Last Sunday California’s Dockweiler Beach welcomed novice runners, track veterans, and time-honored Olympic idols to the 14th annual Keep L.A. Running Charity Run. In a record field of over 2,000 participants, experience bested younger legs; this year’s male and female 10K victors were not only “over the hill”, but over the half-century mark.

For 54 year-old men’s 10K winner Fred Arapmayiek, age appeared of little consequence as he confidently set the pace from the outset. Years of competition, which include a sub-hour half marathon and second place finish in the 10,000m at the NCAA championships, led Arapmayiek to an impressive-at-any-age 34:25 victory. Greg Colburn crossed the line just over a minute behind Arapmayiek as runner-up.

In the women’s race, all eyes were on Joan Benoit Samuelson. The first-ever female Olympic marathon champion returned to the city of her 1984 gold medal win not only as spokesperson for the event, but as a challenger in the 10K. Twenty-three years after Olympic gold, the 50-year-old running legend still dominates in a field of younger competitors.

Samuelson’s 37:17 performance, ahead of second place Haley Sain’s 40:23, adds another success to an already illustrious arsenal and attests to her recognition as matriarch of American distance running.

Victory for the men’s 5K went to Tereso Yanes in 16:06 followed by Damon Coffman in 16:45 and Joey Bianchi in 17:20. Laura Mikelson secured a first place finish for the women in 17:30, nearly two minutes ahead of runner-up Chelsea Johnstone. With a time of 20:07, Lily Zepeda was the third female to complete the 5K course.

Research sources and for more information: [Daily Breeze], [Keep LA Running]

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