DeWitt, Brown earn wins in hilly-both-ways 5-miler
Results --- Photos by MacKenzie Spradlin
MOUNT SAVAGE, Aug. 30, 2009 – Diane Ruckert completed her first-ever 5-mile run Sunday evening in Mount Savage.
She picked a doozy of a course for her debut.
Ruckert, of Grantsville, and nearly three dozen others competed in the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club’s low-key 5-mile run and 1.5-mile run/walk. With just a $3 entry, participants enjoyed an accurately measured course, three water points and downright happiness after crossing the finish line of the challenging, hilly-both-ways road run.
Ruckert finished 26th among 27 5-mile competitors with a time of 52 minutes, 22.8 seconds.
Husband Tom Ruckert, 57, fared a little better in the overall standings. Coasting to an easy 4.8 miles with Martinsburg, W.Va., resident Mike Meadows, Ruckert maintained a steady pace to the finish for a third-place finish in 32:52.9. Meadows, 52, took second in 32:45.7.
Daniel DeWitt, 21, of Frostburg, won the overall title in 27:34.9. His 5:30.8 pace per mile was enough to outdistance almost everyone and everything – but the Allegany County Bureau of Police cruiser managed to stay just ahead of the Lehigh University graduate.
Kari Brown, 35, of Bedford, Pa., won the women’s title and placed ninth overall in 38:26.6. The veteran ultrarunner outdistanced 13-year-old Kim Northcraft, of Cumberland, who placed 15th overall in 41:37.
Rhonda Johns, 23, of Cumberland, took third in her first race in more than four months with a time of 43:52.5.
In the 1.5-mile run/walk, 12-year-old Matthew Clark earned first place in 14:17.2. Justus Porto, 7, also of Ellerslie, placed second in 17:10.4. Jacob Hunt, 7, of Mount Savage, took third in 24:18.7 in his running debut.
A SPECIAL, TRULY HEARTFELT THANKS to all event volunteers: Allegany County Bureau of Police (Chief Bobby Dick and Officer Darrell Wildesen); Robert "Nut" Hall of Western Maryland Timing; Melanie Hunt (0.75/4.25-mile water station); Jeremy Rice (finish line); Jean Meadows (photography); Stephanie Spradlin (registration / water); Noah Spradlin (2.5-mile water station); MacKenzie Spradlin (photography).
Mountain Maryland Marathon Club * 14305 Bald Knob Road * Mount Savage, MD 21545 * 301-264-3147 * [email protected]
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Photos
Rowan is surprise winner of 5-mile road race
MOUNT SAVAGE, Aug. 29, 2010 -- It certainly didn't appear an overall win was in the cards for Amy Rowan in the early going of Sunday's low-key 5-mile run in Mount Savage.
Sometimes, though, a runner just has to play with the hand dealt. Rowan did, and made the most of a hot and humid evening to win the second-year 5-mile road race along Mile Lane, a country road with plenty of ups and downs.
Along with the stifling heat, Rowan battled asthma-like symptoms. Still, she led a small field to the finish line in 37 minutes and 10.5 seconds. It was her first outright win in a race organized by the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club.
Tom Ruckert, 58, of Grantsville, was second in 43:01.2. Son and father Drew Yurko, 21, and Tony Yurko, 47, finished third and fourth, respectively, in 44:19.9 and 44:20.9.
The final standings did not, however, reflect the first 4.5 miles, led by a 30-year-old Mount Savage resident who regularly runs Mile Lane. On this night, however, with about one-half mile to go, the man was overcome by the heat and collapsed. Allegany County Bureau of Police was on hand to quickly call for emergency assistance.
Both Ruckert and Yurko did what any true runner would do - they dropped everything and came to the man's aid, providing water, flagging down the race director and police.
A fast response by the Mount Savage EMS unit had the man on his way to Western Maryland Regional Medical Center before the last runner crossed the finish line.
An update on the condition of the man, who had maintained a significant lead on Ruckert and Yurko for the first 3 miles, was not immediately available.
Patrick O'Brien, 12, of Cresaptown, won the 1.5-mile event in 10:15.2. Kaylee Buckbee, 11, of Cumberland, edged Jack Hawkins, 14, of LaVale, for second place. Buckbee finished in 10:57.8 to Hawkins's 10:58.5. Shane McGraw, 15, also of LaVale, was fourth in 10:59.1.
Thanks to volunteers Rhonda Johns, Todd Buckbee, Erica, Stephanie Spradlin and MacKenzie Spradlin, along with the Allegany County Bureau of Police and, rather unexpectedly, the Mount Savage EMS.
Results - 1.5 mile run/walk
1. Patrick O'Brien, 12, Cresaptown 10:15.2
2. Kaylee Buckbee, 11, Cumberland, 10:57.8
3. Jack Hawkins, 14, LaVale, 10:58.5
4. Shane McGraw, 15, LaVale, 10:59.1
5. Bill Scritchfield, 39, Ellerslie, 14:59
6. Mandy Hawkins, 45, LaVale, 15:10.7
7. Tracy McGraw, 49, LaVale, 15:16.9
8. Jen Scritchfield, 34, Ellerslie, 16:37.9
9. Noah Spradlin, 11, LaVale, 17:00.2
10. Isaac Scritchfield, 6, Ellerslie, 17:02.5
11. Brian Rowan, 5, Cumberland, 33:05.1
Results - 5-mile run
1. Amy Rowan, 30, Cumberland, 37:10.5
2. Tom Ruckert, 58, Grantsville, 43:01.2
3. Drew Yurko, 21, Cumberland, 44:19.9
4. Tony Yurko, 47, Cumberland, 44:20.9
5. Sarah Reed, 15, Cumberland, 49:22.4
6. Leah Yurko, 15, Cumberland, 50:05.6
7. Christine Yurko, 23, Cumberland, 55:51.7
Print brochure for 2011 5-mile run and 1.5-mile run/walk