Lafayette Man Wins Stars and Stripes Run In Concord

They rose early Sunday, laced up their sleek shoes and raced the streets of Concord, dreaming of glory and perhaps the Rotary Club breakfast after therace.

In the second annual Stars & Stripes 5K Run and Walk starting and finishing at Todos Santos Plaza, the women’s winner was Macy Kreutz, 15, of Highlands Ranch, in 19:40. The men’s winner was Jesse Regnier, who turned 24 on July 2, of Lafayette. His time was 15:29.

Regnier said he let “one of the kids” lead the race for the first minute or two and then he cruised into the lead. At that point, he said, he felt he had it won.

The course goes down the hill on Willow Pass Road from downtown and then turns around and goes right back up that hill headed for a big finish on Salvio Street at Todos Santos Plaza. At the Willow Pass turn, Regnier said he could see there was a runner close, so he powered his way up the hill.

That finish up the hill after the doubleback allows you to see the runners chasing you makes it “the most difficult finish mentally and physically,” Regnier said.

The fifth place finisher, and winner in the 40-49 age group, was Kevin White, 46, of Clayton. He likes the finish as the runners turn from a block on Galindo, right on Salvio and then hear the rise of the crowd noise of the plaza, echoing off the buildings.

The morning started with a kids fun run. The event was sponsored by the Concord Police Association and Astound Cable. Proceeds from this community event benefit the Monument Crisis Center of Concord and the CPA Community Fund that supports youth, senior and family programs and events.