After a mid-winter break, long-distance racing is resuming for local runners.
Several Harford runners competed Saturday in a marathon and half-marathon at Hilton Head, S.C. Mike McMonagle of Bel Air, a Navy lieutenant JG stationed at Norfolk, Va., led the 20-24 age group in the 26.2-mile race. Though slowed by tendinitis, he finished 24th overall in 3:38:06. Gerry Marquez, 56, of Bel Air was 139th in 5:06:22.
In the half-marathon, John Miller of Fallston finished eighth in the 45-49 age group in 1:50:33. Katie Bradley of Havre de Grace ran 2:10:01, and Terry Bowser of Forest Hill, 2:24:47.
Up next is the annual George Washington's Birthday Marathon in Greenbelt, and Craig McLeod plans to be on the starting line Saturday. "It's really hard to train for a winter marathon," said McLeod, a teacher at Fallston High School.
The following weekend, about 700 runners will convene in Howard County for the annual Maryland-D.C. 10-mile Club Challenge.At least two-dozen Harford runners will be competing for the Renaissance All Sports Athletic Club (RASAC). The club held its tune-up 15K race in Aberdeen Sunday to prepare for the 10 miler.
Jeff Burger, who is organizing the team for the 10 miler, won the tune-up race, leading 55 runners over the 9.3-mile course in 58:13. Kevin Hennessey finished second in 1:00:37, and Jeff Damiano, third in 1:03:00. Dave Stevenson, 1:06:58, and Ginn White, 1:07:46, were fourth and fifth.
Tabitha Petz led the women, finishing in 1:18:20 with a quarter-mile lead over Andi Miller, 1:20:31. Cathy Bartholomew, 1:20:49,Maggie McDevitt, 1:22:30, andLydia Johnson, 1:24:11, completed the women's top five.
RASAC Noble's Mill 5 Miler
David Stevenson and Jeff Damiano shared the win in the RASAC Nobles Mill 5 Miler Feb.1 in Churchville.
The two finished together in 36:15 ahead of 55 other runners. Rob Stevenson took third in 37:58, Mike Martinek, fourth in 38:20, and Rob Bartholomew, fifth in 38:42.
Tabitha Petz won the women's race easily in 39:49, with Donna Lewis her nearest challenger at 44:34. Cathy Bartholomew placed third in 44:58; Tarah Wilson, fourth in 45:14; and Adine Cumberland, fifth, 46:20.
Jheniel Kelly Wins 800
Harford Tech grad Jheniel Kelly of Edgewood won the 800-meter run in the Nelson Townsend Invitational Saturday on her home track at UMES.She ran 2:17.65. A week earlier in Boston, she set a personal best of 2:12.32 in the 800.
Good jumps abounding: Fairleigh Dickinson junior Nia Alleyene (Aberdeen) placed second in the triple jump in the Metropolitan Indoor Championships in the New York City Armory Friday with a leap of 37-6. Bowie State's Kayla Watson (Harford Tech) sailed 17-9 3/4 in the long jump in the same meet, placing sixth.
In the Giegengack Invitational at Yale on Saturday, Jimmia McCluskey (Aberdeen), a Temple University soph, placed fourth in the long jump at 18-3 3/4.
Towson University soph Wilhelmina Austin (Edgewood) placed second in the triple jump in the Akron Invitational at 36 feet Saturday. Kiana Wright (John Carroll), a Lehigh, soph, placed second in the triple jump at 36-5 1/2 and third in the long jump at 17-7 1/2 in the Lafayette-Lehigh Dual in Bethlehem, Pa., Jan 23.
In other events, UMES' Donisha Porter (Aberdeen) finished second in weight throw at 43-8 and fourth in the shot put at 37-11 1/4 in the Metropolitan Indoor Championships in New York City Friday. Matt Hoerr (C.M. Wright) ran the 5,000 meters in an indoor meet in Newport News, Va., Sunday. The Salisbury University sophomore placed 12th in 16:36.85.