Moroccan runners returned. Megan DiGregorio repeated. And a massive crowd ran Sunday in the 31st annual Bel Air Town Run.
Mouhcine Outaleb, a 33-year-old restaurant worker from Morocco via Westchester, Pa., won the men's race in 14:47. He matched strides with 2010 winner Dave Berdan over much of the 5K route before pulling away in the final half mile to win by 40 meters. Berdan, of Baltimore, finished second in 14:54.
Rachid Ait-Bensalem, also from Morocco, finished third in 15:48. Abderazzak Haki, who won the 1995 and '96 Town Runs in 14:31 and 14:29, returned to watch the race and support his two countrymen. Three of the top 10 performances on the Bel Air course are now those of Moroccan runners.
In the women's race, DiGregorio ran 8 seconds faster than she did last year, but her victory margin this time was smaller. The 23-year-old Towson University alumna from White Marsh ran 18:29 to finish 11 seconds ahead of runner-up Denise Knickman, of Baltimore. Megan McNew, of Baltimore, took third in 19:04, and Danielle Kays, of Bel Air, fourth in 19:08.
The field of 1,556 finishers, largest in the history of the Town Run, took 2 minutes to clear the starting line on Bel Air's Main Street.
Pat Wilkerson, of Baltimore, finished fifth among the women, and at age 52 took first place in the masters category. She ran 20:07. Jennifer Bouffard, of Fallston, was second in 20:28, and Dorothy Beckett, of Columbia, third in 21:31.
In the men's masters competition, Martin Goode, of Baltimore, won in 17:15, with Jerry Henderson, of Bel Air, second in 17:30 and Charles Powell II, of Abingdon, third in 17:36.
Age-group winners were Trevor Jagde, 26:23, and Annie Boyle, 28:28, in under-9: Austin Bognanni, 22:44, and Lauren Miller, 23:54, in age 9-11; Mark Pickett, 18:10, and Katherine Eckart, 20:35, in 12-14; Derek Alban, 16:42, and Melissa Hexter, 20:46, in 15-19; Andrew Mahone, 16:10, and Meghan McAdorey, 22:14, in 20-24; Zack Flores, 17:06, and Kimmie Wargo, 21:09, in 25-29; Shawn Loper, 16:47, and Jennifer Stagnoli, 22:47, in 30-34.
Also, Jeff Burger, 18:06, and Danielle Kays, 19:08, in 35-39; Remus Medley, 18:09, and Laurie Bothwell, 22:13, in 40-44; Mike Feinberg, 17:38, and Maureen Hall, 22:30, in 45-49; Mark Hawkins, 18:08, and Dellanne Schruefer, 23:34, in 50-54; Maurice Pointer, 17:36, and Lydia Johnson, 23:41, in 55-59; Senior Malcolm, 19:34, and Marge Rosasco, 24:01, in 60-64; Mike Fleming, 22:37, and Paulette Kretschmer, 33:12; and Warren Pitts, 26:41, and Bertha Flens, 33:26.
Wheelchair competitor Ben Mayforth, of Bel Air, finished in 28:18.
Harford Track Club wins four
Runners of the Harford County Track Club won four events in a recent invitational track and field meet in Gaithersburg.
Katherine Eckert captured a double victory in the 11-12 girls' age group, running 2:32.6 in the 800 and 5:20.7 in the 1500. Both are personal bests for Eckart, a student at Patterson Mill Middle School.,
Mark Pickett won the 800 in boys 13-14 competition in a personal best of 2:15.2. He placed second in the 1,500 in 4:47.0.
Emma Bowditch won the 11-12 girls 3000-meter run in 12:54.4 in her first attempt at the distance.
Several others ran season-best times. Esther Cross clocked 2:32.5 in the 15-16 girls 800, placing sixth. Seth Rickey placed sixth in the 13-14 boys 3,000, improving by 1 minute to finish in 12:52.9.
Also placing sixth were Chris Jones, 13-14 boys 1,500 in 5:10.8; Michael Ehart, 11-12 boys 80-meter hurdles in 18.1; Kieran McDermott,11-12 boys 1,500 in 5:31.5; and Matt Chin, 13-14 boys 100 in 12.2. The meet, held at Watkins Mill High School on May 28, drew teams from six states.
Harford distance project
Harford County coaches Murray Davis and Eric Benjamin have announced The Harford Distance Project, a professional eight-week summer training program for distance runners competing in 5K through ultra-marathon.
The program will run from June 20 through Aug. 13 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. For information, contact Murray Davis at 443-528-4685 or Eric Benjamin at 443-655-0973.
Coming races
June 11:- 5K to Benefit Cool Kids, Lutherville, 8 a.m., 410-308-1870
June 18: Race to Feed the Hungry 5K, Annie's Playground in Fallston, 8 a.m., 410-420-1637
June 19: GBMC Father's Day 5K, Marriott Hunt Valley Inn, 8 a.m., 443-849-2773
June 25: Run for Shelter 5K, Annie's Playground in Fallston, 8 a.m., http://www.runforshelter.info
June 26: Baltimore Women's Classic 5K, Rash Field, 8 a.m., 410-308-1870