Team CMAC runners take top 3 spots

Women's Distance Festival draws 31 despite steady showers

From left to right: Jill Krebs (2nd), Sherry Esposito (1st) and Becky Alvarez (3rd). The Team CMAC competitors combined to take the top three spots in the Westminster Road Runners Club-sponsored Women's Distance Festival 5K at the Union Mills Homestead

5K results

by Kevin Spradlin                                                                                          Race Director: Liuda Galinaitis

UNION MILLS, July 14 -- Led by 24-year-old Sherry Esposito, Team CMAC runners earned the top three spots in the Women's Distance Festival 5K at Union Mills Homestead despite a steady rain.

   Esposito hit the first mile in 6:03, with CMAC teammates Jill Krebs at 6:10 and Becky Alvarez at 6:20. The trio would remain in the same order throughout the race, with only longtime WRRC member Tina McCubbin giving chase to Alvarez for the bronze medal.

   With a mile to go, Esposito was just under 13:00, Krebs a few seconds over with Alvarez a few seconds over the 14:00 barrier. Esposito finished with an 18:57 and Krebs clocked a 19:41. Alvarez, in third, finished in 20:52. Running on tired legs after winning the 10K portion of the Twilight Series at FSK this past Thursday, McCubbin finished in 21:15. 

   Krebs was last year's winner in 18:43. Esposito was second in 19:07 while McCubbin was third in 20:25.

   A lot was made of the head-to-head competition of Esposito and Krebs, but there are two key reasons to downplay any rivalry. First, with Krebs' graduation from Western Maryland College this past May, they run for the same team. Second, Krebs and Esposito are in different phases of their training, with Krebs taking some time off from a competitive outdoor track season on the collegiate circuit.

   Last year's WDF race recorded 40 finishers, but the steady rain falling in the Westminster area likely dampened the turnout for any fair-weather runners. The Women's Distance Festival, sponsored by the Maryland RRCA and participating RRCA clubs, is a series of nine races in Maryland designed for women runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. Those who complete four or more WDF races are eligible to receive the WDF Participation Award. For more information, please visit the Maryland RRCA web site.