Tri State
Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival
“It’s pretty fun,” she said of singing in front of people, though Sunday’s crowd will be about four times larger than her previous personal best. “I like to perform.”
Her performance will unofficially kick off six races on the day, four of which begin in a combined 7:30 a.m. start. More than 450 runners are pre-registered for distances ranging from 26.2 miles to 400 meters.
Some of the runners don’t quite share the level of fitness in running as Hewitt owns in singing. The youngest runner is age 1. The oldest, through Friday night, is 79 years old. The second-year event has attracted runners from 17 states and Washington D.C.
“We have a great mix of runners from all across the country,” said Kevin Spradlin, race director. “In this second year, we have a faster group of men and women at the front of the marathon and half marathon distances and a larger group in the 5K for United Way, kids marathon 1.2-mile run and tot trot.”
Top competitors in the men’s marathon field include Frostburg resident Dan DeWitt, 22, who will be contesting his second marathon after a disappointing debut in Chicago last fall. His top competition is likely to be O.J. Striggles, 34, from Columbia, S.C. Masters runner Remus Medley, 40, also plans to be in the mix.
In the women’s field, the top two runners both compete for Team EBS Racing based in Knoxville, Tenn. Tracy Brooks, 26, of Tazewell, and Malinda Honkus, 40, of Knoxville, plan to finish 1-2 – although perhaps not in that order – on Sunday. Team captain John Smyth said both runners, along with Striggles in the men’s race, plan to win.
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Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival
CUMBERLAND – Eleven-year-old Ellie Hewitt has plenty of experience singing in front of small gatherings.
But the Mount Savage Elementary School fifth-grader is getting ready for her biggest stage yet. On Sunday, Hewitt will sing the national anthem to an attentive Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival audience at about 7:15 a.m. on Harrison Street in downtown Cumberland.
The veteran vocalist, who regularly sings in the Mount Savage United Methodist Church choir, is not nervous of an expected crowd of 800 runners and spectators. After all, Hewitt said, she has belted the national anthem at her school’s last two Veterans Day celebrations.
CUMBERLAND – Eleven-year-old Ellie Hewitt has plenty of experience singing in front of small gatherings.
But the Mount Savage Elementary School fifth-grader is getting ready for her biggest stage yet. On Sunday, Hewitt will sing the national anthem to an attentive Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival audience at about 7:15 a.m. on Harrison Street in downtown Cumberland.
The veteran vocalist, who regularly sings in the Mount Savage United Methodist Church choir, is not nervous of an expected crowd of 800 runners and spectators. After all, Hewitt said, she has belted the national anthem at her school’s last two Veterans Day celebrations.
The women’s half marathon competition figures to be a repeat of last year’s race, where Westminster, Md., resident Kelly Gruber beat out Jen Sober, of McHenry, to the finish line.
In the men’s 13.1-mile run, the 2009 Mountain Maryland Marathon champ Doug Oates, 31, of Hagerstown, is expected to contend with Elijah Shekinah, 32, of State College, Pa.
Registration for all events continues Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Cumberland Holiday Inn along with packet pick-up and the pre-race dinner. Registration for all but the two longer distances also are accepted on Sunday beginning at 6 a.m. at the
More than 500 runners, more than 500 stories
Course records by Sober, Schultz
By Kevin Spradlin
TriStateRunnur.com
* Special performances
1. Steven Milburn, 48, of Williamsport, finished in 3:40:36, his fastest time since 1989
2. The Robinette duo of Kristian, age 11, and Karson, age 9, finished their first-ever marathons. The brothers living in Fort Ashby, W.Va.
3. Having something to add? Email run@marathonclub.org!
Course records by Sober, Schultz
By Kevin Spradlin
TriStateRunnur.com
* Special performances
1. Steven Milburn, 48, of Williamsport, finished in 3:40:36, his fastest time since 1989
2. The Robinette duo of Kristian, age 11, and Karson, age 9, finished their first-ever marathons. The brothers living in Fort Ashby, W.Va.
