Bryan Fernandez made his presence felt at his first Nite Moves of the season on Wednesday, as the 15-year-old hunted down the 5k title in 16 minutes and 38 seconds.
The soon-to-be sophomore at Dos Pueblos, who won a Nite Moves 5k last year as a 14-year-old, is working his way back from a stress-fracture. His recovery seems complete, given his qualification last week in Las Vegas for the Junior Olympic Nationals in the 3000m.
“It’s good. I’m all the way back now,” Fernandez said.
Kylie Boyce leads her Irvine Aquatics Club teammates out of the water.
The good news for some of the other contenders is that Fernandez will only be racing on occasion, depending on his participation in a Nite Moves volunteer program. Race organizer Jake Clinton gives high school students a free pass the week after they donate their time to the event.
“I like running (Nite Moves) because it gives me a good benchmark 3 mile-5 k time in the middle of summer for cross (country), and a good workout also,” Fernandez explained.
Adrienne Binder won the 1k swim for the second straight week. Her time of 13:24 was a few seconds better than Zach Paris, who was followed out of the water next by 12-year-old Ben Brewer(13:33).
Aquathon champion Chris Braden exited the ocean in 11th place but was almost two minutes faster on the run course than any other swim-run competitor. Braden’s overall time was 33:46. Stepan Paul and Chris Arntz round out the top 3.
There was also a special team competition this week, and several members of the Irvine Aquatics Club went ahead and took on the challenge, along with athletes representing Santa Barbara Triathlon Club and Team XTerra. The six teenagers from Irvine said they normally train in a pool so the open water experience was a thrill. Even still, they all placed in the top ten amongst team competitors for the swim.
Nite Moves hits its half-way point next Wednesday with its 10th event of the season. Races begin at 6:30 followed by food and music and Leadbetter Beach.
Nice report Mr Dvorak. Central Coast Tri Club sent an 7 person squad down too and were in that first wave. The girls from Nova were outstanding and swam without suits…suits supposely give you an edge so thier perforamance was even a bit more impressive in that they are pool swimmers. Although the “gloom” rolled in the evening was outstanding and with the Acoordian player, polynesian dancers and Spencer and friends rounding out the entertainment the first of the two Semana Nautica evenings was a real hit.
Nice report Mr Dvorak. Central Coast Tri Club sent an 7 person squad down too and were in that first wave. The girls from Nova were outstanding and swam without suits…suits supposely give you an edge so thier perforamance was even a bit more impressive in that they are pool swimmers. Although the “gloom” rolled in the evening was outstanding and with the Acoordian player, polynesian dancers and Spencer and friends rounding out the entertainment the first of the two Semana Nautica evenings was a real hit.