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Chocolate Runs Draw Participants From Across The State
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Running the 5k in full uniform were Modesto Police Department Detective Sean Dodge, left, and San Joaquin County Sheriffs Deputy Juan Mendez.

The 25th annual Oakdale Chocolate Festival began with a pair of runs early Saturday morning, with a one mile fun run/walk and a 5k event both offered.

Runners laced up their shoes, hydrated and braced themselves for the mile fun run/walk and followed up with the five kilometer race that started and ended on East G Street. With temperatures reaching near 80 degrees by 8 a.m., a total of 32 runners competed in the one mile run. Oakdale resident Dennis Schmidt took first place overall and in the male 40-49 age group with a time of 6:35.9. Crossing the line second overall was Fremont’s Rudy Van Pelt at 6:43.4, placing first in the 50-59 year old male age group. JR Mintz of Santa Clara was the overall third place finisher at 6:50.8, taking second place in the male 50 to 59 group.

First female across the line, fourth overall, was Christina Quitasol of San Diego, running the course in 7:17.7.

Other age group first place finishers included:

12 and under male: Griffen Howell, Modesto, 8:06.8; 12 and under female, Lucy Myers-Pecci, Modesto, 13:07.

Female 19 to 29, Angela Quitasol, Modesto, 15:40.2.

Male 30 to 39: John Williams, Atwater, 12:15.

Female 40 to 49: Danielle Myers, Modesto, 8:26.

Female 50 to 59: Gretchen Kummer, 10:05.

Male 60 to 69 – Mike Araiza, Modesto, 13:07.6; Female 60 to 69 – Kathleen Bordi, Manteca, 17:53.

Male 70 to 79: Bob Tennent, Modesto, 8:30.6.

Female 80 and over: Dolores Botelho, San Lorenzo, 32:39.

After the mile event was completed, a total of 117 runners packed the starting line for the 5k race. Taking first place overall honors in the 5k was Oakdale resident Matt Fitzgerald, finishing the race in 17:41.0, a pace time of 5:42 per mile for the course.

First place honors in the various age categories also went to the following:

Male 12 and under: Mike Chen of Modesto 26:51.2; 13-18: Oakdale’s James Forkner 18:46.63 (second place overall); 19-29: Darin Lugo, Modesto, 20:51.2; 30-39: James Franey of Valley Springs 19:01.7; 50-59: John Orcutt, Ripon, 21:37.4; 60-69: Larry Johnson, Murphys, 25:07.5; 70-79: Bob Tennent, Modesto, 29:51.4.

On the women’s side, the top overall finisher was Christina Quitasol of San Diego, taking first place honors in the Female 30 to 39 age group at 23:59.8, good enough for a 12th place finish among all 5k runners.

Also taking the first place medals, by age category, were: Female 12 and under Brooke Mullikin, Tracy, 27:04.4; 13-18: Yulissa Penaloza, Turlock, 30:53.9; 19-29: Cynthia Altamirano, Modesto 25:45.4; 40-49: Samantha Cresswell, Modesto, 27:44.7; 50-59: Debbie Kleinfelder, Modesto, 27:33.4; 70-79: Barbra Miller, Modesto, 27:52.3; and Hughson’s Violet Wesner finished in 1:04:23.9 in the 80 and over division.

Names, times and places were provided through On Your Mark events.