Winter Flight set for Saturday

SALISBURY — The oldest 8K road race in North Carolina returns to Catawba College for the 29th running Saturday.

The Rowan Regional Medical Center Winter Flight is again the North Carolina State Championship 8K, with the winners receiving special awards from the Road Runners Club of America.

The race is also on the Running Journal Grand Prix, a prestigious year-long points circuit of some of the oldest and best known races throughout the southeast. This is the first time Winter Flight has been on the Grand Prix, which should attract quality runners from many other states.

This is the first year Rowan Regional Medical Center has been the title sponsor for the event. RRMC and the Salisbury Rowan Runners, Winter Flight’s founding organization, have entered into a year-long partnership that promotes running and fitness events.

Registration, packet pickup and the awards ceremony will be held inside Catawba’s Goodman Gym. There will also be a vendor expo Saturday morning before and after the 8K race.

All proceeds will benefit Rowan Helping Ministries.

Joan Nesbit Mabe, a 1996 Olympian, will return. Mabe set the female course record 20 years ago. That record still stands and has not been seriously challenged since she set it in 1992. Mabe will be on hand for the Friday night packet pickup from 5-7:30 p.m., and again on race day. On Saturday, she plans to try to set a United States age group record for the 8K distance. The Post plans a feature on Mabe later this week.

Other events on Saturday are a half mile fun run for children 12 and under and a 5K health walk. The 8K and fun run will be timed and scored by the Salisbury Rowan Runners. The walk will not be timed, but participants can see their times as they cross the finish line. Awards will be given in the 8K to 13 age groups for male and female runners.

Cash awards will be given in the 8K, with $100 going to the top male and female finishers. The first male and female to the 1 mile mark will get $25, and the first Rowan County male and female will get $25.

All 8K and 5K participants will get a long sleeve, high quality dri-fit shirt. Children in the fun run will get medals as they finish.

Food and refreshments will be available to all participants.

Major sponsors for the event include Fowler Physical Therapy, Walgreen’s, attorney Earle Koontz, Edward and Susan Norvell , The Forum, D&L Cleaning, Catawba College, Cheerwine, Marathon Business Center, Salisbury Civitans and the city of Salisbury.

Register online at www.active.com and you can find more information at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org or by calling 704-310-6741. The race brochure and course map can be printed from that site. Registration will also be taken at packet pickup on Friday night from 5-8 p.m.