With perfect weather for the event over 1,500 runners took part in the 22nd annual Hit The Road Jack Sunday.
The race, which began and ended at The Plaza, featured a 10k and 5k race. Valerie Young of Novato was the women’s overall winner in the 10k with a time of 36:31, which was also the fourth fastest time overall.
On the men’s side Sonoma High alum and cross-country coach John Litzenberg captured the overall 10k title with a time of 35:06, edging second-place finisher Vojta Ripa of Healdsburg (35:18) by 12 seconds.
The 5k event was dominated by Sonoma Valley High School track stars as 14-year-old Sonoma resident Selena Caruso finished first for the women with a time of 14:22 while fellow Dragon Nick Spector posted an impressive time of 11:31 to win the men’s side.
Volunteers keep Ox Roast cooking
Val Robichaud | Special to The Sun
The Ox Bosses watch over 1,000 pounds of roasting meat. The Corn Boss presides over pots of boiling water and simmering butter. And inside the food assembly tent, three meat-slicers are going non-stop, along with the eight plate assemblers, five cashiers, the salad team and a commissioner of coffee.
It’s 1 p.m Sunday on Sonoma Plaza. The Ox Roast crew is a well-oiled machine, and the first shift is about to lubricate.
Is that an adult beverage being poured for crew by a seemingly well-trained rehydration committee? “I hope so,” says longtime event organizer Howie Ehret. “They’ve earned it.” As one of the group who lit the coals at four that morning, he acknowledges a full day’s worth of work with a sip of cold beer. “I guess it’s five o-clock for me.” He’ll be around for 5 p.m., too.
Ehret started with the event when he was in the Navy, and he and fellow sailors manned the all-volunteer crew. Years later, he’s still at the helm, overseeing “friends, neighbors and anybody who wants to participate,” he said. “One way or another, they all love it.”
From the food crews to the ticket takers – “everyone you see out here, and all the folks you don’t” – Ehret says more than 100 volunteers participate.
The camaraderie – or is it something in the sauce? – brings volunteers back year after year. The Bell family has worked enough Roasts to have made an art out of cooking corn. “Boil, butter and serve,” says Corn Boss Pat Bell, giving away his secret recipe. And because 1,877 ears of corn don’t shuck themselves, he gets help from son Ted and wife Margaret. She would have gotten there sooner that morning, she said, but had to help slice 2,100 rolls of bread.
The sense of family and community permeate the Plaza like the smell of grilled beef. The 42nd annual event will raise about $9,000 for the Sonoma Community Center, but while SCC Executive Director Kathy Swett welcomes the support, “it’s more about the tradition.”
Hit the Road Jack XXII – 5K Top three finishers per division
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time Pace Time Back
