Fall is prime running season in the Triangle, and road races about. Most are 5K distances, but there also are longer races. Most events are conducted to raise funds for charities.
This running season, speed has been a theme. Racers are breaking lots of course and state records.
Complete results for many area races can be found on the Young & Associates Web site, www.runnc.com. Young & Associates is one of primary road race organizers in the region, providing planning and timing services. Owner Jim Young provided the reports on the races below.
If you have announcements or results for other road races, be sure to post them on the Play! Recreational Sports Page. You also can find a list of races in the Play! Recreational Sports Calendar.
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ANNA’S ANGELS 10-MILER, Sept. 28, Research Triangle Park
Tyler Johnson took top honors at the third annual race. The 24-year-old Chapel Hill runner completed the certified course in 53:04. Derek Fenton, 38, of Holly Springs, was second, 20 seconds behind Johnson.
Kimberlie Fowler broke her own course record in winning the women’s title. The 28-year-old Raleigh resident ran 1:04:35 – seven seconds better than the mark set in 2006. Heather Lee, 27, of Buies Creek was second in 1:05:24.
Wayne Crews also set a course mark. The 40-year-old Cary runner finished fifth overall in 58:10 to set a men’s masters record.
In the 5K race, the men and women’s course marks fell. Omar Smith, 28, of Durham lowered the record by 28 seconds, running 16:50. Bri Gaal became the first women to crack 20 minutes, recording 19:54.
The master records in the 5K were also broken. Emil Briggs ran 20:34 to lead the first three master runners, who all were under the course mark. Charlotte Andreini lowered her own course record by 42 seconds to win the women’s masters competition.
More than 600 runners registered, the largest field ever for the event.
Proceeds went to the Anna’s Angels Foundation, which is dedicated to raising funds for Down syndrome research.
THE FOUNDATION 5, Sept. 27, Henderson
The inaugural race went to Aaron Carr, a 29-year-old Hillsborough runner who toured the course in 17:42. Arturo Pujol, 35, of Cary was second in 18:43.
Jill Metzer won the women’s race. The 33-year-old Henderson resident finished fifth overall in 19:54. Katie Paulson, 23, also of Henderson, was second in 24:15.
The race, which also featured a 1-mile fun run, was staffed by volunteers from the Mariah Parham Medical Center.
Proceeds from the race went to Mariah Parham Healthcare Foundation.
WOMEN’S DISTANCE FESTIVAL, Sept. 27, Raleigh
More than 250 runners and walkers turned out for the women’s races in downtown Raleigh.
Mandy Hopper, 26, of Chapel Hill led the field in a course-record 19:44. Elizabeth Seale, 27, of Raleigh was second in 22:57. Rima Bogardus, 44, of Cary was third in 23:04. Bogardus’ effort set a master’s course record.
The event is managed by the North Carolina Roadrunners Club to raise money for the Interact. Interact provides safety and support to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
PATROL STROLL, Sept. 20, Garner
Erastus Kiama took top honors at the second annual event. The 23-year-old Cary resident dominated the field winning the 8K race by more than two minutes in 27:25. Trevorr Lewis, 31, of Raleigh finished second in 29:39
Madeleine Zolfo was in control of the women’s race. The 43-year-old Fuquay-Varina runner finished fifth overall in 33:02 to secure the women’s title. Catherine Wides of Durham, who at age 59 was the second oldest woman in the field, also was the second-fastest, finishing behind Zolfo in 34:56
The race, which was managed by troopers from the N.C. Highway Patrol to raise money for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, also included a mile run. The event attracted a field of 160 entrants.
MAGNIFICENT MILE, Sept. 14, Raleigh
A hot and humid afternoon was not enough to deter more than 450 runners and walkers from participating in the third annual race on a downtown course. The race also doubled as the RRCA State Championship and the NCUSAT&F State Championship.
Bobby Mack of Raleigh set the tone from the start in winning the men’s mile. The 23-year-old former N.C. State runner was clocked in 4:13, tying the existing state record. Ryan Woods, 29, of Boone followed in 4:15. Raleigh’s Devin Swann, 28, was a few steps behind in third in 4:18.
