Anthony Nero and Melissa Orr, two names commonly near the front of the pack in Rowan County races, were easy winners Saturday morning at the Novant Health Salisbury Academy 5K at Salisbury Community Park.
Nero was the overall winner with a time of 18 minutes and 39 seconds. Philip Simons was second with a time of 19:03 and Brett Dixon was third in 19:28.
Nero is returning to racing after taking some time off to pursue other things.
“I moved into a new house and it took a lot of time,” He said. “I am getting back to racing, and it showed. My time was slower than last year. It was a fun race.”
Nero won a chain saw last week as the winner of the Adventure Run at the South Rowan YMCA. Salisbury Academy Headmaster Diane Fisher laughed when it was suggested that she get him something to add to his woodcutting tools.
Top female was once again Orr. She had a time of 21 minutes and 29 seconds, besting Acquawon Stallworth whose finish time of 23 minutes and 5 seconds won the top female masters award. Ellen Simons was next in 23:22.
Fun run winner was Wade Robins with a winning time of 3 minutes and 15 seconds.
Race director Jill Wagoner said, “Things went just about perfect. The day was spectacular and we are really pleased with the crowd who came out. We made our budget.”
Wagoner also thanked the staff at Salisbury Community Park and all of her volunteers. Sponsors for the event also included accountants McCoy and Hilliard, Salisbury Pediatric Associates, the Rich Family, the Colwell Family and the Ott Family.
Complete results are at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org
Runners and walkers are invited to attend the 13th Annual Bare Bones 5K at Knox Middle School on Saturday morning, May 24. The 5K starts at 8:30 a.m. and a half- mile fun for kids will follow at about 9:20 a.m. Both events benefit the Rowan County’s Relay for Life.
The name Bare Bones first came about when a high level title sponsor pulled out of the one of Salisbury’s major races at the last minute, forcing cancellation with such a short notice that it would have been impossible to get the word out. The Salisbury Rowan Runners decided to take over the race and make it a low-cost thank you to the area running community. The race has sponsorship from SRR and the club’s regular partners only, and is staffed completely by club members and Relay for Life volunteers.
Used running shoes and any type of athletic shoes will be collected for Rowan Helping Ministries at this race. If you have some shoes sitting in your closet, we will make sure that they get a new life.
Unique recycled awards will be given to award winners that include the top three overall, and top three in 13 age groups for both males and females. Unique Bare Bones/ Relay for Life dri-fit shirts will be given to all participants. Refreshments will follow afterwards.
Sponsors for the event include Novant Health, Cheerwine, Knox Middle School and the city of Salisbury.
More information and a printable race brochure are available at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org
ggg
The Warrior Golf Club will host the Viamedia H.E.L.P. Challenge 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, May 25. H.E.L.P. stands for Hope Empowers Local People. Each year, the Warrior Golf Club and their race committee will choose a worthy local individual, family or organization to receive proceeds from the HELP Challenge 5K. This year’s recipient is the Marco Kauffman family.
Marcus “Marco” Kauffman of Cleveland was shot in a home invasion when returning from a Thanksgiving trip. He died several weeks later in December. He left behind his wife, Maryann, and a child later born on Valentine’s Day.
The 5K will start at 4 p.m. and the half-mile fun run will follow at about 4:50 p.m. There will also be a team challenge in the 5K. Any business can sign up as a team, with the top three on the team scored in a cross country format to find the winners. There will be cash awards for first and second place overall, and first Masters, first Grand Masters, and first Senior Grand Masters for males and females. Age group awards will be given in 14 age groups also.
The 5K will be run completely within the golf course using cart paths crossing several bridges.
Participants get a custom dri-fit shirt while they last, and refreshments will also be available following the event. There will be a DJ.
Race Director Rick Houston said, “We wanted to create a fund raiser that would help one of the great causes in our area. We chose the Kaufman family because news of the tragedy gripped our community and is still being talked till this day. Helping with this event has been a special blessing for me. We don’t personally know the Kaufman family, but felt that any extra efforts on our part would help them relieve the financial burden that they are currently experiencing.”
Other primary sponsors for the event are the town of Landis, CF Parks and Company, Inc., Cloninger Ford, S&D Coffee, McCoy &Hilliard CPA, and Ralph Ketner.
Registration continues at www.sportoften.com and a printable brochure is at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org. Registration is also available at the Pro Shop at the Warrior Gold Club. Additional information is available by calling Houston at 704-245-9195.