wharf challenge
which sees the journey wind from Santa Cruz to Capitola in pretty fast conditions.

 
Brett Gotcher (white shirt, left photo), who grew up in Watsonville and is a regular at the Wharf To Wharf
challenge, was the top American finisher and fifth overall in an event which drew competitors from Morocco, Ethiopia and Kenya! Morocco's Karim El Mabchour won in 27:53 for 6 miles and Gotcher clocked 29:13.
At right, Riverbank's German Fernandez (sportin' the Ipod!) eventually ran down Willow Glen's Mohamed
Abdalla to be the top high schooler. Fernandez placed 7th overall in 30:26 and Abdalla was next in 30:36.

 

By Rich Gonzalez
Editor, DyeStatCal
     (July, 22, 2007) - Whether it be the revered sweatshirts, the cool ocean breezes, the festive sights and sounds, or just good ole' fashioned competition, the annual Wharf to Wharf road race clearly enjoys a rabidly loyal following, with top Central and Northern California runners joined by elite international speedsters each year.
     A staple on the competitive and social calendar for more than three decades, the very sells out all of its 15,000 entry spots months in advance, with past California preps commenting about the feel-good setting which keeps them coming back for the beachside challenge. Top placers earn official race sweatshirts, which more than a few runners admit is all the lure they need.
     This year's event was another fast affair, with foreigners snagging the first four finish spots on the men's side and the top three places in the women's side. Among the "locals", however, it was once again Brett Gotcher who came away with top domestic honors by placing fifth along the flat and relatively fast 6-miler (including one generous downhill segment of descent from a bridge). "Goatch", as he has been tabbed by friends, was timed in 29:13 (a 4:52 average per mile). Morocco's Karim El Mabchour won the race by six seconds over Ethiopia's Alena Reta, 27:53 to 27:59 (a 4:39 average per mile for the winner).
      Gotcher, who shined under a mid-mileage program at Aptos HS in his prep days, recently graduated from Stanford University in a successful stint which saw the former Central Coast Section star compete internationally for Team USA at the Pan American Junior Games in 2003 and help lead the Cardinal to success at the NCAA level.
      Gotcher, who needede to run 68 seconds faster to earn $1,000 for a third-place finish, was the top local at Wharf To Wharf for the seventh consecutive year. He will be moving to Flagstaff, Az., at the end of this month to join the newly formed McMillian Running Elite program.
      Two of the nation's elite high school males -- and runners that are ranked 1st and 3rd in the DyeStatCal.com pre-season all-state rankings -- jousted for the first of what should be many battles this year. Willow Glen's Mohamed Abdalla gained an early advantage over Riverbank's German Fernandez, but Fernandez rallied in the final mile to erase a 10-second mid-race deficit and beat Abdalla by 10 seconds, 30:26 to 30:36, with the runners placing 7th and 8th, respectively. Fernandez, who missed considerable training last year due to injury after winning the CIF-State Division IV title as a sophomore in 2005, entered the Wharf To Wharf race recognized at the preseason top-rated runner in the state.
      Among the girls, the top high school placer was Katie Nast, who finished 21st among females in a field that boasted many current and former collegiate runners. Nast, from Saratgoa HS in the Central Coast Section, was timed in 38:55. Leah Kiprono of Kenya carried a torrid pace to emerge as the top female finisher, timed in a stunning 31:41 (a 5:20 average per mile for the six miles).

 

