Over 1,200 Participate in Annual Lopers Holiday Classic by Breeanna Jent - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events
directory

Over 1,200 Participate in Annual Lopers Holiday Classic

By Breeanna Jent, Staff Writer
December 4, 2013 at 03:19pm. Views: 195

The 24th annual Holiday Classic saw record-shattering participation this year as runners and walkers of all ages and physical abilities gathered in Loma Linda for the event, hosted by the Loma Linda Lopers and the city of Loma Linda. Beginning at 7 a.m. last Sunday, the annual Half Marathon, 5K run/walk and Elves Trot for children began near the Loma Linda Civic Center, where the courses also finished. Prior to the race start, hungry runners enjoyed a pancake breakfast served by the Crossroads Rotary Club of San Bernardino and participants also enjoyed a pre-race ceremony. "God was good to us," said Loma Linda Lopers President and Co-Race Director Jim Walling. "He gave us beautiful weather and a great turn out. Everyone had a good time." Runners ages 7 and up, participated in the event's 5K run and walk event, while the smaller ones had fun in the annual Elves Trot, where 3 to 6 year olds made their way for just about a quarter of a mile to earn Santa Claus medals. Each year, the Lopers puts on the event with the help and support of local community members and other organizations, explained Walling. "We have had tremendous support from our community, from the sheriff's station, from the fire station, from the city, Loma Linda University and the Rotary," said Walling. "For anyone who is thinking about participating next year, I highly recommend it." Next year's event will be the 25th and Walling explained that plans are already underway to make next year's event just as successful, if not more so. "We are immediately going into planning that — it's just been tremendous," said Walling. "Everyone had a great time and it's a real community event." To end the race, all half marathon and 5K finishers received Olympic-grade custom finishers medals. Medals were also awarded to the top three male and female finishers in each of the race's age groups in both the Half Marathon and 5K events. Trophies were awarded to the overall male and female finishers in each race; all registered Elves received Santa Claus medals. The Holiday Classic event is one of the largest events of the year for the Lopers and they spend many months training for it year-round. Runners and walkers of all ages meet Sunday mornings to participate in the club's training program, known as the Clinic, from August through March, where they train to compete in the Holiday Classic as well as large marathons including the LA Marathon and the Boston Marathon. The top three male and female overall half marathon race finishers are as follows: Males: 1. Robert Wallace, 32, of Lake Elsinore at 1:26:02 (First place) 2. Ismael Carillo, 30, of Moreno Valley at 1:28:02 (Second place) 3. Christopher Oltman, 25, of San Bernardino at 1:29:05 (Third place) Females: 1. Erin Skrettinglad, 35, of Murietta at 1:32:04 (Eighth place) 2. Carri Arrieta, 47, of Moreno Valley at 1:34:42 (10th place) 3. Melinda Driscoll, 38, of San Bernardino at 1:37:32 (18th place) The top three male and female overall 5K race finishers are as follows: Males: 1. Andrejs Galenieks, 29, of Redlands at 17:43 (First place) 2. Gabriel Kane, 26, of San Bernardino at 18:58 (Second place) 3. Jacob Rowe, 14, of Highland at 19:10 (Third place) Females: 1. Angela Erdmann, 31, of Loma Linda at 21:47 (16th place) 2. Caitlin Miller, 12, of Loma Linda at 21:59 (18th place) 3. Lisa Lopez, 27, of Upland at 22:42 (22nd place)

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 885

Athlete of the Week Christopher Michael Lemos, Redlands High School Junior and Varsity Quarterback, proudly represents the Terriers with his dedication, leadership, and passion for the game.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 1717

Redlands Pottery Project joins A.K. Smiley Public Library for a November 14 workshop designed for young artists ages 13 to 18. A lump of clay may not look like much at first. In the hands of a young artist, however, it can become a bowl, a decorative sculpture or an entirely unexpected creation.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.redlands.edu/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 2859

The University of Redlands Department of Theatre and Dance will present Día de los Muertos and Other Folk Tales November 5 through 8, 2026. Stories told by grandparents often become treasured parts of a family's history. Some are humorous, others mysterious, and many carry lessons that remain meaningful long after the storyteller is gone.

Photo Courtesy of: UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 954

A remote wildfire-monitoring camera overlooks a Southern California landscape. Redlands has partnered with UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia program to improve monitoring of areas near northern Redlands and the Santa Ana River wash.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.akspl.org/events/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 1935

Annual ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine will bring American history to life on November 21. On a November morning in Redlands, the sounds of fifes, drums and historic artillery will offer residents an opportunity to experience a chapter of American history that continues to influence the nation more than 160 years after the Civil War.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:18pm. Views: 843

The first years of a child's life are filled with milestones that families often remember forever. A baby's first smile, the first attempt to crawl and the first spoken words are moments of celebration. They can also bring questions, uncertainty and new responsibilities for parents learning how to care for a growing child.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.csusb.edu/

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 1051

CSUSB’s Department of Physics and Astronomy has earned recognition for it for its work to create a more inclusive, diverse and supportive physics department, earning the Bronze Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science Physics & Astronomy SEA Change program.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.naco.org/program/operation-green-light-veterans

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 2312

Operation Green Light returns November 4–11, encouraging residents to recognize military service and help veterans connect with available resources. As darkness settles over San Bernardino during the first week of November, green lights will illuminate several county buildings, transforming familiar government facilities into visible reminders of the sacrifices made by America's military veterans.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.authentikusa.com/

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 993

As America's most famous highway celebrates its centennial in 2026, San Bernardino reflects on the road that helped shape its neighborhoods, businesses and identity. Long before interstate highways became the preferred routes for cross-country travel, motorists making their way through San Bernardino followed a road that would become one of the most recognizable highways in American history.

Photo Courtesy of: Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 769

Muscoy Elementary students join SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano, Board of Education President Mayra Ceballos, Assistant Superintendents Dr. Sandra Rodriguez and Dr. Tasha Doizan, Director MaryRone Goodwin and San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. for the official ribbon cutting ceremony that opened the school’s new outdoor learning center.

Photo Courtesy of: https://riversiderecord.org/; A photo of Moreno Valley City Hall. (Alicia Ramirez/The Riverside Record) Credit: (Photo by Alicia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 1052

A city is often judged by what residents experience every day: the condition of its streets, the reliability of public services, the availability of recreational programs and the ease of obtaining information from local government. Behind those everyday experiences are departments and employees whose work rarely attracts national attention.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 946

Athlete of the Week Zachary Scott Perez, Senior at John W. North High School, is recognized as Athlete of the Week for his dedication and accomplishments as a student athlete.

--> -->