This is a release on the Surf City 10 Miler, a release from long-time PR deity Dan Cruz.
Local runners claim victory at Orange County’s oldest race
Fountain Valley Alumni Esteban Prado and Madeline Jahshan Triumph at Surf City 10
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Esteban Prado and Madeline Jahshan share more than a passion for running far and fast. Both are alumni of Fountain Valley High School—Prado graduated in 2018 and Jahshan in 2020.
On an overcast Sunday morning along the Huntington Beach oceanfront, they shared something else: standing atop the podium at the 68th Surf City 10. Prado won the men’s 10-mile race in 50 minutes, 55 seconds, while Jahshan broke the tape first in the women’s 10-mile, finishing in 1 hour, 1 minute, 20 seconds.
The Surf City 10 is Orange County’s oldest road race of any distance and the nation’s oldest 10-miler. The win was memorable for Jahshan, who was racing 10 miles for the first time.
“I definitely want to do more races like this,” Jahshan said. “I like double digits.”
Prado is more accustomed to long distances. He used the race as a tune-up for the California International Marathon in December.
“This gives me confidence for December,” Prado said. “Especially because I did it by myself. At CIM, I’ll have a pack to work with.”
Prado won by over a minute, with Angel Aguirre placing second in 52:14. Jahshan’s performance was even more dominant; Brett Chody finished second in 1:03:22. She raved about the race-day atmosphere along the beach.
“The biggest thing that really surprised me was how supportive everybody is,” said Jahshan, who ran the 5K and 10K at Concordia University. “Everyone else is working really hard, too, but they’re still cheering everyone else on. I felt so supported. The atmosphere is amazing.”
Prado praised the organizers of the popular event.
“This is the perfect race,” he said. “It’s by the beach. It’s early morning, and you get that marathon environment at the beginning of the fall racing season.”
The 10K winners also had exciting storylines. Yilin Wu, running only her third road race ever and first 10K, won the women’s division by more than three and a half minutes in 37:17. The San Marino resident didn’t begin running seriously until this past summer when she started training in a Pasadena Run Club. She ran as a freshman in high school and then used running for therapeutic reasons during the pandemic.
“It was a great way to relieve my anxiety and stress,” Wu said. “Plus, it kept me fit.”
The men’s 10K winner, Harvey Chilcott, clocked in at 33:00. An Australian by way of Tasmania, Chilcott was a long way from home.
“Seeing 5,000 people on race day is amazing,” Chilcott said. “Sometimes it seems like you don’t see many people in Tasmania.”
In the women’s 5K, Paloma Buehler of Norco finished third in 20:21. It was a special day for Buehler, whose 16-year-old son also ran the race.
With the scenic oceanfront providing a stunning backdrop, runners enjoyed the refreshing sea breeze and panoramic views as they raced along the coastline. Many participants used the Surf City 10 as a training run for next month’s sold-out Long Beach Marathon and Half Marathon, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Sunday, October 6.
The 69th edition of the Surf City 10 Miler will return to the Pacific Coast Highway on Sunday, September 14, 2025, and runners can take advantage of a special presale registration offer for the year’s lowest price.
For complete results, photos, and more, visit www.SurfCity10.com.