Male Top 100        Female Top 100

TOP 100 MEN

PLACE NAME TOWN ST TIME
===== ==================== =============== == =======
1 KARIM EL MABCHOUR MOROCCO 27:53
2 ALENE RETA ETHIOPIA 27:59
3 HARON LEGAT KENYA 28:05
4 JOHN ITATI KENYA 28:06
5 BRETT GOTCHER WATSONVILLE CA 29:13 (ex-Aptos HS/Stanford)
6 CATHAL LOMBARD ALBUQUERQUE NM 29:18
7 GERMAN FERNANDEZ RIVERBANK CA 30:26(Riverbank HS)
8 MOHAMED ABDALLA SAN JOSE CA 30:36 (Willow Glen HS)
9 CHRIS MOCKO STANFORD CA 30:39 (Stanford)
10 JEFF JACKSON SANTA ROSA CA 30:49
11 JACOB EVANS WATSONVILLE CA 30:50 (Ex-Aptos HS/now at Stanford)
12 BRETT CARTER STANFORD CA 30:56
13 JIMMY ELAM MANTECA CA 31:07 (Ex-Sierra HS)
14 MICHAEL COE LOMPOC CA 31:10 (Ex-Cabrillo HS/now at Cal)
15 JEFF GILL APTOS CA 31:28
16 ANDREW DIXON SAN RAMON CA 31:30 (Ex-Valley Christian HS/now at Westmont College)
17 JULIAN MARSH SAN FRANCISCO CA 31:40
18 CARL DAMBKOWSKI MONTEREY CA 31:52 (Ex-Granada HS/Stanford)
19 SEAN MARZOLF LODI CA 31:58
20 SCOTT HIMMELBERGER PALO ALTO CA 31:59
21 MARCOS CORONA SAN JOSE CA 32:08 (Ex-Willow Glen HS)
22 AJ ACOSTA OCEANSIDE CA 32:11 (Ex-el Camino HS/now at u of Oregon)
23 MARIO MENDOZA DAVIS CA 32:14
24 BATBILEG BOR DALY CITY CA 32:30 (San Francisco State)
25 KINDU EJIGU SANTA CLARA CA 32:34
26 JESUS CAMPOS KING CITY CA 32:35
27 JOSE P. AISPURO FREEDOM CA 32:37
28 JAIME HEILPERN SANTA CRUZ CA 32:42
29 ALAN JACKSON SACRAMENTO CA 32:45
30 KELI PARKER DAVIS CA 32:48 (ex-North Monterey County HS/now at UC Davis)
31 CHRIS BINSCHUS EUREKA CA 32:58
32 ARTURO GARCIA MILPITAS CA 32:58
33 BEAU GRADONE-ROGERS WATSONVILLE CA 32:59
34 JOSE PINA SAN JOSE CA 33:03
35 CRAIG LEE SANTA CLARA CA 33:08
36 JOSE A. (TO ROMAN WATSONVILLE CA 33:08
37 WILLIAM HOLLERAN SAN RAFAEL CA 33:10
38 CHRISTOPHER RATLIFF SANTA CRUZ CA 33:11
39 JOSEPH VIGLIENZONI SOQUEL CA 33:13
40 GARY BLANCO CHICO CA 33:16
41 VINCE RODRIGUEZ SANTA CLARA CA 33:17
42 CHRISTIAN IGVALT CHANDLER AZ 33:18
43 GARY TOWNE CHICO CA 33:21
44 PAUL BROYER SAN MATEO CA 33:21
