Olympian Derek Mandell and Kristina Ingvarsson can plant their first place prizes after being top male and female finishers of the GRC 40th Tumon Beach 5.5 Mile run Saturday. (courtesy photo)
Off his second appearance in the Olympic Games, Derek Mandell jumped back into familiar territory – running the sands of Tumon Bay.
Just about 28 hours after arriving home from London, Mandell took the 40th GRC Tumon Bay 5.5 Mile Beach Run Saturday morning in 29 minutes, 43 seconds – the only runner to finish under 30 minutes.
The Tumon resident ran the pavement and sands of the Bay growing up and going to JFK High School just up the hill. Mandell returned home early Friday morning after competing in the 800m event during the London Games.
Submaster Charlie Epperson came in second place at 30:10 and fellow submaster Jesse Barragan came in four seconds after.
Kristina Ingvarsson was the first female finisher and ninth overall at 36:20. Shaori Shimakura was the second female coming in at 38:34.