These participants in the Celebrate Westlake children’s 6-and-under half-mile fun run are off to a determined start. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

Records shattered in men’s, women’s 5-mile run
By Kevin Kelley
Westlake
Published Sept. 6, 2006

Unseasonably cool temperatures helped Celebrate Westlake winners in the men’s and women’s divisions of the 5-mile run set new course records Saturday.

Celebrate Westlake founder and race chairman Bud Hagy attributed the new records to the record-low temperatures.

“It was the perfect weather for running,” he said.

According to National Weather Service records, the temperature Saturday morning at 8:30 — the time the race began — was 61 degrees.

While it drizzled at times during the 5-mile race and 3.4-mile walk, heavy rains held off until about 10 minutes into the awards ceremony that began around 11 a.m. The ceremony’s emcee, former local broadcaster Connie Dieken, cheerfully announced the winners’ names while race organizers handed out awards, despite a downpour that caused race participants to head for cover under tents and trees.

Mohammed Amyn, a native of Morocco who now lives in Philadelphia, won the men’s division with a record time of 23:12. His pace was 4:38 a mile.

Amyn beat the record of 23:24 set by last year’s winner, John Itaiti. Itaiti did not participate in this year’s race due to a prior commitment, said Dave Camarino, race director.

“I am happy to win here,” Amyn told West Life. “I like this competition.”

Amyn said his goal was to set a course record. Just one week prior, he ran a 5-mile race in a time of 22:49. “So today it’s easy for me to break this record,” he said.

Henry Gituka of Kenya was second with a time of 23:36.

Lyudmila Biktasheva of Russia won the women’s race with a record time of 26:13, topping the record of 26:45 set by last year’s winner, Amy Yoder-Begley. Yoder-Begley was not on hand to defend her title.

“It was a good race with good organization,” Biktasheva told West Life.

She said the weather was just fine for her. “For a Russian, it was no problem,” she said.

Local participants finished strong in the 3.4-mile walk. Westlake resident Carmella Stross finished first overall, crossing the finish line just one second ahead of the men’s top walker, Tim Bailey of Rocky River. Stross’ time was 33:48. Of the top 25 walkers, 11 were from Westlake. One of those was the city’s mayor, Dennis Clough, who finished 11th overall.

In the 50-and-under category for the women’s walk, the top three finishers were all from Westlake.

A complete list of winners can be found online at www.celebratewestlake.com/results/.