45 MICHAEL ATWOOD SAN LEANDRO CA 33:28
46 RUSSELL PFAFF CLOVIS CA 33:28
47 MICHAEL BORDONI LOS ALTOS CA 33:29
48 JASON OSWALT PLEASANTON CA 33:29
49 GEORGI DINOLOV CAPITOLA CA 33:30
50 DAVID MOORE MARINA CA 33:30
51 DAYNE GRADONE WATSONVILLE CA 33:35
52 WALTER MAYEDA APTOS CA 33:38
53 BRENDAN SCANLON CONCORD CA 33:38
54 MICHAEL MATTHEWS SAN JOSE CA 33:39
55 ROB NAST SARATOGA CA 33:40
56 ROBERT GROVE FOLSOM CA 33:43
57 BRYAN HACKER COOL CA 33:44
58 IAN BLAIR ALEXANDRIA VA 33:45
59 JAVIER NARNAJO SOQUEL CA 33:45
60 SAM WILLIAMS SANTA CRUZ CA 33:46
61 KYLE FUJITSUBO RANCHO MURIETA CA 33:53
62 EDER TOSTADO WATSONVILLE CA 33:55
63 SCOTT MCCONVILLE GOLETA CA 34:00
64 MARTIN SPIERINGS SANTA CRUZ CA 34:01
65 ANDREW LAVALLEE FAIRFEILD CA 34:02
66 RYLAN HUNT LA SELVA BEACH CA 34:03
67 PATRICK RAINEY SCOTTS VALLEY CA 34:06
68 DAVID MOILANEN EAST PALO ALTO CA 34:06
69 DANIEL FILIP SAN JOSE CA 34:07
70 NICK CLINTON SAN JOSE CA 34:10
71 PETER CUSHMAN SAN FRANCISCO CA 34:13
72 PEDRO ZARAGOZA III LANCASTER CA 34:13
73 ORLANDO VELAZQUEZ DAVIS CA 34:18
74 JORN T. JENSEN MORGAN HILL CA 34:20
75 GREG HALES APTOS CA 34:22
76 CHANCE CAROTHERS WATSONVILLE CA 34:24
77 MITCH MORIARTY APTOS CA 34:31
78 AARON FELDMAN CAPITOLA CA 34:33
79 MARTIN MUMENTHALER REDWOOD CITY CA 34:36
80 MATTHEW HINDE SAN FRANCISCO CA 34:36
81 RYAN ALDRIDGE SANTA ROSA CA 34:36
82 MATTHEW RILEY CASTRO VALLEY CA 34:37
83 CHATHAM ROSS ALAMEDA CA 34:39
84 STEVEN CARDINALLI SANTA CRUZ CA 34:43
85 THOMAS THRUSH SAN JOSE CA 34:44
86 KENNETH WILNER BELMONT CA 34:49
87 LYNN MENTZER SPARKS NV 34:50
88 JONATHAN RIHEL DANVILLE CA 34:53
89 ERIC BOND TURLOCK CA 35:03
90 CARLOS CASTELO SANTA ROSA CA 35:04
91 ANDREW GALLAGHER SANTA ROSA CA 35:06
92 KENDALL WU PALO ALTO CA 35:06
93 ERIC WILLIAMS MT. HERMON CA 35:09
94 SCOTT CLARK CASTRO VALLEY CA 35:09
95 MATT SMITHEY APTOS CA 35:18
96 MICHAEL CONNORS SAN CLEMENTE CA 35:27
97 DAVID JONES DANVILLE CA 35:31
98 WES DAVISON SOQUEL CA 35:32
99 JOSEPH ANGULO FRESNO CA 35:33
100 DERRICK PETERMAN SAN JOSE CA 35:34

