It was a beautiful spring night in Salisbury for the TWAM 5K and more fast times were recorded as Casey Buddenbaum paced the field with a time of 17 minutes and 16 seconds.
“I loved the course,” he said. “I run for the UNC-Wilmington now, and I have only been back in training for four days, so I was really happy to win.”
Buddenbaum was followed by Chance Brown with a time of 18:32 and Josh Readling in 18:37.
Mary Dudley-Tramazzo returned to her hometown to easily win the women’s race with a time of 18 minutes and 43 seconds. Second place went to Elizabeth Taylor in 20:55, while third went to Christina Dunkin in 22:07.
Top masters runner was Martin Thorne in 18 minutes and 37 seconds. Acquawon Stallworth finished in 22 minutes and 26 seconds.
Tops in the fun run were Mason McMillan in 3 minutes and 38 seconds, Finch McMillan in 3:45.51 and Gabe Honeycutt in 3:45.99.
First time 5K runner Laurie Ward wasn’t sure about the intensity and closeness of the start, but she loved the course. “I was nervous at the start, but had a blast in the race,” she said. “I can’t wait to run another one, and know for sure that I will be at the China Grove 5K in June.”
Brenda Brotherton, also running her first race, had just finished a 5K training class at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center on Thursday. “I am so excited. This was so much fun,” she said.
Michelle Macon gathered up a group of seven friends to run the 5K together. All were from Cornerstone Church .
Both Buddenbaum and Dudley-Tramazzo, as overall winners, received dinner for two at Cooper’s and two tickets to the Piedmont Players Theater.
Proceeds will fund a mission trip to San Jose, Costa Rica, for the Teens With a Mission service organization of First Presbyterian Church. TWAM is 10th-12th graders and a team of adult advisors. While in Costa Rica, TWAM will again build a house for a family in need.
Sponsors for the TWAM 5K and Fun Run included platinum sponsors Gordon and Carolyn Hurley. Silver sponsors were Greg and Missie Alcorn, Bob and Sara Cook, Farrington Family Medical Center and Innes St. Drug. Bronze sponsors were Caniche, Central Carolina Insurance, Eye Associates of Rowan, F&M Bank, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Rockwell Farms, Rowan Regional Medical Center, Dr. Robert S. Ogden, Salisbury Urological Associates, Animal Center of Salisbury, The Forum, Colin Grubb, Dr. David Mayberry, Carl and Mary Repsher, Fisher Realty, Tracy and Kenan Smith, The Medicine Shoppe and West Innes Animal Hospital.
Complete results are at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org.