Salisbury, North Carolina

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Site Updated on 07/05/07

About our Annual Winter Flight 8K

●    Salisbury Rowan runners, first organized in March 1980, was originally known as the Greater Salisbury Track Club.

●   Chuck Cooper served as the club's first president, with Larry Pinkston as vice president, Anne Baugh, secretary and Sue Pinkston, treasurer.

●   GSTC had fifty members its first year. Its goal was to promote running in North Carolina and to offer racing, educational and social opportunities.
 

·    The club hosted its first road race two months after it was organized--the Mayfest Run, a 10K, held on May 3, 1980. There were 96 entrants in the 10K and 29 in the one-mile fun run.

·   In 1981, the club directed a race called the Miller Lite Winter Flite which included a 5K, 10K, and one-mile fun run. Over 320 runners participated. Chuck Cooper was race director.

·   Other races on the club’s agenda for 1981 were the Mayfest Run (10K, 5K & 1-mile), the Hunger Run (10K & 1-mile), and the Carolina Ten Miler (10 mile & 1-mile).

·   Club history is sketchy as to why there was no Winter Flite in ‘82 or ‘83.

·   The Winter Flight Road Race was reborn  on January 29, 1984, and consisted of 5 and 10-mile races, along with a 1-mile fun run. It was the largest and most successful running event ever held in the Salisbury-Rowan community. It started and ended at the Historic Wall Mural at Wachovia Bank on South Main Street. There were 758 participants in the three races including a bus load of distance runners from NC State University. Entry fees were $7 for the two longer races and $5 for the fun run. Long sleeve T-shirts went to all runners. The event was preceded by a spaghetti dinner and running clinic the night before with Dr. Angus McBride, Charlotte orthopedic surgeon, as guest speaker. Larry Pinkston was race director. Proceeds from the event went to the North Carolina Association for the Blind. A tour of historic Salisbury was part of the weekend events.

·   Chuck Cooper of GSTC was race director for the Ken Mattox Memorial Mayfest Run held on May 5, 1984. The race was a memorial to GSTC club member Ken Mattox. There were 307 entrants.

·    Dr. George Sheehan, physician, athlete, author and nationally known speaker on exercise and fitness, was guest speaker and race participant at both the second and third annual Winter Flights.

·    Winter Flight became the first race in the Tar Heel Tour in 1986 and was moved to Catawba College.

·    The Greater Salisbury Track Club changed its name to Salisbury Rowan Runners in the latter part of 1986.

·    Winter Flight became the Coors Winter Flight 8K (dropping the 10K) in 1987. The 8K course was certified by TAC and sanctioned by RRCA for the first time. The 1987 event had 1065 entries. Bob Zirt was race director. Prize money was given to the top first, second, and third finishers, male and female ($250, $100, $50). The race was dedicated to the memory of Harold Sifford, a long time SRR club member.

·    Current course records were set in 1988 by Hans Koeleman of The Netherlands (male - 23:34.9) and in 1992 by Joan Nesbitt (female - 26:48).

·    The 1989 Winter Flight, scheduled for January 29th had to be postponed to March 19 due to the red measles quarantine in Rowan County. Race officials were pleased that 573 of the 970 pre-registered runners showed up for the Winter-turned-Spring Flight.

·   Jim Young of Young and Associates, Raleigh, began managing Winter Flight finish lines/results in 1990 and has been a vital part of all Winter Flights since.

·   The 1990 Coors Winter Flight was dedicated to the memory of long-time SRR club member, Don Henderson.

·   Winter Flight ‘91 had a record total of 1142 registrants. Temperature was in the high 60’s on race day—February 3rd.

·   Winter Flight ‘95 was probably the coldest Winter Flight ever. Race day was windy with temperatures in the low 40’s. There were 783 total entries but only 585 actually showed up to run due to the cold.

·   The Winter Flight road race had to be postponed for a second time in 1996 due to heavy snowfall.

