Sports

Neil Growdon races to the finish line in the two-mile run and walk event that was held as part of the 20th annual Paiute Meadows trail events Saturday, May 18. Growdon won first place in the event and was awarded as the overall male winner.  Photos by Maddie Musante

May 29 — Runners, walkers and bikers of all ages came out to enjoy spring and get active by participating in the 20th annual Paiute Meadows trail events hosted by Lassen Land and Trails Trust Saturday, May 18.

Participants competed in a one-mile kid’s walk, one-mile senior’s walk, two-mile run and walk, two-mile run, 4.7-mile run, seven-mile bike ride and 14-mile bike ride.

Each of the courses offered varied terrain for participants, most passing along a creek, through a beautiful meadow and ponderosa pine forest. Awards were given out for overall and age groups, as well as randomly drawn raffle prizes for participants. Lunch was available for spectators and participants.

Kids’ one-mile run results

Rhys Cooper came in first place in the one-mile kids’ run with a time of six minutes and 31 seconds. Kieran Dollar came in second with a time of 6:45 and Jesse Sandoval was third with a time of 6:48. Cooper was the overall male winner and Dollar was the overall female winner. In the 1 to 6 age group, Hayes Price, Colby Johnson, Andrew Tim, Autumn Robbins, Jordan Heffner and Addison Dollar won awards. In the 7 through 9 age group, Cooper, Sandoval, Michael Cizin, Kieran Dollar, Ella Maioli and Chalise Robbins were awarded. Aaron Nickey, Shannon Farrell, Charity Richards and Kenna Duncan won awards in the 10 to 12 age division.

Senior one-mile walk results

Barbra Ahrends took first place in the senior one-mile walk with a time of 15:58, Sawyer Ahrens was second with a time of 22:04, Marion Snider was third with a time of 23:24 and Jan Salsbery was fourth with a time of a 25:50. Barbara Ahrends was given the top female award in the event. Snider was given the award for most years participating.

Two-mile run and walk results

Neil Growdon took first place in the two-mile run and walk event, finishing in 13 minutes and six seconds. Ariana Miranda was second with a time of 13:09 and Lawrence Martinez was third with a time of 13:10. Growdon won the award for overall male and Miranda won the award for overall female. Growden, Miranda, Aidan Motheral and Mary Cizin were given awards in the 1 to 19 age group. In the 20-29 age group, Heidi Martinez and Bobbie Kirkpatrick were awarded. Camille Buehler and Pamela Beaujon won awards in the 30-39 age group. In the 40-49 age group, Janet Porter and Kris Szovati received awards. Patty Forero was awarded in the 50-59 age group. Gerald Douglass won an award in the 70 and up age group.

Two-mile walk results

Gabor Szovati won first place in the two-mile walk, finishing in 25 minutes and 42 seconds. Claire Chapple came in second place with a time of 27:05 and Franc Giustino got third with a time of 28:27. The top three male finishers were Szovati, Giustino and Nathan Mortell. Chapple, Codi Mortell and Mimi Rena were the top three female finishers.

4.7-mile run results

Adam Carrillo was the winner of the 4.7-mile run with a time of 28:12. Travis Szostak took second place, finishing with a time of 30:01 and Michael Rivas got third place with a time of 31:52.

Awards in the 1 to 19 age group went to Joseph Dandois, Jesus Torres, Amarisa Miranda and Kennedy Mitchell. Carrillo, Edwin Blaha, Stephanie Johnson and Tiffany Russell won awards in the 20-29 age division. In the 30-39 age group, awards went to Szostak, Jason Farina, Prairie Burt and Heidi Mena. Sean Buehler, James Daniels, Lisa Balestrini and Andrea DeSilva were awarded in the 40-49 age group. Mike Rivas, Ray Bailey and Christi Whitcome won awards in the 50-59 age group. In the 60-69 age group, Harry Hicks and Ed Gann won awards, while Martin Balding was awarded in the 70 and up age group.

