Over 7,000 runners and walkers took to the streets of downtown Denver for the fifth annual Hot Chocolate 15K/5K. With overcast skies and temperatures in the mid 30’s, it made for a perfect running conditions. Starting and finishing at Civic Center Park and snaking through Lower Downtown, participants were taken on a tour that included views of Coors Field, Benedict Fountain and Fuller Park.
In the 15K, Boulder’s Ugis Jocis ran away from the field to cross the finish line first is a brisk 49:51 (5:21 pace). Second place went to Cale Allen of Denver in 51:28. Christopher Rego of Colorado Springs took third in 51:37. Top master’s honors went to Kenneth Wegener of Louisville, who ran the 15K in 61:22. For the ladies, Emily Van Meter of Colorado Springs took top honors in 58:46. Arvada’s Krystalanne Curwood captured the silver medal, crossing the finish line in 59:23. Rounding out the podium was Grace Tinkey of Colorado Springs in 1:00:28. Brenna Ellington of Littleton was the top master’s athlete in 65:40. The 15K had 2,838 finishers.
The accompanying 5K was led out by members of the Girls on the Run running club. Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based positive youth development program for young girls. The Rocky Mountain chapter has nearly 5,500 girls enrolled in the program. This year, Allstate, the title sponsor of the Hot Chocolate race, donate $5,000 to the Girls on the Run Rockies chapter.
Keary Buttrill of Albuquerque was the first finisher in the 5K, crossing the line in 18:22. He was followed by Stanley Roffe of Broomfied (19:22) and Nolan Kamm of Parker (19:39). Marcus Brooks of Highlands Ranch was the top master’s running, crossing the line in 20:18. In the female race, Larkspur’s Isabella Prosceno took top honors, crossing the finish line in second place overall in 18:55. Rochelle Persson of Colorado Springs was the second female finisher and top master’s runner in 20:11. Madison Shults of Lafayette took the bronze in 21:03. The 5K had 4,560 finishers.
The 2019 Hot Chocolate 15K/5K will take place on October 6, 2019. Registration is open at http://www.hotchocolate15k.com.