Glendora PD, La Verne Take 2nd Place in Relay Race

Officers with the Glendora Police Department and La Verne experienced what is being described as a "history-making year" in the Baker To Vegas Challenge Cup Relay Race.

The combined team took 2nd place this year in the 120-mile relay race April 13 to 14, with runners representing every rank of the Glendora Police Department. Over 230 teams competed, consisting of 5,900 runners, including officers from Canada, Germany and Australia. The team came in with a time of 16 hours, 34 minutes and 54 seconds, officials said in a statement.

“In the 20 years that Glendora Police Department has competed in B-to-V, this is the first year that we’ve had a runner compete from each rank of the department,” said Rob Castro, Glendora police chief.

The race was the brainchild of the Los Angeles Police Department 29 years ago. In that time, the Baker to Vegas race has become the premier law enforcement athletic race in the country. The current race starts just outside the city of Baker, Calif., and travels along Highway 127 and ends in Pahrump, Nevada, officials said.

The race is grueling, with temperatures reaching 105 degrees during the day, to below freezing at night. Runners can also face steep terrain, rain, snow and wind, officials said.

“The race is a great way to motivate people to get in shape, and it builds bonds and provides an immense sense of pride for everyone associated with it,” Castro said.

Many area businesses donated to the team, including ACE Hardware, America's Christian Credit Union and Glendora Dodge.