Seven-mile bike ride results

Paul Davainis took first place in the seven-mile bike ride with a time of 37:51, while Dean Growdon came in second with a time of 39:41. Davainis was awarded as the overall male winner.

14-mile bike ride results

In the 14-mile bike ride, Frank Winters took first place, finishing with a time of 59:54. Chad Harper got second place with a time of 1:00:13 and Sean Buehler came in third with a time of 1.03.38. Winters was the overall male winner. Shayla Ashmore was the overall female winner.

Joey Beck works the pitcher’s mound for the Lassen High School Grizzlies during one of their home games this season. Beck has been selected to play for the North high school all-star baseball team in the Chico Breakfast Lions Club Bob Busch Classic.  Photo by Maddie Musante

May 28 — Joey Beck, a senior at Lassen High School, has been chosen to play for the North high school all-star baseball team in the Chico Breakfast Lions Club Bob Busch Classic in Chico Saturday, June 1.

The North-South game will be played at 6 p.m. at Doryland Field in the Hooker Oak Recreation Area in east Chico.

Beck is one of 18 graduating seniors chosen from schools located from Red Bluff to the Oregon line.

Beck is a left-handed pitcher who posted a .414 batting average this year along with seven doubles and three home runs. On the mound he was 6-1 with a 2.26 earned run average, according to statistics on MaxPreps.com. Earlier this year, Beck accepted a scholarship to attend and play baseball for the Western Nevada College Wildcats.

The North team is coached by Todd Buck of Foothill High School.

On the same day the Lions will host a North-South high school all-star softball game at 2 p.m. on a field in the same complex. North coach is Karen Fifield of Shasta High School. Both games feature 18-player senior rosters and are nine innings.

Net proceeds go to a Lions charity.

May 23 — The Susanville Area Bicycle Association is inviting bikers, hikers, runners and walkers of all ages and skill levels to the Bizz Johnson Trail at 6 p.m. Tuesday evenings.

The weekly event is part of an outdoor series the association will be putting on through October. The event will begin at the kiosk on the west side of Richmond Road by the caboose, across the street from the Historic Railroad Depot. However, participants can join anywhere along the way.

Everyone is welcome to get active on the trail in whichever way they choose, whether it is running, biking, walking or jogging. Families, children, dogs and strollers are all welcome. After getting active on the trail, participants are also welcome to gather at the Pioneer Saloon.

Many active walkers, runners and bikers are weary of heading outdoors alone at this time of year because of the threat of mountain lions. However, the Susanville Area Bicycle Association says the Tuesday night event is a way for people to get out and be active without worrying about such threats because having so many people on the trail will deter predators.

“I feel strongly that local trails are not getting used more extensively because people are afraid of mountain lions,” said Dan Brown, who is helping organize the weekly event. “My solution is to attempt to have people just go with other people or in groups so they feel safer. Hopefully too, once they are familiar with being out they will not be as concerned and can get to know others."

According to a press release from the Susanville Area Bicycle Association, the goal is to have enough people so there are at least two people going a similar pace. With lots of people on the trail at once it should be safer and more enjoyable. You won’t be worried about mountain lions.

Participants are encouraged to go their own pace and cover as much distance as they would like. If there are people going faster than you want to, just wave goodbye and say, “Have a nice time. See you later.” Do only what you would like to at any speed and don’t be pressured into an exertion level greater than what you’re comfortable with.

The distance and amount of time is up to each individual, however, the Susanville Area Bicycle Association said most people will probably go one to two hours, but any amount of time is OK, from 20 minutes to three hours.

The Tuesday night event will also cover the new South Side Trail, which goes from Hobo Camp to the bypass trail around the big tunnel, about five miles up the Susan River Canyon.

Participants can ride the bus to the trail from Historic Uptown Susanville.

It is strongly recommended that each person bring water, identification, a snack, cell phone and a light if you plan to be out after dark. Bicycle riders should bring a helmet, a bike in safe, working condition, a spare tube, patch kit, tire levers and a valve adapter. Any person younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Dog owners are asked to bring a leash and bags for their dogs.

For more information, email Brown at dan@bicyclebananas.com.