Overall Female Winners
1 Selena Caruso Sonoma CA 1525 14 15 14:22 6:32/M
2 Heidi Thiele Santa Rosa CA 1488 14 17 14:30 6:35/M 00:08
3 Rika Goto Petaluma CA 755 15 21 15:02 6:50/M 00:40
Female 5 to 7
1 Celeste Rodriquez Boyes Hot Springs CA 539 7 179 22:07 10:03/M
2 Jacqueline Jones Petaluma CA 7 7 189 22:37 10:17/M 00:30
3 Mary Gallo Sonoma CA 456 6 345 29:13 13:17/M 07:06
Female 8 to 10
1 Eva Agardi American Canyon CA 229 8 58 17:56 8:09/M
2 Eden Llodra Sonoma CA 98 8 62 18:08 8:15/M 00:12
3 I. Quinn Jensen Sonoma CA 312 9 87 19:07 8:41/M 01:11
Female 11 to 13
1 Chloe Hall Petaluma CA 590 13 22 15:09 6:53/M
2 Jenny Nova Sonoma CA 57 11 31 16:01 7:17/M 00:52
3 Carissa Madson Novato CA 658 12 51 17:31 7:58/M 02:22
Female 14 to 16
1 Selena Caruso Sonoma CA 1525 14 15 14:22 6:32/M
2 Heidi Thiele Santa Rosa CA 1488 14 17 14:30 6:35/M 00:08
3 Rika Goto Petaluma CA 755 15 21 15:02 6:50/M 00:40
Female 17 to 19
1 Juliette Witous Sonoma CA 412 19 63 18:08 8:15/M
2 Krystyna Livingston Sonoma CA 723 18 88 19:08 8:42/M 01:00
3 Kelsey Minigan Sonoma CA 54 17 148 21:22 9:43/M 03:14
Female 20 to 29
1 Yessenia Salas-Khavira Rohnert Park CA 1600 25 46 17:21 7:53/M
2 Kathleen Amormino Sonoma CA 2181 26 84 18:57 8:37/M 01:36
3 Hannah Spencer Sonoma CA 557 22 96 19:30 8:52/M 02:09
Female 30 to 39
1 Amy Starr Walnut Creek CA 789 38 23 15:14 6:55/M
2 Coco Franco-Bruce Vallejo CA 1135 34 69 18:17 8:19/M 03:03
3 Dawn McIntyre Sonoma CA 736 36 154 21:32 9:47/M 06:18
Female 40 to 49
1 Lisa Radovich Santa Rosa CA 343 42 37 16:45 7:37/M
2 Sandra Frank Napa CA 554 43 55 17:51 8:07/M 01:06
3 Jenny Witous Sonoma CA 413 44 73 18:24 8:22/M 01:39
Female 50 to 59
1 Robin Stovall Santa Rosa CA 355 50 33 16:15 7:23/M
2 Sue Orosco Lafayette CA 47 52 75 18:26 8:23/M 02:11
3 Jacqueline Barbic Alameda CA 228 51 105 19:47 9:00/M 03:32
Female 60 to 69
1 Gail Purtell Sonoma CA 1454 62 271 26:05 11:51/M
2 Linda Marks Fairfield CA 182 60 349 29:29 13:24/M 03:24
3 Theodora Elston Sonoma CA 1585 65 375 30:18 13:46/M 04:13
Female 70 and over
1 Joanne Brown-Setzer Sonoma CA 149 70 536 41:33 18:53/M
2 Gail Randol Napa CA 137 75 591 46:17 21:02/M 04:44
3 Caroline Dillman Sonoma CA 213 78 610 51:36 23:27/M 10:03
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time Pace Time Back
Overall Male Winners
1 Nick Spector Glen Ellen CA 762 17 1 11:31 5:14/M
2 Brian King Sonoma CA 271 16 2 11:50 5:23/M 00:19
3 Kevin Poteracke Petaluma CA 1453 14 3 11:59 5:27/M 00:28
Male 5 to 7
1 Andrew McKale Sonoma CA 1597 7 112 20:04 9:07/M
2 Brian Barcenas Sonoma CA 2287 6 224 23:42 10:46/M 03:38
3 Roam Neff Sonoma CA 785 7 233 24:15 11:01/M 04:11
Male 8 to 10
1 Dustin Decker Petaluma CA 1324 10 35 16:29 7:30/M
2 Jeremy MacJling Sonoma CA 687 9 43 17:14 7:50/M 00:45
3 Max Herrias Novato CA 776 10 57 17:54 8:08/M 01:25
Male 11 to 13
1 Jesus Molina Boyes Hot Springs CA 571 13 11 13:52 6:18/M