3. Having something to add? Email run@marathonclub.org!
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Mountain Maryland Marathon
Cumberland,MD
Kids Marathon - Results
5K - Results Awards
Half Marathon - Results Awards
Marathon - Results Awards Preliminary
2011 Boston Qualifiers courtesy Mark Shipley
Photos Galleries
Photos by Bill Merlavage
Photos by Neal Blizzard Jr. Pre-race dinner pics by Rob Snow
TSR Photos Set1 Set2 Set3 Set4 Set5 Set6 Set7 Set8 Set9
Video Interviews - Jen Sober,Tracy Brooks and Dan DeWitt
Cumberland,MD
Kids Marathon - Results
5K - Results Awards
Half Marathon - Results Awards
Marathon - Results Awards Preliminary
2011 Boston Qualifiers courtesy Mark Shipley
Photos Galleries
Photos by Bill Merlavage
Photos by Neal Blizzard Jr. Pre-race dinner pics by Rob Snow
TSR Photos Set1 Set2 Set3 Set4 Set5 Set6 Set7 Set8 Set9
Video Interviews - Jen Sober,Tracy Brooks and Dan DeWitt
Daniel Dewitt
Frostburg MD 2:44:11
Frostburg MD 2:44:11
Tracy Brooks
Tazewell TN 3:16:00
Tazewell TN 3:16:00
Jen Sober
McHenry MD 1:32:59
McHenry MD 1:32:59
Doug Oates
Hagerstown MD 1:15:08
Hagerstown MD 1:15:08
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Marathon
2 Orinthal Striggles Columbia SC 2:48:55
3 Bradley Paye
Houston TX 2:49:14
Houston TX 2:49:14
29 Kari Brown
Bedford PA 3:33:01
Bedford PA 3:33:01
31 Mary Baniak
Keyser WV 3:35:55
Keyser WV 3:35:55
CUMBERLAND, Md., April 18 – Things really seemed upside down on Sunday for Jen Sober.
Last year, Jen Sober lost out on first place in the Mountain Maryland Half Marathon by 1 minute, 54 seconds. On Sunday in downtown Cumberland, the 37-year-old McHenry resident Jen Sober turned the tables on defending champ Kelly Gruber, of Frederick. Sober led the female contingent among 157 runners to the finish line in the Road Runners Club of American Eastern Region Half Marathon Championship.
Her new personal best on the challenging course, which features one short, steep hill and one long, gradual hill, was attainable despite a case of vertigo Saturday night.
Sober, a certified personal trainer and part-time running instructor, clocked a time of 1 hour, 32 minutes and 59 seconds, three minutes and 42 seconds faster than last year’s effort. Gruber was second this time around, finishing one second faster than her 2009 performance with a time of 1:34:36.
She said the feeling of severe dizziness occurs about twice a year.
“Unfortunately, it came on really bad last night,” Sober said.
Sober attributed to the drastic improvement in the event, one of six contested footraces in downtown Cumberland that attracted more than 500 registered runners for the second consecutive year, to old-fashioned hard work.
“Last year, I didn’t train,” Sober said of the winter months. “Unfortunately, I just let myself get out of shape.”
Despite some 23 feet of snow in Garrett County over the past few months, Sober raced in Florida in January and rested during much of February when the falling snow couldn’t be cleared from the snow. The unscheduled break might have been a blessing in disguise, she said. “I think the forced rest helped heal me,” Sober said.
Last year, Jen Sober lost out on first place in the Mountain Maryland Half Marathon by 1 minute, 54 seconds. On Sunday in downtown Cumberland, the 37-year-old McHenry resident Jen Sober turned the tables on defending champ Kelly Gruber, of Frederick. Sober led the female contingent among 157 runners to the finish line in the Road Runners Club of American Eastern Region Half Marathon Championship.
Her new personal best on the challenging course, which features one short, steep hill and one long, gradual hill, was attainable despite a case of vertigo Saturday night.
