05/01/2026
Two Riverside, California runners are members of a delegation that will travel to SENDAI光のページェント Japan next week to participate in the Sendai International Half Marathon. https://www.sendaihalf.com/en/ Every year, Sendai invites and hosts their Sister Cities and Friendship Cities to be a part of the race. This year, Coach Ms. Theresa Hoag, runners Ms. Riley Jones and Mr. Christopher Jones, and Riverside Sister City Committee representative Mr. John E. Allen will meet with Sendai Mayor Kazuko Kohri https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazuko_K%C5%8Dri and deliver a greeting from the City of Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Lock_Dawson . They will also meet with the Sendai Orange Club https://orangeclub.ciao.jp/ and reconnect with good friends. Sendai and Riverside are the longest-lasting Sister City relationship in the world. https://www.riversideca.gov/mayor/sister-cities Thank you to Sendai, Riverside (especially Ana Lee at the Riverside Mayor's office) and the Orange Club for this amazing opportunity for international relationships!
Introducing our 2026 runner!
Ms. Riley Jones grew up in Buffalo, New York and moved to Riverside four years ago to get her PhD in Plant Biology. She studies different treatments for a bacterial disease that infects citrus trees. Whenever she’s not in the lab, Riley likes to be outside (around different trees!) hiking, biking, rock climbing, swimming, or running, of course.
Mr. Christopher Jones grew up in Edmond, Oklahoma and moved to Riverside in 2020 to pursue his PhD in Earth and Planetary Sciences. He investigates how elements, which inform us about climate and the environment, are cycled between the ocean and seafloor in tectonically active settings, especially in areas with volcanoes! Outside of school and work, Chris enjoys biking, hiking, science fiction, playing piano, and exploring the world.
