In October 1982, the Harford Community College cross country team won the Region 20 junior-college men's championship in Hagerstown. Last week, HCC's harriers returned to Hagerstown for the first time in 29 seasons and placed a close second in the same meet.
HCC has been without a varsity cross country team for most of the years between the two meets. The college revived the program this year, and coaches Murray Davis and Diana Lupus developed a team from a small but talented group of runners.
Tyler Muse, an All-Harford runner from Bel Air High School, won Saturday's meet over a slippery, snow-covered 8K course. He pulled away in the final 600 meters to win by 13 seconds in 28:45.
Noah Hutton, an All-Harford runner from North Harford, placed third in 29:08, and Brandon Smith, another All-Harford runner from Bel Air, finished ninth in 30:22. Two other freshmen helped the team to the runner-up finish: Chase Crew placed 41st and Farai Chridza, 43rd. The Fighting Owls finished just five points behind Hagerstown Community College, 28-33.
The second-place finish qualified the team for the national junior college championships Nov. 12 in Hobbs, N.M.
More collegiate cross-country
Whitney Hora, a Wilmington University sophomore, finished second in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championships Oct. 23 in Philadelphia. The C. Milton Wright alumna clocked 19:45 for the 5K. Placing 15th was Megan McAdorey of Bel Air, whose Philadelphia University team won the title.
Elizabeth Tauber of Bel Air was the third finisher for Towson University in the Colonial Athletic Association Championships in Atlanta Oct. 29. Over a 6K course, the John Carroll grad ran 23:32, placing 26th. Hannah McKenzie (CMW) was Towson's sixth runner, placing 44th in 24:09. Towson placed fourth among 10 teams.
Nicole Clarke, a Florida Tech senior and John Carroll grad, was third in the Sunshine State Conference Championships Oct. 22, running 21:56 for 6K.
Erika Stasakova, Clarke's former John Carroll teammate, was the No. 3 finisher for Lafayette College in the Patriot League Championships at Lehigh University Oct. 29. She ran 24:05 over a snow-covered 6K course.
Marine Corps Marathon
Sixty-two runners from Harford County completed the Marine Corps Marathon in D.C. Sunday. David Stevenson of Abingdon was the top Harford runner among 20,895 finishers with a 3:05:38. Erin Cahall of Forest Hill led Harford women in 3:32:30.
Among the top Harford finishers were David Wells, 3:35:30; Zach Reichenbach, 3:38:12; Walter James, 3:38:34; Wener Vieux, 3:41:17; Jace Ely, 3:42:35; Keith Burgess, 3:46:37; Laurie Bothwell, 3:48:47; Rachel Maschal, 3:53:29; and Sara Bailey, 3:56:33.
Malcolm Whyte of Jarrettsville placed sixth among 94 competitors in the hand-crank chair division. He wheeled the 26.2 miles in 1:44:40.
Run for Your Lives 5K
Fabian Ortiz of Berwyn Heights, led all 7,046 finishers in the Run for Your Lives race over a "zombie infested 5K obstacle course" in Darlington Oct. 22. He completed the course in 20:39. He and women's leader Tracy Schaper of Bridgeton, N.J., competed in the first of 19 waves.
Rob Bourn, 44, of Bel Air, was the seventh fastest in 22:10, and Jason Guarino of Abingdon was 15th in 22:39.
Race for the Cure
Several Harford runners were age-group winners in the 5K Race for the Cure in Hunt Valley Oct 22.
Marissa Abbey of Abingdon led the under-15 girls in 22:22. Phillip McDonald of Bel Air was first in under-15 boys in 18:07. Sergio Flores of Abingdon led the 25-29 men in 17:21. Tommy Bracken of Fallston was first in 45-49 men in 20:03, and Ron Keith of Bel Air, first in 50-54 in 20:57.
Bill Brown Youth Series
The 23rd annual Bill Brown Youth Cross Country Series concluded Oct. 23 at Tollgate Park with a field of 344 runners competing in 10 age-group races.
Winning fastest overall age group awards were Danny Vinton, 5:58, and Katherine Eckart, 6:12, in age 12-13 (mile); James Miller, 3:03, and Jessica Rogers, 2:57, in 10-11 (half mile); Justin Motsay, 3:16, and Margaux Miller, 3:18, 8-9 (half mile); John Allred, 3:27, and Finley Lavin, 3:53, 6-7 (half mile); Cameron Tolson, 1:49, and Jazlyn Ware, 1:49, under-6 (quarter mile).
Runners earning most improved awards were Lauren Davie, Eleanor Byers, Maliya Wrzosek, Madeline Melchianni, Tyler Goins, Hannah Burgess, Finley Lavin, Abbey Campbell, Sean Babiak and Julianna Chaney.