The Browning Ross Legacy BY JACK HEATH Mt. EPHRAIM, NJ--No two ingredients were more important to the first Browning Ross Bob Kupcha race, held April 16, than these: to be fun and to be competitive. The 5K race succeeded on both accounts. The winners on the hilly cross-country style course, rare for South Jersey, were 28-year-old Dave Welsh in 16:29 and 23-year-old Emily Ward in 19:09. Welsh is a top runner in the area who works out of the Haddonfield Running Company. The Haddonfield Running Company is an indispensable supporter of running throughout South Jersey and provided awards for this race. Emily Ward, an outstanding runner for Gloucester Catholic (where Olympian Browning Ross was a long-time coach) and the University of Richmond. Just like a Browning Ross race, this event also featured runners coming from a long way away: second place finisher Michael Donnelly hails from Australia. For a long period of time in the 1970s, Ken Kling won every race in South Jersey. Ken, a close friend of Browning, is still going strong and won the 50-59 age category in 20:41. The fun was provided by a scenic course overlooking picturesque Haddon Lake. Postrace massages were provided by Sports Physical Therapy of Cherry Hill, and plenty of food and drinks were available. The course had a Browning-like surprise that brought runners up a steep trail straight uphill for the finish. The best feature of the race, however, was the familiar feeling of community that you experienced at a Browning race. Many of the same people who ran Browning’s races for so many years were in attendance and ran well. There were also plenty of new runners of all ages--something that would have pleased Browning. Additional features included something Browning thought there should be more of--a kids’ race with medals. There was also a family one-mile walk around the lake. The race was timed by Jane and Gene Hoopes of AKSTS timing. Jane and Gene were long-time friends of Browning who credited him with getting them started in race timing. Among other races, AKSTS now times the Marine Corps and Disney Marathons.
A fitting tribute is to gather back together in the sport he loved and vicariously taught many of us to love. Overall 1. Dave Welsh 16:29
22. David Jenkins 24:55 23. Dave Benson 25:11 24. Eric Smith 25:37 25. Erika Page 25:46 26. George Jackson 26:01 27. Norman Ostroff 26:07 28. Ann Warsing 29:07 29. Tom Ward 29:14 30. Renee Candelori 29:52 31. Catherine Kain 30:36 32. Colin Kelly 31:09 33. Christopher Genther 31:11 34. Paul Kupcha 31:35 35. Peter Townsend 31:36 36. Bill Aquinto 32:14 37. Jim Dougherty 34:44 MALE Overall 1. Dave Welsh 16:29 14 and Under 1. Colin Kelly 31:09
1. Matt Taylor 18:31 20-29 1. Shaun Rendell 21:46 30-39 1. Tommie Mulligan 18:09 40-49 1. Michael Donnelly 17:20 50-59 1. Ken Kling 20:41 60 and Over 1. Lou Sarfiego 21:49 FEMALE Overall 1. Emily Ward 19:09 15-19 1. Shannon McGowan 24:37 20-29 1. Tina Digiovanni 20:45 40-49 1. Renee Candelori 29:52 60 and Over 1. Ann Warsing 29:07 |
