Saturday, August 16, 2003 -- Barton, MD
6th Annual Party in the Park 5K (iPO Event Id#: 5765)
Story and photos by Tara Struyk
[Details]
[Coverage]
[Overall Results]
[Results by Class]
[Pic Set 1]
[Pic Set 2]
[Pic Set 3]
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The race set off at 8 a.m. sharp, and perhaps it was the early hour, but this iPlayOutside photographer had a very camera-conscious group of runners to contend with on this morning.
Some runners and walkers lowered their gazes and hustled to the
opposite end of the road, while others flexed and waved for the
camera. "An eight-by-ten glossy would be nice!" one runner called out
as he passed. I hadn't gotten his picture.
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Second place went to eighteen-year-old Sid Bittinger. The Frostburg State sophomore ran much of the race on his own, but placed well ahead of the third place finisher in 17:38. Paul Smartschan, 24, ran 18:17 to take third place.
The women's race was led start to finish by thirty-eight-year-old
Maureen Hall. She sprinted through the line, clocking a
finishing time of 19:28.
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The race was wrapped up only half an hour after it had started, letting a line of giant coal trucks continue on their way down the highway.
The runners were not in any hurry as they gathered in front of the town hall for post-race refreshments and awards. There was no reason to rush; they had finished their racing for the day, bright and early.