Sober, a certified personal trainer and part-time running instructor, clocked a time of 1 hour, 32 minutes and 59 seconds, three minutes and 42 seconds faster than last year’s effort. Gruber was second this time around, finishing one second faster than her 2009 performance with a time of 1:34:36.
She said the feeling of severe dizziness occurs about twice a year.
“Unfortunately, it came on really bad last night,” Sober said.
Sober attributed to the drastic improvement in the event, one of six contested footraces in downtown Cumberland that attracted more than 500 registered runners for the second consecutive year, to old-fashioned hard work.
“Last year, I didn’t train,” Sober said of the winter months. “Unfortunately, I just let myself get out of shape.”
Despite some 23 feet of snow in Garrett County over the past few months, Sober raced in Florida in January and rested during much of February when the falling snow couldn’t be cleared from the snow. The unscheduled break might have been a blessing in disguise, she said. “I think the forced rest helped heal me,” Sober said.
Doug Oates, 31, of Hagerstown, won the men’s half marathon field by finishing in 1:15:08. Oates, last year’s marathon champ, beat out 32-year-old Elija Shekinah of State College, Pa., who competed for Tennessee-based EBS Team Racing, finished in 1:16:27 and Cumberland resident David Mertz, 24, was third in 1:20:50. Charlie Falter, 45, of Cumberland, was first masters runner and fourth overall in 1:28:23.
Oates said his performance “felt better” than his 26.2-mile effort in 2009 in Allegany County. “I just concentrated on getting to the (Brush) Tunnel. It’s down hill from there.”
Oates said he was running in memory of his grandmother, who died this past week.
“It’s been a long weekend,” said the heavy-hearted Hagerstown police officer.
EBS Team Racing member Tracy Brooks, of Tazewell, Tenn., lowered the women’s marathon course record by 12 minutes and 49 seconds. The lithe 26-year-old finished in 3 hours and 16 minutes.
Kari Brown, a Bedford County, Pa., resident and a Cresaptown Elementary School teacher, placed second in 3:33:01. Brown, 36, shaved four minutes and 20 seconds from her time last year, when she also placed second.
Oates said his performance “felt better” than his 26.2-mile effort in 2009 in Allegany County. “I just concentrated on getting to the (Brush) Tunnel. It’s down hill from there.”
Oates said he was running in memory of his grandmother, who died this past week.
“It’s been a long weekend,” said the heavy-hearted Hagerstown police officer.
EBS Team Racing member Tracy Brooks, of Tazewell, Tenn., lowered the women’s marathon course record by 12 minutes and 49 seconds. The lithe 26-year-old finished in 3 hours and 16 minutes.
Kari Brown, a Bedford County, Pa., resident and a Cresaptown Elementary School teacher, placed second in 3:33:01. Brown, 36, shaved four minutes and 20 seconds from her time last year, when she also placed second.
The men’s marathon was handled – with ease – by Frostburg resident Daniel DeWitt. The 22-year-old fell just seven seconds shy of tying the course record Oates set in 2009.
“To tell you the truth, I feel pretty awful,” DeWitt said shortly after crossing the finish line.
DeWitt said his goal was “about eight minutes faster than that” but said his legs began to seize up with about five miles left. The downhill finish along the Great Allegheny Passage from the Cash Valley Road trailhead helped enough to stave off runner-up Orinthal “O.J.” Striggles, 34, of Columbia, S.C.
Bradley Paye, 36, of Houston, Texas, finished third overall in 2:49:14. Paye shaved 12 minutes and 37 seconds off last year's effort and moved up from fourth place last year to the third and final spot on the men's podium.
“I was happy with my half marathon time,” DeWitt said of his 1:22:12 clocking on the course, which features a 10.6-mile incline in the first half of the race.
David Venables, 43, formerly of the United Kingdom who now resides in Chevy Chase, Md., was the top masters runner – and eighth overall among more than 105 registered marathoners.
Mary Baniak, 37, of Keyser, W.Va., was third female overall in 3:35:55 while 16-year-old Brittney Rooks, of Baltimore, placed fourth in 3:37:09. Mary Zielinski, 44, of Boonsboro, was top masters female with a time of 3:54:19.