The women’s race was equally competitive. Kasia Sujowski, 26, of Raleigh won in 5:15 minutes flat, leading a wave of 10 women who ran under 6 minutes. Heather Lee, 27, a former Campbell University runner, was second in 5:17. Alicia Phillips, 24, another former Campbell University harrier, was third in 5:18.
The quality of the competition was not just confined to the front of the pack - several records were set or tied. Jackeita Baker of Knightdale broke the Female 12-13 record with a 6:08 run, and Mary Symkowski of Raleigh tied the state record for 45-49 Females with a 6:11 effort.
In the men’s race, Tim Meigs of Raleigh lowered the Men’s 40-44 record by three seconds to 4:51. Michael Hamm of Raleigh set a standard for 50-54 Males by running 5:20.
Two retired N.C. State professors, both from Raleigh, set state records for their age groups. Richard Mowat set a record for 65-60 males by running 6:11, and Edwin Harris’ 6:33 effort was a record for 70-74 males.
Finally, Ted Reynolds ran 9:15 to set the record for 75-79 Males.
This was the third edition of the event, which is put on by the N.C. Roadrunners Club to raise money for the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation. One of the NCRC members, Sarah Witt, who has this disease, was the inspiration for this race. Many members of Sarah’s family from across the United States attended the race in her honor.
NORTH HILLS 5K, Sept. 13, Raleigh
Jarett Prady, 32, of Raleigh was the overall winner in 18:12, but the loudest cheers went to the next two finishers during the second annual Raleigh event. Gary Moss of Raleigh, who at age 58 was one of the oldest runners in the field, finished second overall in 19:28. Another grandmaster runner, Richard Ferguson, 50, of Danville, Va., was third in 19:45.
Elaine Lawrie won the women’s race. The 31-year-old Raleigh resident finished fourth overall in 19:55, setting a course record for the women. Heather Davis, 35, of Raleigh was second in 20:33, also under the course mark. Debbie Surface, 28, also of Raleigh, was third in 21:42.
The race, which also featured a 1-mile fun run and a kid’s dash, was staffed by volunteers from the Trinity Baptist Church. Proceeds went to North Raleigh Ministries, which was established to meet the needs of families and individuals with emergency situations who live in North Raleigh.
RUN WITH THE LIONS, Sept. 13, Oxford
Despite run on gas and a rise in gas prices caused by Hurricane Ike, a record field of runners and walkers turned out for the second annual event.
Paul Yates, 38, of Oxford was the first runner to finish, covering the downtown course in 21:36.
Rougemont’s Jenny Fells, 34, won the women’s competition finishing fifth overall in 23:10.
The event, which is put on by the Lions Club of Oxford, also included a mile run. More than 120 runners and walkers registered.
5K RUN FOR HEALTHIER BABIES, Sept. 7, Morrisville
Delayed by one day because of Hurricane Hanna, the competition was blessed with lots of sunshine and lots of runners.
Bobby Mack took top honors in the 5K race. The 23-year-old Raleigh runner ran a event-record 14:40. Devin Swann, 27, also from Raleigh, also beat the course mark of 15:01 as he finished second in 14:58.
Tina Wojciechowski won the women’s competition. The 33-year-old Cary resident finished ninth overall in the field of 382 finishers in 17:46. Karen Everitt, 29, of Raleigh was second in 18:44.
The event, which was put on by the March of Dimes and also included a one-mile fun run, attracted a record field of 540 entrants in its sixth year — more than double its attendance last year.
THE ICG 5K RUN, Aug. 30, Knightdale
Youth prevailed as James Lawson took top honors at the inaugural race. The 16-year-old Youngsville resident covered the USATF-certified course in 18:26.
Sean Kurdys, 41, of Raleigh ran 18:40 to take second place. Another teenager runner, 17-year-old Justin Oddon of Knightdale was third in 18:59.
Teenage runners also excelled in the women’s competition. Eighteen-year-old Rita Beard of Raleigh ran 21:40 to win the women’s title. After Shannon Johnston, 35 of Cary took second in 22:11, and Molly McCord, 15, of Raleigh finished third in 23:43.
More than 280 runners and walkers registered for the event which also included a one-mile fun run. The event was put on by Black Belt World in Knightdale to raise money for the Knightdale-based International Coalition for Good Health & Good Friends, which raises funds for building schools throughout the world.
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