Cross country and track coach Dean Lofgren will be awarded the first ever Running Mentor/Coaching Award at the 23rd Village Runner 4th of July 5K presented by UCLA Health in Redondo Beach on Monday.

“I’m honored to be the first recipient of this award considering the rich history in the South Bay for cross country and track and field, dating way back to the Zamperini days,” coach Lofgren said.

Coach Lofgren has been coaching at El Camino College since 1991, and this year marks his 32nd year.

• Lofgren has coached El Camino to State Championship cross country titles for women in 1990 and the men in 1992, and runner-up positions for the men in 1995 and the women in 1994, 1998, 1999, and 2003.
• The men were 3rd in 1990, 1991, 1996, 2015, and 2016.
• His track teams have also done well with the women capturing state in 1991 and 2011 and 2nd in 1992, 1996, and 1997.
• The men were 3rd in 2002 and placed 5th in 2001, according to the El Camino website.

The 23rd Annual Village Runner 4th of July 5K presented by UCLA Health is expected to have 3,000 to 4,000 participants for the 5K Run and Community Walk. It begins at 8 a.m. in Riviera Village.