Cumberland resident Aaron MacGray toasted the field in the 5K for United Way, a flat, paved 3-mile course. MacGray finished in 17:53, easily outdistancing 32-year-old Kevin Walizer of Cresaptown (20:05) Adam Rossi, 17, of Frostburg, was third in 20:33.
Angel Schultz, 25, of Cumberland, defended her 5K for United Way title with a time of 21:36 – seven seconds faster than last April’s winning performance. Karen Hatfield, 44, of Morristown, Tenn. and a member of EBS Team Racing, was second in 21:49 and 11-year-old Kaylee Buckbee, of Cumberland, was third in 22:19.
Were you one of the 500? What’s your story? Email run@marathonclub.org.
“To tell you the truth, I feel pretty awful,” DeWitt said shortly after crossing the finish line.
DeWitt said his goal was “about eight minutes faster than that” but said his legs began to seize up with about five miles left. The downhill finish along the Great Allegheny Passage from the Cash Valley Road trailhead helped enough to stave off runner-up Orinthal “O.J.” Striggles, 34, of Columbia, S.C.
Bradley Paye, 36, of Houston, Texas, finished third overall in 2:49:14. Paye shaved 12 minutes and 37 seconds off last year's effort and moved up from fourth place last year to the third and final spot on the men's podium.
“I was happy with my half marathon time,” DeWitt said of his 1:22:12 clocking on the course, which features a 10.6-mile incline in the first half of the race.
David Venables, 43, formerly of the United Kingdom who now resides in Chevy Chase, Md., was the top masters runner – and eighth overall among more than 105 registered marathoners.
Mary Baniak, 37, of Keyser, W.Va., was third female overall in 3:35:55 while 16-year-old Brittney Rooks, of Baltimore, placed fourth in 3:37:09. Mary Zielinski, 44, of Boonsboro, was top masters female with a time of 3:54:19.
Cumberland resident Aaron MacGray toasted the field in the 5K for United Way, a flat, paved 3-mile course. MacGray finished in 17:53, easily outdistancing 32-year-old Kevin Walizer of Cresaptown (20:05) Adam Rossi, 17, of Frostburg, was third in 20:33.
Angel Schultz, 25, of Cumberland, defended her 5K for United Way title with a time of 21:36 – seven seconds faster than last April’s winning performance. Karen Hatfield, 44, of Morristown, Tenn. and a member of EBS Team Racing, was second in 21:49 and 11-year-old Kaylee Buckbee, of Cumberland, was third in 22:19.
Were you one of the 500? What’s your story? Email run@marathonclub.org.
* Special performances
1. Steven Milburn, 48, of Williamsport, finished in 3:40:36, his fastest time since 1989
2. The Robinette duo of Kristian, age 11, and Karson, age 9, finished their first-ever marathons. The brothers living in Fort Ashby, W.Va.
Media Link:Marathon runners a dedicated, diverse group
1. Steven Milburn, 48, of Williamsport, finished in 3:40:36, his fastest time since 1989
2. The Robinette duo of Kristian, age 11, and Karson, age 9, finished their first-ever marathons. The brothers living in Fort Ashby, W.Va.
Media Link:Marathon runners a dedicated, diverse group
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5K Top 3 Finishers
Karson
Kristian
Steve
Half Marathon
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1 Aaron MacGray Cumberland MD 17:53
2 Kevin Walizer Cresaptown MD 20:05
3 Adam Rossi
Frostburg MD 20:33
Frostburg MD 20:33
5 Angel Schultz Cumberland MD 21:36
7 Karen Hatfield Morristown TN 21:49
10 Kaylee Buckbee Cumberland MD 22:19
3 David Mertz Cumberland MD 1:20:50
2 Elijah Shekinah
State College PA 1:16:27
State College PA 1:16:27
10 Kelly Gruber
Frederick MD 1:34:46
Frederick MD 1:34:46
12 Sara Roberts McMurray MD 1:35:40
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