Former Bakersfield College cross country and track star Giovani Perezchica picked up his second first-place victory again in the men’s 10-kilometer in the 10th annual Volkslauf’s Mud Run.
The event consists of nine categories in the 5k and 10k including men, women, teams and varied age groups. The event that started with 600 runners 10 years ago had almost 2,000 on Oct. 14, benefiting the Bakersfield Toys for Tots program hosted by the Marine Corps.
Perezchica finished with a time of 46 minutes, 9 seconds, beating over 400 other men in the 10k mud run which consisted of 75 Marine Corps obstacles with names such as Happy Valley, Stairway To Heaven, Heartbreak Ridge and Devil Dog’s Ditch.
“I was having fun and helping someone else at the same time,” commented Perezchica after winning back-to-back in his two tries.
Perezchica is now a correctional officer in Wasco; however, he plans to continue doing other mud races while continuing his education.
Omar Garcia, a juvenile hall employee and another former BC cross-country standout, finished 10th in a time of 53:34. Garcia also emphasized, “It was a fun race.”
Wendy Trochez, 16, came in first place for the women in the 10k with a strong finish with a time of 57:51. She came in four minutes and fifteen seconds ahead of second place finisher Cheyenne Romanini.
The mud run saw many competing from all over the state while drawing runners to the event as far as Birmingham, Ala., and Pleasant Grove, Utah.
There was a lot of camaraderie throughout the event as friends, families and work buddies came out to support the cause and enjoy the experience.