Runners stretch for many blocks on Cass Street during the Santa Run. Photo by Chris Stone. 
Glenn Dewyea takes a selfie before the start of the 9th Annual San Diego Santa Run. Photo by Chris Stone 
A runner grabs a cup of water along the 5K route. Photo by Chris Stone 
Girls dash down Garnet Avenue during the one-mile kid run. Photo by Chris Stone 
A spectator gives a Christine Randalls-Moroney a high five at the start of the race. Photo by Chris Stone 
More than 3,000 people enjoyed sunny, cool weather in Pacific Beach. Photo by Chris Stone 
Susana Ramirez from San Diego runs in the 5K race. Photo by Chris Stone 
A man jokes with runners during the 5K run in Pacific Beach. Photo by Chris Stone 
Rachel Matthies of Lemon Grove (second from left) grabbed a drink during the race. Photo by Chris Stone 
A runner cheered as she approached the finish line. Photo by Chris Stone 
Diners applaud runners as they jog past on Garnet Avenue. Photo by Chris Stone 
Spectators respond to canine entrants in the Santa Run in Pacific Beach. Photo by Chris Stone 
John-Paul Bennett, 11, winner in the elf race, glances back at Seamus Egan. Photo by Chris Stone 
Kaitlin Pilsbury from Vista holds her shoes and her companion’s shoes as she nears the finish line. Photo by Chris Stone 
Elizabeth Hines (left) and Kristine Carey from San Diego jump for joy as they near the finish line. Photo by Chris Stone 
A young runner sends a message on his T-shirt. Photo by Chris Stone 
A participant carries her pet down Garnet Avenue during the dog run. Photo by Chris Stone 
A canine finds some attention during the dog run. Photo by Chris Stone 
Dogs get friendly during the dog run in Pacific Beach. Photo by Chris Stone 
A golden retriever carries rather than wears his Santa hat. Photo by Chris Stone 
Diana Manley of Somerton, Arizona grabs a selfie with her child during the kid run. Photo by Chris Stone 
A dog leaps into the air as it prances down Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach.Photo by Chris Stone 
Women dash as another wave of the race starts. Photo by Chris Stone
Race organizers issued red outfits and caps, black belts and white beards. But since this was San Diego — oversized shades, too.
Nearly 3,000 ran the 5K in Saturday’s ninth annual San Diego Santa Run in Pacific Beach (after skipping 2020), and 157 youngsters trotted or tore through the Santa’s Elves Mile.
More women finished than men (1,788 to 1,151), but the 3.2-mile race went to Anthony Estevane, 21, of Chula Vista, who averaged 5:27 a mile in clocking 16:57. (A graduate of Olympian High School, he competed for Southwestern College.)
Cesar Palomares, 24, of Escondido was second in 17:12 and Neal Harder, 45, of San Diego was third in 17:23.
Canadian Olympian Samantha McGlone, 42, of San Diego was the top woman overall, timing 18:54 , followed by Samantha Yanez, 23, of Oceanside in 19:10 and Jillian Simpson, 35, in 19:17.
(McGlone took gold in the 70.3 Ironman World Championship triathlon in 2006 and was second in the full Kona, Hawaii, Ironman in 2007.)
Oldest finisher was 87-year-old Tom Kilroy of San Diego, whose chip time was 45:54. Two seconds ahead of Kilroy was the oldest woman in the race Nancy Morris, 75, of San Diego.
Winner of the kids mile was 11-year-old John-Paul Bennett of San Diego, with a time of 6:02. Matt Stoneham, 7, was fourth in a remarkable 7:03. Lucy Worm, 9, of San Diego was the top girl in 7:31.
More than 100 also took part in the Santa’s Little Helper Mile, with dogs dressed up in Yuletide gear.
Finishers of the 5K came from as far away as Hawaii, Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York and Washington, D.C.
San Diego’s Kris Kringle 5K isn’t unique. Santa Runs are also contested in Sacramento, Las Vegas, Tacoma, Des Moines, Indiana, South Carolina, Silicon Valley, Vermont, Oklahoma City and several in the United Kingdom.