Solomons, MD – The 16th annual running of the Step-by-Step 5 Kilometer (K) race in Solomons was not burdened by the heavy rain that plagued the previous year’s event. The modest gathering of runners and walkers at Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons helped raise funds for Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA).
The race was first run in 2001. A few short days into that year a young man named Mike Blackwell was jogging on Broomes Island Road. A Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant employee and father of two, Blackwell, 39, was an avid runner. During the afternoon of Jan. 3, Blackwell was struck and killed by a southbound vehicle. The car never stopped. The driver was apprehended a short time later. The driver and a front seat passenger were subsequently charged with manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident.
As she does every year, Blackwell’s widow, Bonnie, thanked the participants at the starting line for memorializing her husband. When given the go, around 9 a.m., the runners and walkers raced through the streets of Solomons.
Finishing first was Allison Twarowski, 30, whose race time was 20 minutes and 37 seconds. Twardowski’s time was one second better than second-place finisher Joey Crunkleton, 15. The third-place finisher, Neal Offenbacher, 51, logged a time of 21 minutes and 17 seconds.
The racers included 10 members of the Plum Point Elementary School Running Club. For the second year in a row, Martin Greenbaum, 71 of Lusby, was recognized as Step-by-Step’s oldest participant. Additionally, medals were presented to the top three finishers in the numerous age/gender categories.
The Step-by-Step 5K, which benefits alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs and activities in Calvert, is one the road races coming up in final two months of 2016. On Nov. 19 the Wobble Before You Gobble 5K is scheduled. Held to raise money for the Southern Maryland Food Bank, the pre-Thanksgiving dash will start at the Tiki Bar. On Saturday, Dec. 3, Solomons will host the highly successful Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis.
For more information on CAASA programs visit their web site.
For complete Step-by-Step 5K results visit the Chesapeake Bay Running Club web site.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
