Runners from around the world join the fun at the sixth annual Oakland running festival

Bumping music, energetic people and booths selling food were all apart of the festivities at the sixth annual Oakland Running Festival on Sunday. The day included a marathon, half-marathon, a 4-person relay, a 5k and a kids’  fun run.

Starting at 7 am, people from all over the Bay Area biked, walked and drove to Snow Park near Lake Merritt where the race began and ended. In total, 9,678 registered runners from 34 states and eight foreign countries ran for personal causes, for fun and to compete for prizes. Race sponsors included Kaiser Permanente, Bank of the West, and Lucky grocery stores.

Oakland native Jesse Cherry placed first in the marathon, running the 26.2-mile course in two hours, 25 minutes, and 14 seconds. He broke the marathon’s record by finishing three minutes faster than the last top-scorer.

San Anselmo’s Devon Yanko made it to Snow Park on the corner of 19^th and Harrison street by two hours, 47 minutes, and 24 seconds. Yanko placed first in the marathon’s women’s division.

10-year-old Elliot Daniels from Campbell also unofficially broke a record. He finished the 13.1-mile course in one hour, 29 minutes, and 14 seconds. Daniels unofficially beat the world record for the half-marathon in his age group.

The Black Girls Run! Club, the Rubicon Program and hordes of families also ran the races, receiving medals, support from the Oakland Raiderettes and–if they were lucky–a high five from Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.