Reflecting on his achievement as he received his Swag Bag prize at the main stage by Culver City Mayor Jim Clarke, Screenland 5K champion Terence Galasco said crossing the finish line first among 3,450 Screenland 5K guests paled to the joy of feeling the sense of community among hundreds of families in Culver City’s Centennial Celebration on Academy Awards Sunday.
“Going into the studios and passing by the entertainment and attractions along the entire course made it one of my most enjoyable races. I felt as if I was part of a large family. Everyone seemed to have a great time,” said the former Boston University distance titleholder, who completed the once-in-a-century event on a rain swept morning at 16 minutes, 13 seconds. Harley Richards placed second at 16:45, followed by Stevie Steinberg at 16:52.
Wendy Hamill, President of the Culver City Education Foundation, the major beneficiary of the Screenland 5K, welcomed the runners and walkers and then joined them on the course, which passed 15 entertainment attractions, snaked into Sony Pictures Entertainment and The Culver Studios, showcased 100 points of lore on the Centennial Trail and finished on the red carpet with Culver City PTA Council’s Scarlett O’Hara, Rhett Butler, and Wizard of Oz characters.
Culver Palms Meals on Wheels, Culver City Sandy Segal Youth Health Center, Culver City PTA Backpacks for Kids, Project Prom, Connecting to Cure Crohn’s and Colitis and Culver City Centennial Trail legacy project also benefit from race proceeds.
The El Marino Dolphins led by Principal Mina Shiratori held off the Fabulous Farragut Foxes captained by Principal Rebecca Lynch, 129-111, to capture the schools’ division. La Ballona School advanced to third place in the last three weeks, overtaking El Rincon School.
Tracing historic sites and moments in 100 points of Culver City lore on the Centennial Trail, Lori Escalera, Karim Sahli and Suzanne Breslin Mand produced a commemorative Race of the Century course map presented to every Screenland 5K guest.
More than 100 Swag Bags filled by local merchants were presented to the best Culver City movie and TV themed costumed guests in a fun contest led by Culver City Board of Education Vice President Anne Allaire.
Boy Scout Troops 50 and 108 ran, painted, parked and medaled to provide rewarding experiences for the more than 3,400 guests. Troop leaders George Young and Alan Elmont of Troop 50, the area’s longest serving troop, painted the yellow brick road, led the flag ceremony, and distributed finisher medals, among other cast member roles at the Academy Award morning event. The 16 scouts and parents of Troop 108, guided by Christophe Bragard, worked parking detail and greeted arrivers from the Culver City Metro Station among other duties. Mark Rehm and Ryan Yamashita led 30 participants from Marina Pack 79.
Held in the memory of the late Parks and Recreation Director Syd Kronenthal, who founded the city’s venerable Western Hemisphere Marathon, the Screenland 5K featured Olympians and national track champions to inspire the more than 3,000 guests.
Golden Wizard Presenting Partners are Turning Point School, 8777 Washington, and the City of Culver City. Silver Hearted Tin Man sponsors are Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Culver Studios, Capital One
and Ralph’s. Courageous Lion patrons are Peg Jackson and Associates, Kelley and Todd Miller of Keller Williams, Dannie Cavanaugh of Cavanaugh Realty, The Culver Hotel, Los Angeles Consulting Group, Sprouts Farmers Market, John Riordan of Riordan Plumbing, See’s Candies, Darrel Menthe of Sage Law Partners and Fast Signs Culver City.
Screenland 5K, conducted by 170 volunteers, is sponsored by the City of Culver City and sanctioned by the Culver City Centennial Celebration Committee and Culver City Downtown Business Association.
