11-Year-Old Wins Big Game 5K in 18:52

Olivia Garcia went wire-to-wire to break the tape on Sunday in Las Vegas. 

Youth was served in Las Vegas this past Sunday at the inaugural Big Game 5K.

Olivia Garcia, all of 11 years old, went wire-to-wire to win the women’s 5K race, breaking the tape in 18 minutes and 52 seconds— a minute and a half ahead of runner-up Tiffany Barrett, who at 27 years old, is twice Garcia’s age and then some.

“I had a little competition early, but then I wound up winning easily,” said Garcia, whose average pace worked out to 6:05 per mile. “I started running when I was nine years old. I’ve already won many races.”

The race, which also featured an accompanying 10K, attracted a few thousand runners to its flat, fast courses in downtown Las Vegas.