Reich is top female finisher 3rd year in a row.
Frederick, Md. (KM) With horns blaring and crowds cheering, runners crossed the starting Sunday morning on East Patrick Street in front of the Frederick Fairgrounds. The more than 7,000 participants were taking part in the 2018 Frederick Half Marathon.
The top male finisher was Billy McManus from Fort Wayne, Indiana. “I’m really tired, but great to bring home the win,” he said, after crossing the finish line.
Not too far behind was Evan Harding. McManus was asked how he kept his lead. “He ran a great race. He was closing the gap pretty hard at the end. Just focusing on keeping my cadence steady there at the end. Staying tough; staying engaged,” he said.
It was his first time racing the Frederick Half Marathon. When asked if he race it again, McManus’ response was “maybe.”
For the third year in a row, Stephanie Reich of Columbia was the top female finisher. She said her biggest problem during the race was the humidity. “Even though it was cooler, it was so humid. It was tough for such a long race,” she said.
Reich also said she didn’t realize she was the top female finisher throughout the race. “I think I was in the lead for the whole race, but it’s never certain. Around halfway, I was actually like ‘ooh, feeling pretty tired.’ I was waiting for someone to pass me the whole time. I didn’t know that I won until I crossed the line,” she says.
As for the course, “I love it. I grew up here and I love these roads,” says Reich. “It’s tough and it’s hilly. The tough last five-k. It’s a good one. It’s beautiful.”
The 13.1-mile course took runners from the front of the Fairgrounds on East Patrick Street to East Street to New Design Road, past Harry Grove Stadium and through the downtown along Market Street. It then goes onto to 6th Street down Bentz Street To Baker Park, past Frederick High School, Hood College and Frederick Memorial Hospital. Runners then travel to the northern part of the city , down Schifferstadt and Monocacy Boulevards and back to the Fairgrounds. The finish line is in front of the Grandstands.
By Kevin McManus