Julian Runner Scores in Annual High School Event
By Bobbi Zane

Dana Pettersen shakes the raffle tickets during the fundraiser for the annual 5K and 10K races.

Noah Sloan, a Julian High School track and cross country star, took first place in the annual 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Nov. 4.

Sloan, 18, ran the distance from the high school parking lot to the carriage turnaround on Farmer Road in 18:17, speeding past 157 other contestants. Just a few minutes behind Sloan, was 12-year-old Justin Brady, also a Julian student, who did the distance in 24:23 minutes.

According to the official results, several other Julian residents placed in the top 50 of this race, including Melanie Elghoroury, 36, 28:19; Norman Kirk, 52, 28:25; and Patty Koch, 31:30.

Tom Naylor, 47, placed highest in the longer 10K event that drew runners from all over San Diego County and as far away as Orange County and Arizona. Naylor's time of 52:34 put him in 41st place. Julian runners placing in the first 100 of this contest included: Jean Duffy, 36, 1:03:35; Joey Davis of Santa Ysabel, 35, 1:05:19; Lance Deibler, 50, 1:05:22; and Bettie Rikansrud, 62, 1:07:26.

They're off. About 130 runners competed in the 10K portion of the Julian race. Brandon Mills of San Diego finished first with a time of 39:40. Photo by bobbi Zane

This was the 13th annual edition of the event, which raises funds for the Julian High School Eagle Booster Club. Consisting of three events, the 10K run to the Menghini Winery and back, the 5K run/walk and a 1K kids walk on the high school track, the race is produced by Kathy Loper events and sanctioned by the USAT&F.