Police Make History at Baker to Vegas Race

The Newport Beach Police Department’s Running Team has placed first at the Baker to Vegas 120-Mile Challenge Cup Relay in their division for the last nine years, and this year broke into the Top 10 and set a new team record, a police official announced Tuesday.

The Newport Beach police running team completed the 29th annual Baker to Vegas 120-Mile Challenge over the weekend in 14 hours and 48 minutes, 17 minutes faster than last year and a time that set a new course record for team. Kathy Lowe, police spokeswoman, said this year the team placed 1st in the 150 Division and 10th overall.

"This is the first time in the history of the race that a team in the 150 Division has broken into the Top 10," Lowe said.

The non-stop race began Saturday at 5 p.m., 24 miles outside of Baker and ended in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday morning about 8 a.m. About 270 running teams from law enforcement agencies around the world competed in the Baker to Vegas race.

The Newport Beach Police Department's running team included 20 runners, four alternates and 20 support personnel. The course of the grueling race included the team climbing over 5,000 feet in elevation and descending through the winding back roads of the Mojave Desert.

“I was extremely proud of our runners and support personnel. It was a great team effort," Newport Beach police Chief Jay Johnson said in a released statement. "Everyone did an outstanding job and it was great to be a part of the action this past weekend.”

The Newport Beach police running team has placed first in its category 11 times over the last 12 years.

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