Hunt Wins Pacific Beach 15K

PACIFIC BEACH —  For the second time in as many races, Thom Hunt’s fate was decided at the 10K mark of a race. This time, however, the Coronado resident came out a winner.

Hunt ended a dual with Kevin McCarey Saturday with a quick surge at the 10K mark to win the Pacific Beach Toyota 15K in 45:23. McCarey held on for second (45:37).

Sue Berenda, who finished second to Monica Joyce in the Buick 10K, won the women’s race in 53:14. Alpine’s Mindy Ireland was second in 54:44.

Two week’s ago, Hunt was in a similar dual with Ireland’s Jerry Kiernan in the America’s Finest City Half Marathon. And in a move similar to Hunt’s Saturday, Kiernan put Hunt away with a surge after six miles.

“I was trying to run as smooth as I could,” Hunt said. “I figured somewhere after the 10K, I’d move if there was somebody there. It seemed as good a time as any.”

Hunt, who is preparing for the Twin-Cities Marathon (Oct. 6), was one of four runners in front at the 5K mark. Hunt, McCarey, Steve McCormick, the course record holder at 44:56, and Jim Howard crossed the 5K in 15:04.

By the 10K, however, Hunt and McCarey were alone at 30:02. The two pulled away shortly after four miles. Hunt appeared to be running easily at the 10K Saturday. For comparison, his 10K split at the AFC Half Marathon was 28:45.

The four leaders finished well apart from each other. Howard was third in 45:58 and McCormick faded to fourth (47:51).

Jim O’Neil, a 60-year-old runner from La Jolla, broke the American record for 60-and-over runners with a 55:06. The old mark was 57:49. At 54, O’Neil clocked a 54:35 over the same course.