Kvietkus, McElrea deliver 10K wins at Kent’s 36th annual Christmas Rush Fun Run

Johnny Kvietkus and Erica McElrea topped the men’s and women’s 10K fields at the city of Kent’s 36th annual Christmas Rush Fun Run last Saturday.

Last year’s race runner-up, Kvietkus, 28, of Renton, completed the 6.2-mile course in 33 minutes, 30 seconds. The run started and finished at Hogan Park at Russell Road, making a big loop through the Kent Valley between Meeker Street and South 212th Street.

Edson Zaldivar, 23, was second (33:52) and August Byzinker, 38, was third (37:00).

McElrea, 36, captured the women’s title, stopping the clock in 39:36. Mariangela Cruz, 31, was second (40:33) and Katherine Thompson, 27, was third (41:34).

In the 5K race, Sam Lingwall, 18, won the men’s division (16:37) and Somer Kreisman, 29, paced the women’s field (19:22). The 5K was a modified, out-and-back course that took runners along Riverbend Golf Course on their return trip to the finish line. A total of 230 runners completed the 10K, and another 837 finished the 5K. BuDu Racing certified and chip-timed both races. Race-day highlights include prize drawings and awards for the top-five finishers in each age group, special activities and vendor booths.




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