L.B. hosts its annual City Manager’s 10-mile run

The city held its 38th annual City Manager’s 10-mile Trophy Run this Memorial Day weekend.

Former city recreation leader Ralph Kaplan spearheaded the race in 1977, the second race ever organized by the Long Beach Recreation Department. It is now dedicated to Kaplan, who died in 2008. In the late ’80s, a veteran’s category was added to race, since the race falls on Memorial Day Weekend. According to the city’s website, the category has become an important way for the city to honor those who have served our country.

The “10-Mile Salute to Our Fallen Veterans” began at 8 a.m. on Sunday, at the intersection of Magnolia Boulevard and Park Avenue, and finished in the Long Beach Recreation Center parking lot after a lengthy tour of the city.

After starting at Magnolia Boulevard, runners raced all the way down Park Avenue westward to Connecticut Avenue. Winding through the streets, they made their way down to the boardwalk and continued back east to Neptune Boulevard. Once they reached the east end of the boardwalk, the race headed back west down Olive Street. After many twists and turns through Long Beach streets, runners crossed the finish line at the Recreation Center.

The overall male and female winners were both Long Beach residents. Brandon Abasolo, 23, finished with a time of 56:43. Melissa Moschetto, 33, came in with a time of 1:05:36.

Veterans James Murray, of Holtsville, and Kristin Bagby, of Arverne, won the awards for first male and female military veteran finishers. Murray, 48, had a time of 1:09:32, and Bagby, 31, finished in 1:13:00.