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New Yorkers Line the Streets of Washington Heights for 5K Run

By DNAinfo Staff on March 8, 2010 9:11am  | Updated on March 8, 2010 1:23am

By Josh Williams

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — The New York Road runners kicked off their official 2010 racing season with more than 5,600 participants taking part in a race through Washington Heights.

Taking advantage of the surprisingly perfect early March racing conditions, Derese Deniboba, 27, won for the men, completing the 3.1 mile course in a blistering 14:34, and Claudia Camargo, 38, won for the women with a time of 16:11.

Deniboba dissected the steep hills on the course with a 4:41 mile pace,  inspired by the cheerleaders, marching bands, salsa music, gospel choirs and blues players from the neighborhood that lined the route.

Community Board 12 Member, Liz Ritter, has helped set up the event for years. On Sunday, she saw the event from a different angle.

Washington Height's icon,
Washington Height's icon, "Freddy Sez" with his lucky pan cheers on runners at the finish line.
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DNAinfo/Josh Williams

“I decided to run just for the hell of it,” said Liz Ritter, who has lived in the neighborhood for over 25 years.

“I actually ran the whole thing without stopping. It's great. I can't believe it, I’ve never done a race before in my whole life.”

The Coogan’s, Salsa, Blues and Shamrocks 5K run is the first official race of the 2010 season.

In two weeks, the New York City Half Marathon will have the Big Apple cheering from Times Square to Battery Park City.