The Ontario Police Department would like to wish its Baker to Vegas Running Team strong runs with lightning fast speed.
On Saturday afternoon, March 17, 2018, 20 sworn officers (ranging from Police Officer to Lieutenant), 5 alternates and a support crew of 30 volunteers will participate in the ultimate relay race of 20 legs spanning 120 miles. The race will begin in Baker, California and stretch across challenging desert terrain until culminating in a high-energy finish line set in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Ontario Baker to Vegas Team has been racing in this annual event for the last 16 years; where we finished 202nd in our first-ever race. Last year we placed 25th, with an all-time best of 15 hours and 29 minutes! Our runners have been logging hundreds of miles during their off-duty time, in a collective effort to place in the top 20 of the 280 competing teams; some of whom hail from Belize, Germany and Australia.
This race will be particularly poignant, as our very own Officer Michael Gracia, one of the Route 91 shooting victims, will be running the last leg of the race. Officer Gracia has made incredible strides, both in his recovery and on every run, to bring the Ontario Police Department across the finish line. When Officer Gracia runs across that finish line, the entire Ontario team and members of the other competing teams will be there to cheer him on.
We would also like to extend our appreciation to the local Ontario businesses and City of Ontario officials who made this race possible.