2 Brad King Sonoma CA 273 11 14 14:19 6:30/M 00:27
3 Travis Claeys Sonoma CA 336 11 18 14:48 6:44/M 00:56
Male 14 to 16
1 Brian King Sonoma CA 271 16 2 11:50 5:23/M
2 Kevin Poteracke Petaluma CA 1453 14 3 11:59 5:27/M 00:09
3 Kiko Rodriguez Novato CA 2008 16 4 12:03 5:29/M 00:13
Male 17 to 19
1 Nick Spector Glen Ellen CA 762 17 1 11:31 5:14/M
2 Luigi Mendoza Novato CA 2228 17 7 13:12 6:00/M 01:41
3 Sam Strobino Santa Rosa CA 1595 19 13 14:04 6:24/M 02:33
Male 20 to 29
1 Joe Murtagh Petaluma CA 669 22 16 14:24 6:33/M
2 David Morey Lafayette CA 46 25 38 16:51 7:40/M 02:27
3 Brice Stuhr Sonoma CA 184 21 50 17:30 7:57/M 03:06
Male 30 to 39
1 Scott Yox Orinda CA 1094 36 19 14:56 6:47/M
2 Kevin Carlin Oakland CA 1223 30 34 16:26 7:28/M 01:30
3 Erik Edmark Antioch CA 727 34 41 17:12 7:49/M 02:16
Male 40 to 49
1 Edwin Richards Sonoma CA 411 43 8 13:13 6:00/M
2 Michael Burgess Hercules CA 1311 46 25 15:30 7:03/M 02:17
3 Kirk McGunagle Sonoma CA 158 46 27 15:40 7:07/M 02:27
Male 50 to 59
1 Greg Harris Sonoma CA 485 50 20 15:00 6:49/M
2 Paul Herrerias Novato CA 777 53 24 15:29 7:02/M 00:29
3 Dany Jacob Vallejo CA 916 56 28 15:44 7:09/M 00:44
Male 60 to 69
1 Robert Lutolf Sonoma CA 667 65 44 17:14 7:50/M
2 Julius Schillinger Sonoma CA 712 62 49 17:27 7:56/M 00:13
3 Craig Buckhout Sonoma CA 32 61 107 19:51 9:01/M 02:37
Male 70 and over
1 Elmo Shropshire Novato CA 613 72 79 18:37 8:28/M
2 Sam Hirabayashi Mill Valley CA 612 82 108 19:52 9:02/M 01:15
3 Phil Phythian Mill Valley CA 614 75 125 20:31 9:20/M 01:54
Hit the Road Jack XXII – 10K Top three finishers per division
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time Pace Time Back
Overall Female Winners
1 Valerie Young Novato CA 726 43 4 36:31 5:53/M
2 Yiou Wang Mill Valley CA 1504 24 7 37:27 6:02/M 00:56
3 Angela Matthews Sacramento CA 715 46 26 40:57 6:36/M 04:26
Female 8 to 10
1 Lillyanna Carranza Sonoma CA 620 10 399 1:01:10 9:51/M
2 Ingrid Borgesen Novato CA 1144 10 594 1:10:19 11:19/M 09:09
3 Emma Cooper Sonoma CA 724 10 723 1:27:49 14:08/M 26:39
Female 11 to 13
1 Bridget Vanoni Sonoma CA 1520 11 473 1:03:38 10:15/M
2 Hanna Lemaire Sonoma CA 1157 11 474 1:03:38 10:15/M
3 Christen Silkey Sonoma CA 1592 12 533 1:06:41 10:44/M 03:03
Female 14 to 16
1 Ashley Moffett Petaluma CA 319 14 66 45:25 7:19/M
2 Cassidy Hamilton Sonoma CA 189 15 117 48:55 7:53/M 03:30
3 Alexandra Middlebrook Sayre PA 1531 15 166 50:59 8:13/M 05:34
Female 17 to 19
1 Angela Schlitter San Mateo CA 1148 17 767 1:36:00 15:28/M
2 Jessie Maguire Napa CA 1236 18 783 1:40:50 16:14/M 04:50
3 Kirsten Amdahl Napa CA 1125 17 785 1:40:52 16:15/M 04:52
Female 20 to 29
1 Yiou Wang Mill Valley CA 1504 24 7 37:27 6:02/M
2 Ashlee Drady Santa Rosa CA 328 23 29 41:16 6:39/M 03:49
3 Jenna Zack Pleasant Hill CA 1170 22 48 43:53 7:04/M 06:26
Female 30 to 39
1 Katie Karst Martinez CA 1402 30 42 42:40 6:52/M
2 Deeann Smith Oceanside CA 1117 39 56 44:47 7:13/M 02:07
