Napa Valley 5K: Edward Parker Owns the M70-74 Field

• Edward Parker won the M70-74 race in 29:10 (9:23/mi), more than two minutes clear of the field.
• Scott Redston took 2nd in 31:26 (10:07/mi), holding off Tom Murphy by 1:05 — Murphy finished 3rd in 32:31 (10:28/mi).
• The back half of the field was separated by over 11 minutes, with Gerald Bush (4th, 43:31), Robert Schutzki (5th, 45:56), and George Wilson (6th, 47:42) each completing the course.

On a cool, humid March morning in Napa — 55°F with 93% humidity and a steady 8 mph breeze — six men in the M70-74 field took on the out-and-back course from the marathon finish line. Edward Parker, 71, of Napa, made it look like a home-court advantage. His 29:10 finish at 9:23/mi was the class of the group, and the 2:16 margin over 2nd place left no doubt who was in command from the jump.

Behind Parker, the real competition was the duel for 2nd. Scott Redston of Beverly Hills crossed in 31:26 at 10:07/mi, keeping Tom Murphy — who ran 10:28/mi pace — at arm's length. Murphy's 32:31 was respectable, but Redston's slightly sharper pace proved decisive over 3.1 miles, and the 1:05 gap between them was the tightest battle of the day.

Further back, Gerald Bush (43:31), Robert Schutzki (45:56), and George Wilson (47:42) each navigated the course at a measured 14:00–15:21/mi, with all three finishing within about four minutes of one another. All six men crossed the line, every one of them contributing to a race whose proceeds flow back into the Napa Valley community — a fitting reward for a field that showed up and got it done.