Culver City Police Officer Wins Screenland 5K

After being told that the first and second-place runners in last year's Screenland 5K were not registered for this year's Oscar Sunday race at Ivy Station, last year's third-place finisher Joshua Velasco, 26, said he didn't need to hear that news.

"Thanks for telling me," he said scornfully. "I don't need that pressure, but all I can do is run my best and believe in myself," said the Culver City Police Department officer.

The Gardena resident outdistanced 2,800 walkers and runners by almost 30 seconds over Oscar Orozco of Stevenson Ranch, breaking the finisher's tape held by Screenland 5K Grand Marshal Dan O'Brien at 15:49.

"I almost had it exact.  I predicted the winning time would be 15:45. He finished well," O'Brien said.  O'Brien could not defend his 2024 age division title because of a recent knee injury.

"The conditions were good, and my practice paid off," Velasco said in the finisher's chute on a clearing morning after the prior night's inclement weather forecast.

Velasco will take some time off before training with his CCPD colleagues for the rigorous Baker to Vegas Law Enforcement Relay on April 5-6.

In a surprising third-place finish, Justine Stecko of Azusa, who trains with Velasco, clocked 17:27 to outpace Theodore Bingham of Los Angeles.

It is the first time a female has cracked the top three overall times in the nine-year history of the Screenland 5K.

"I had a good run today and felt comfortable out there," the 25-year-old Stecko said.

Jaya Shetty, 50, of Culver City, won the Master's Division in 18:35.  He was more enthused about his daughter's strong finish in her first 5K than his convincing victory in the 40+ division.

"She was told several years ago she would not be able to walk, and look, here she is running in her first 5K," Shetty said with his daughter Mahi, 14, by his side. "I couldn't be more proud of her."

Improving on his times each year in the Screenland 5K, Jacob Zeitlin of Culver City, 15, finished 14th.  His twin brother Matthew finished in 22.57. Win Teear took 15th (18:53) before his family and Jasmine Avenue cheerleaders.

Liz Guerrini of Long Beach (20:09) won the female Master's division.

Former Culver City High School All-CIF distance runner Dylan Bourne placed 20th at 19:10. Last year, representing Culver City non-profit "Jazz Hands For Autism," Bourne sang the classics at the packet picket Saturday at Ivy Station.

Nicholas Lachoff and Rick Hibbs, sons of distinguished Culver City Chamber of Commerce members Kevin Lachoff and Rich Hibbs, finished seconds apart in the 30th and 31st spots, just ahead of female masters champion Guerrini.

Culver City girls swept the 9-10 and 11-12 age divisions.

Naomi Meehan won 9-10, running past Stella Szpak Chamecki and Lilly Meehan.  Asha Lee Bogart took the 11-12 girls category over Isla Daniel and Roxanne Mand.

Black Girls Run won the team competition with 50 spirited runners.

The Screenland 5K is sponsored by the Culver City Rotary Foundation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Ivy Station, the City of Culver City, the Culver City Arts Foundation, Culver City Toyota, Midwest Roofing, The Shay, West Basin Municipal Water District, Cavanaugh Realtors, Sprouts, Helms Bakery District, The Wende, First Entertainment Credit Union, Sorrento Italian Market, and Jackson Market.