 

TOP 100 WOMEN

PLACE NAME TOWN ST TIME
===== =================== =============== == =======
1 LEAH KIPRONO KENYA 31:41
2 ALEMTSEHAY MISGANAW ETHIOPIA 31:45
3 ANGELINA MUTUKU KENYA 32:34
4 LINDSAY CHRISTMAN SANTA CRUZ CA 35:57 (Ex-Harbor HS)
5 DANA JONES DANVILLE CA 36:21 (recent Amador Valley HS grad)
6 KATHERINE BLOEMKER SHAWNEE KS 36:34
7 CHRISTINE KENNEDY LOS GATOS CA 36:55
8 MELINDA DINAPOLI SARATOGA CA 36:56
9 TORI TYLER LOS ALTOS CA 37:28 (ex-Gunn HS/now at Washington)
10 CHRISTIE BORAK BERKELEY CA 37:36
11 MARIA TRUJILLO LOS GATOS CA 37:38
12 TIFFANY HALL VACAVILLE CA 37:48 (Ex-Vacaville HS)
13 LINDSAY ALLEN MARTINEZ CA 37:52 (ex-College Park HS/Stanford)
14 ELIZABETH R MAYEDA APTOS CA 38:04 (ex-Aptos HS/Cal)
15 CATHERINE DUBAY SANTA ROSA CA 38:07
16 ANGELA MATTHEWS SACRAMENTO CA 38:14
17 YOKO SENGA SAN FRANCISCO CA 38:21
18 MIKAYLA MURPHY SAN LUIS OBISPO CA 38:26
19 KRISTINA PARK SARATOGA CA 38:27
20 KATRIN TOBIN SANTA CRUZ CA 38:54
21 KATIE NAST SARATOGA CA 38:55 (Saratoga HS)
22 LORNA THOMSON SAN FRANCISCO CA 38:56
23 JAMIE BASSO LIVERMORE CA 39:03
24 ROXANNE TOWNE CHICO CA 39:15
25 KIMBERLY HAMMETT SAN JOSE CA 39:24
26 SHELLY HACK KIRKLAND WA 39:52
27 SHANNON WESTON SAN FRANCISCO CA 39:55
28 YVONNE LUND CAMPBELL CA 39:56
29 MIRIAM HARTIG SANTA CRUZ CA 40:00
30 KAREN RIBBLE SAN FRANCISCO CA 40:03
31 MONICA NICHOLSON CAPITOLA CA 40:04
32 KARI ANNE BERTRAND GILROY CA 40:05
33 TARA CARREIRA LIVERMORE CA 40:11
34 KIMBERLY CLOUD TURLOCK CA 40:13
35 AMANDA HENRIQUES TAHOE CITY CA 40:13
36 MELISSA COHEN SOQUEL CA 40:13
37 TANYA FERREIRA ROYAL OAKS CA 40:14
38 LISA RENTERIA LOS GATOS CA 40:26
39 MICHELLE TOM LOS GATOS CA 40:33
40 SUZIE HAYES SUNNYVALE CA 40:34
41 SARA COHEN SOQUEL CA 40:35
42 KRISTEN BALL ROSEBURG OR 40:35
43 DEBORAH LEALE SAN JOSE CA 40:36
44 CARMEL BENSON SANTA CRUZ CA 40:37
45 MELLIE REGALADO ANTIOCH CA 40:38
46 ELISA ANGULO FRESNO CA 40:38
47 SARAH MEYER SANTA CRUZ CA 40:39
48 MO BARTLEY COOL CA 40:40
49 ELIZABETH WISTROM DAVIS CA 40:41
50 KATY HAYNES SANTA CRUZ CA 40:42
51 KIMBERLY EAST SANTA CRUZ CA 40:50
52 REBECCA CUTLER FRESNO CA 40:58
53 CHERYL WOLFLEY MODESTO CA 41:02
54 JANET SMITH SAN JOSE CA 41:04
55 SARAH RANKIN MENLO PARK CA 41:05
56 AVERY CANNON BURLINGAME CA 41:06
57 LIZ BUCKLEYWHEELER SANTA MONICA CA 41:09
58 VAL WALTERS SOQUEL CA 41:11
59 TAMMY DAVENPORT MOUNTAIN VIEW CA 41:19
60 HAILEY MOILANEN EAST PALO ALTO CA 41:21
61 CRISTA PHILLIPS SAN FRANCISCO CA 41:28
62 DARCI CASSINELLI SANTA CLARA CA 41:28
63 KAREN SAXENA PALO ALTO CA 41:29
64 DRUSIA DICKSON STANFORD CA 41:30
65 ANN ELAM MANTECA CA 41:40
66 KATIE JACOBSON APTOS CA 41:41
67 LAURIE SHEA SARATOGA CA 41:43
68 VANESSA LORDI LIVERMORE CA 41:44
69 KIMBERLY THOMAS SANTA CRUZ CA 41:50
70 CAITLIN SCHMITT KENTFIELD CA 41:53
71 LAURA SCHMITT KENTFIELD CA 41:53
72 SHELBY SCOTT FREEDOM CA 41:54
73 TERESA CLARK MOUNTAIN VIEW CA 42:08
74 HELENA WALDEN SUNNYVALE CA 42:10
75 MONIQUE SILVA APTOS CA 42:14
76 ANNE GOSCH CARMEL CA 42:16
77 INGRID LACY SANTA CLARA CA 42:17
78 MEGHAN MULLEN SOUTH SAN FRANC CA 42:22
79 RAMONA YOUNG WATSONVILLE CA 42:24
80 RYAN LEVERING SONORA CA 42:32
81 TANYA NARNAJO SOQUEL CA 42:35
82 TERESA CLAYTON WATSONVILLE CA 42:37
83 BROOKIE DETTERMAN SANTA CRUZ CA 42:40
84 KAREN LUKE SUNNYVALE CA 42:41
85 JESSICA VAN AUSDALL LA SELVA BEACH CA 42:43
86 JULIE ROHLOFF LOS GATOS CA 42:44
87 JEANNE MARSH RENO NV 42:49
88 HONOR FETHERSTON LOS GATOS CA 42:56
89 TRINITY MAGAS SANTA CRUZ CA 43:05
90 SHARI MARSHALL CRESTED BUTTE CO 43:10
91 ELLEN WALLACE SUNNYVALE CA 43:10
92 KAREN PERZYK SAN JOSE CA 43:14
93 MARIANNE ZEREBKO TAHOE CITY CA 43:14
94 CHRISTINA BARRIENTOS FELTON CA 43:18
95 MICHELLE UNGER SAN JOSE CA 43:28
96 SARAH RICO MOUNTAIN HOUSE CA 43:34
97 LINSEY HANSEN ANTIOCH CA 43:38
98 RENE HOLMES APTOS CA 43:40
99 ARIANA PEREZ LAFAYETTE CA 43:41
100 KELLENE DITLER SONORA CA 43:44