Boosters plan to discuss whether Irvine Half Marathon/5K Run can return in 2022

Runners, including Ryan Welton and Bryce Shaver (front, left to right) begin the 5K race in 2020. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

About a year ago, more than 1,000 runners from around the state took part in the the annual Irvine Half Marathon and 5K Run under sunny skies in Woodbridge.

The event serves as a major fund-raiser for Woodbridge High School athletics.

The 2021 event was scheduled around the same time, but was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Coronavirus cases have continued to surge throughout the state and Orange County remains in the most restrictive purple tier. High school sports has been on hold since last March.

Woodbridge Athletic Director Rick Gibson said discussions will be held about whether the event can return in 2022.

“That will be up to the booster club and we have not talked about it in depth yet,” Gibson said.

Woodbridge Athletic Booster Club President Jay Lyon added:

“We continue to be committed to the race and will go month to month, following local guidelines and accessing our ability to prepare for a January 2022 race.”

In last year’s 5K event on Jan. 11, Woodbridge High runners Ryan Welton and Bryce Shaver took first and second. Welton had a time of 16:19 and Shaver was second in 16:41. Kevin Broady of Brea was third in 16:57.

Welton and Shaver are scheduled to compete this year for the cross country and track and field teams at Woodbridge but state officials have said no sports can start until at least Jan. 25, pending approval from health officials.

In the half marathon last year, Max MacKinnon from Venice took first with a time of 1:13.52. Max Fitzgerald from Oakdale, Calif. took second in 1:15.30 and Caleb Terefe from Irvine was third in 1:17.48.

“The half marathon piece was huge in terms of the number of people going off, a lot larger than the 5K, but it was a great turnout, larger than last year and exactly what we were looking for, to build on last year,” Lyon said after last year’s event.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com