The sixth annual Coronado Fourth of July Half Marathon got off to a rousing start this year as 4,300 runners got the signal to start the course down Fifth and Sixth streets from the high school track to Orange Avenue just as firetrucks were pulling out of the fire station on Sixth Street to answer a call at the Hotel del Coronado. The scene was one of confusion for a few moments as the determined runners undaunted by the spinning lights and blaring sirens stopped the fire trucks in their tracks. The fire, which turned out to be a minor one in an elevator shaft of the hotel caused by an electrical malfunction, was soon handled routinely and the runners continued on the 13-mile, 193-yard course led by Tom Lux who clocked in at 66 minutes, 15 seconds which was not quite fast enough to surpass last year’s record of 64:2b set by Thom Hunt. Lux, competing for the Jamul Toads, was followed by Athol Barton of New Zealand who ran the course in 66:19.7 and Gary Close, also of the Jamul Toads, who took a 66:29.2 time in the men’s 18-35 open.

In the women’s 18-35 open, Laurie Binder came in first running the course in 76 58.9 nearly three minutes ahead of second place Yvonne Yanke’s 79:35 Diane Riley’s 81:25 put her in third place.

In the men’s 17 and under division, Sean Evans took a 71:lO time; Mike Pope, 74:00; and Tony Martin, 74:57.

Joseph Analla led the 36-45 men’s division with 70:42.2 followed by George Luiken’s 7 :17 and Dan McCaskill's 73:50.5.

Bob Collins came in ahead in the 46-55 division with a 77:10 time: Marsh Haradan was second at 81:12 and William Phillips was third with 81:28.

Leading the 56 and over group were Jim McCown, 84:45; Art Holzman, 88:51; and Tom Rice, 92:58.

In women’s 17 and under, Cheryl Flowers placed first with an even 85:00 followed by Anna Muceus, 85:05, and Sheli Lachel, 93:02.

Lolitia Bache headed the 36-45 age group by running a time of 87:19 as Cathy Fogerty came in second with 91:18 and Mary Ann Zounes third with 94:48.

Finishing first in the 46-55 division was Anne Johnson with 96:42; Amelia Borg ran the course in 106:18 and Lucille Sanchioli finished at 109:45.

Tina Dickenson’s 139:55 time put her in first in the women’s 56 and over division as Dene Foltz placed second with 142:00 and Bess Janies third with 151:10.