Jerry Johnson Memorial Flag Day 5K Run, 11 June 2005

Stick Stomps Field at Jerry Johnson Memorial Flag Day Run

In 2002 Sherry Stick was the second female, finishing ninth overall, in the Mt. Airy Flag Day 5K. In 2003 Sherry was the first female, finishing seventh. In 2004 Sherry was the second female, finishing third. With such an obvious trend, it was only fitting that this year Sherry won the race, finished as first female, and won money at the 9th annual version of the race, now named for a former mayor of Mt. Airy.

Running on a warm, humid, sunny morning, Michael Brosenne and Sherry lead a field of eight-five runners down Main Street from the Mt. Airy Elementary School. By the time that Brosenne, a track and cross-country runner while at Shepherd State College in West Virginia, and Sherry passed the one mile mark in 5:40, they had a forty second lead over Matt Thompson, Ellery Murdock, and Ron Chesney, with second female Lisa Fichman another thirty seconds behind.

The middle mile, a loop through a subdivision with a noticeable hill during the second part, was not kind to the trailers, as Brosenne and Sherry increased their lead to over a minute, with Brosenne's 11:55 time putting him five seconds ahead as the two turned back onto Main Street.

The trip up Main Street was not kind to Sherry during the 2002 and 2004 versions of this race, since Jen Baclawski, an American University runner, passed her both times on the way back to the finish. This year, with Baclawski serving as a marshall, there was no stopping Sherry, as she blasted past Brosenne to finish with nearly a thirty second victory margin, becoming the first female winner of the race.

Murdock edged Chesney for third, and Thompson finished fifth. Fichman, who did not start running until five years ago, finished sixth overall as the second female and first masters runner of either sex.

Scott Hunter beat Lily Nicholl by five seconds in the Kids One Mile Fun Run held prior to the Flag Day 5K. All proceeds were contributed to Special Olympics.