Romick, Greenfield lead in Road to Freedom 5K

Harden, Laskowsky earn Top Veteran status

* Complete results
* Martinsburg VA Medical Center Facebook page
* PHDC Facebook group

MARTINSBURG, W.Va., Nov. 9, 2019 — Conner Romick led 122 people to the finish line of the annual Road to Freedom 5K staged Saturday morning on the Martinsburg VA Medical Center campus in Martinsburg. The free event attracted runners and walkers from throughout West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, as well as western Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina.

Nearly one-third of the field — 35 of 122 finishers — were veterans, including 25 men and 10 women.

Photo by Kevin Spradlin
Runners and walkers of the annual Road to Freedom 5K were greeted by a beautiful but frigid sunrise on the Martinsburg VA Medical Center campus.

Romick, 24, of Hedgesville, W.Va., stopped the clock with the time of 19 minutes and 45.1 seconds, 48.6 seconds of silver medalist James Harden, 48, of Martinsburg. Harden took the honor of being the fastest male veteran on the course (20:33.7) as well as the Masters (40-and-over) title. David Perez, 15, of Martinsburg, took the bronze spot on the podium in 20:47.5. Mark Peters, 51, of Inwood, W.Va., placed eighth overall and earned Grand Masters (50-plus) honors.

Kelsey Greenfield paced the women’s field in 21:06.3. The 26-year-old from Martinsburg placed fourth overall, only 20.2 seconds ahead of runner-up Alisyn Deloso, of Martinsburg (21:26.5). Recovering from injury, Michelle Van Horn, 38, of Martinsburg, held off Karrah Weaver, 26, of Williamsport, Md., for third place, outdistancing the Washington County runner by 2.7 seconds (21:33.4 to 22:36.1).

Amber Laskowsky, 35, of Martinsburg, earn Top Female Veteran status. Laskowsky finished 14th overall and and sixth among women in 23:30.1. Jennifer Blumberg, 44, of Charles Town, W.Va., won the Masters title in 25:49 and Barbara Hartman, 60, of Kearneysville, W.Va., was the Grand Masters champion after finishing in 26:24.6.

Photo by Kevin Spradlin
Army veteran John Godinet, 62, of Frederick, Md., completed the 5K course in 40 minutes, 38.3 seconds.

Each of the 122 runners and walkers passed through the Avenue of Flags, which are donated to the medical center by Gold Star families. Gold Star families A Gold Star family is a family member who has lost a loved one in military service.

Timing services were donated by the Potomac Highlands Distance Club, based in Westernport, Md.

Age group leaders.

Photo by Kevin Spradlin
Noah Weitzman, 6, of Ranson, W.Va., won the original 1K fun run.

Veteran Harry Snow and his wife, Dorothy Snow, of Hedgesville, W.Va., were the last two official finishers of the 2019 Road to Freedom 5K.