3 Anne Marie Sebastiani Sonoma CA 1472 37 63 45:19 7:18/M 02:39
Female 40 to 49
1 Valerie Young Novato CA 726 43 4 36:31 5:53/M
2 Angela Matthews Sacramento CA 715 46 26 40:57 6:36/M 04:26
3 Indra Leibowitz San Ramon CA 72 45 41 42:38 6:52/M 06:07
Female 50 to 59
1 Janet Caiw Sonoma CA 691 58 82 46:49 7:32/M
2 Debbie Santa Maria San Ramon CA 1540 50 152 50:24 8:07/M 03:35
3 Danielle Herrerias Novato CA 778 51 161 50:49 8:11/M 04:00
Female 60 to 69
1 Mercedes Escobedo Fairfield CA 775 64 368 59:35 9:36/M
2 Lynn Davis Windsor CA 403 62 376 59:57 9:39/M 00:22
3 Sayonna Martin Sonoma CA 814 63 459 1:03:03 10:09/M 03:28
Female 70 and over
1 Barbara Robben Berkeley CA 292 75 518 1:05:49 10:36/M
2 Anne Golseth Sonoma CA 201 72 765 1:35:57 15:27/M 30:08
3 Debbie Warrick Antelope CA 2057 99 806 1:47:35 17:19/M 41:46
Place Name City Bib No Age Overall Time Pace Time Back
Overall Male Winners
1 John Litzenberg Glen Ellen CA 551 39 1 35:06 5:39/M
2 Vojta Ripa Healdsburg CA 1155 19 2 35:18 5:41/M 00:12
3 Jorge Maravilla Angwin CA 673 31 3 36:20 5:51/M 01:14
Male 8 to 10
1 James Reed Sonoma CA 17 10 458 1:02:58 10:08/M
2 Shane O’Hare Petaluma CA 953 9 501 1:05:07 10:29/M 02:09
3 Andreas Borgesen Novato CA 1143 10 598 1:10:31 11:21/M 07:33
Male 11 to 13
1 Jacob Finton Rohnert Park CA 859 12 104 48:15 7:46/M
2 Sam Falkenberg Petaluma CA 1342 13 189 51:47 8:20/M 03:32
3 Kevin Moffett Petaluma CA 318 11 216 53:10 8:34/M 04:55
Male 14 to 16
1 Evan Quigley Martinez CA 834 14 22 40:38 6:33/M
2 Joshua Potter Antioch CA 235 15 32 41:27 6:40/M 00:49
3 Alex Conner Sonoma CA 1319 15 69 45:40 7:21/M 05:02
Male 17 to 19
1 Vojta Ripa Healdsburg CA 1155 19 2 35:18 5:41/M
2 Daniel Pannell Inverness CA 332 19 125 49:25 7:57/M 14:07
3 Nigel Armstrong Sonoma CA 1235 19 145 50:03 8:04/M 14:45
Male 20 to 29
1 Sean Pont Mill Valley CA 763 24 5 37:16 6:00/M
2 Luis Sanchez San Francisco CA 748 21 23 40:41 6:33/M 03:25
3 Florian Walter Glen Ellen CA 1164 20 40 42:35 6:51/M 05:19
Male 30 to 39
1 John Litzenberg Glen Ellen CA 551 39 1 35:06 5:39/M
2 Jorge Maravilla Angwin CA 673 31 3 36:20 5:51/M 01:14
3 Clkinton Stevens Calistoga CA 1543 35 8 38:15 6:10/M 03:09
Male 40 to 49
1 Jonathan Reid San Francisco CA 652 40 6 37:20 6:01/M
2 Doug Waits Windsor CA 359 45 9 38:42 6:14/M 01:22
3 Ken Camet San Jose CA 646 48 13 39:27 6:21/M 02:07
Male 50 to 59
1 Yoshi Uemura Arcata CA 252 54 18 40:18 6:29/M
2 Roberto Donairg Richmond CA 610 55 20 40:27 6:31/M 00:09
3 Alan McGauran Yountville CA 808 51 38 42:16 6:48/M 01:58
Male 60 to 69
1 Jim Howe San Jose CA 645 63 28 41:15 6:39/M
2 Jon Hermstad Rohnert Park CA 356 60 49 44:09 7:07/M 02:54
3 Doug Butt Fairfield CA 291 64 74 46:04 7:25/M 04:49
Male 70 and over
1 Ron Daniels Vallejo CA 21 70 237 53:58 8:41/M
2 John Milne Vallejo CA 765 77 343 58:36 9:26/M 04:38
3 John Amos Pleasant Hill CA 625 72 506 1:05:26 10:32/M 11:28
