Brea 8K: Event Story
Sunday, February 26, 2006

1800 race participants paused before the start of the 15th Annual Brea 8K as Jenny Eckels, Brea Olinda High School senior, sang the "Star Spangled Banner". Brea Mayor, Roy Moore, and State Assemblywoman, Lynn Daucher, were on hand to start the race.

"Brea's Fastest Man" Kevin Broady (#133) led runners west on Birch Street at the start of the race. Kevin took 6th place overall with a time of 26:05 and was first in the 40-44 age group.

2004 and 2005 Brea 8K winner, Martin Pennell (#821) of Laguna Hills, battled Jesse Armijo (#57) from San Marcos down the stretch to the finish. Jesse won the 2006 Brea 8K with a time of 25:02 setting the new USATF certified course record. Martin was second with a time of 25:03, won his age group, and led the Cal Coast Team of Lutz Braun, Kevin Barda and Gloria Gomez to victory with a combined time of 1:49:03.

The women's race was won by Ceci St.Geme of Newport Beach, who completed her first Brea 8K in 29:24. Erin Petrocci (#834), of Placentia, was second at 30:41.

"Brea's Fastest Woman", Edith Martinez, finished the race in 31:11.

44 teams with 440 members faced friendly competition as they ran for the "food at the finish line".

The Equalizers, led by Brea's Mark Svet, swept the youth team category. Brea's "Pinkbackpack" team of Jose Moncada, Eric Yanoshick, Vanessa Hancock, John Svet and Jared Rouch recaptured the junior team title in 1:56:42. "The Dons" from Pico Rivera were second at 1:59.:04 and defending junior team champion "Wildcat Killers" of Placentia were close behind in third at 1:59:08. "Prefonteens and Mark" from La Habra were fourth in 1:59:21.

Race sponsors "A Snails Pace" had the fastest Masters (age 40+) team and Suzuki won the Grand Masters (age 50+) category. Suzuki, with 76 event participants, also won the "Eric Burton Team Spirit Award" for the biggest team.

"Team 130" from the police academy at Orange Coast College ran the entire race in step and had enough energy left to entertain the crowd by doing pushups at the finish line. They didn't take home any hardware but may have left with something better. The Whittier Police Officers' Association, a Brea 8K sponsor, had a recruiting table nearby.

The fastest team may have actually been the BJ's Pizza staff who frequently "ran" back to their restaurant on the other side of the Brea Mall for more pizza. Our special thanks to BJ's, Brea Bistro, Cabo Grill, California Pizza Kitchen, Diedrich Coffee, Farmer Boys, Fitness Grill, Hot Dog on a Stick, Jamba Juice, Lascari's, Olive Garden, Pasta Pravo, Progressive Produce, Red Robin, Snickers Marathon Bars, Souplantation and Sweet'n Fresh for hosting the "Best Finish Line in Orange County".