Second annual Pottstown Half Marathon returns.
More than 400 runners take to borough streets for half-marathon
More than 400 people gathered bright and early Saturday morning at the starting line of the second annual Pottstown Half Marathon.
The race began at 7 a.m. at College Drive near Montgomery County Community College and took runners on a 13.1-mile stretch past several Pottstown landmarks including the former Bethlehem Steel Complex, Pottstown Memorial Medical Center and The Hill School. Racers ended at the Schuylkill River Trail at Riverfront Park.
The race brought together people from 15 different states and was also this year’s Road Runners Club of America Pennsylvania Championship race. The men and women finished first for specific age categories were also crowned state champions.
This year’s top female state champion was Marina Orrson of Shavertown who finished fourth overall. Quenton Cassidy of Birdsboro went home with the top state championship title for men. The state champion for the 40s division was Lucie Bergeyova of Boyertown along with Josh Irvan for the men’s 45-49 division who also finished third overall. In the women’s 50-59 division, Lisa Pavlick took home the state champion title along with Wayne Deegan for the men’s 5059 division.
Chris Bayless, race organizer and Sly Fox Track Club director, said this year he was pleased not only with the number of runners that came out but with the number of volunteers as well.
“The volunteers really came through. We needed more volunteers than we did last year. They really stepped it up,” said Bayless.
Bayless attributed the amount of volunteers to his new policy for the race. If runners are injured and are unable to participate, they can volunteer at the event and have their registration deferred to the next race. Bayless said after extending the offer he received about 15 volunteers in just five minutes.
The first Pottstown Half Marathon began last year as a training opportunity for long-distance runners, according to Bayless. The club that Bayless runs helps train athletes for track and field events in addition to hosting several races throughout the year.
Bayless said a few of his members requested a halfmarathon run since there aren’t many long distance races available in the immediate area. He decided to have the race in July so marathon runners could use it as a halfway point in their training before fall.
A portion of the proceeds from this year’s race benefit Operation BackPack, a Pottstown based charity where backpacks are filled with food and materials then sent out to qualifying students. For more information about the half marathon visit slyfoxtrackclub.com/thepottstown-half-marathon.