·    SRR celebrated the Olympic Torch Run with a torch (or flashlight) run of their own, The Night Light Flight 5K run/walk held on Sunday, June 23, 1996, 8 PM at China Grove Middle School. Race director was Dick Franklin.

·    Spring-like weather greeted a crowd of over 800 runners/walkers at Winter Flight ‘97.

·    Pete Gibson of Murfreesboro, NC was overall winner of Winter Flight ‘98 with a time of 26:54. Sabrina Martin, coming back after having her first baby six months earlier, captured her second Winter Flight title.

·    SRR added two new races to its annual agenda: Telespectrum 5K (1998) & Run for Your Lungs 5K (1999). Both races started and finished on the Catawba College track.

·    $2100 in prize money drew 620 entrants to Winter Flight ‘99.

·    Entries were down to 429 in Winter Flight 2000 although temperatures were in the high 50’s on race day. The spring-like race day followed several weeks of snow and ice. Stewart Ellington’s winning time of 24:31 and Kim Certain’s winning time of 28:44 were the fastest times since 1993 (male) and 1996 (female).

·    The 2nd Annual Run for Your Lungs 5K was run on April 8th, 2000 and brought in 121 runners and walkers despite a threat of rain. The course, which the previous year circled the Catawba soccer field, took participants across Statesville Blvd into and around the Salisbury VA grounds. New club member, Robert Miller, won the race with a time of 16:41. Proceeds went to the American Lung Association of North Carolina.

·    SRR went "on-line" with its first web site in May, 2000. URL address - www.geocities.com/salisburyrowanrunners.  Long time club member Judy Zirt was webmaster.

·    Two new series - Member of the Year Series and 1000 Mile Club - were started in June 2000 and added over $200 to club funds in the first two months.

·    The 3rd Annual Telespectrum 5K was moved from Catawba College to Knox Middle School in July 2000 to allow participants to run / walk a completed portion of the Salisbury Greenway. This was the second year that proceeds from the race went toward the Greenway Project. The event brought out a total of 182 runners and walkers. Steve Clark from Salisbury Parks and Recreation (and SRR member) was race director. SRR club member Robert Miller easily won the race with a time of 15:39. The female overall winner was Jennifer Halsch of McLeansville, NC (18:25).

·    33 new members joined Salisbury Rowan Runners in a four-month period (May - August 2000) bringing the membership to 105 as of August 31st, 2000. Judy Terrell of Lexington received a $25 gift certificate to The Athlete's Foot for being the 100th member.

·    Winter Flight 2001 Sponsorship drive got underway in August 2000 with a promise of 10% to any member securing sponsorship money for Winter Flight 2001.

·    In September, 2001, Club member Brent Orr secured The National Guard as new title sponsor for Winter Flight 2001.

·    SRR adopted a new club logo in September 2000.

·    The first Winter Flight 2001 website went on-line in November, 2000.  The first ever, on-line registrant for Winter Flight 2001 was received on December 4th, 2001. A special pre-registration and packet pick-up was held on Saturday, February 3rd, at the Salisbury-Rowan YMCA.  Turn-out was sparse due to lack of advertisement, but club members felt it to be worthwhile.

·    As usual, spring-like weather greeted the 500-plus participates in the 18th Annual Winter Flight 8K 2001, held on Sunday, February 4, 2001, at Catawba College. The title sponsor, The North Carolina Army National Guard, provided manpower in all areas of the race day activities. Black hawk helicopters flew overhead and then landed in the stadium where they remained on display throughout the day. Scott Dvorack, of Charlotte, and a sponsor of Winter Flight 2001, won the race with a time of 25:29. In addition to sponsoring and winning Winter Flight 2001, Scott also designed the snowman logo on the Winter Flight sweatshirt as well as the new Salisbury Rowan Runners Logo.

·    Winter Flight 2001 was dedicated to the memory of long-time runner and friend of Salisbury Rowan Runners, Barry Hatley, who died on November 27, 2000, at the age of 50. The family was presented with a plaque during the awards presentation on race day.

·    SRR established a supervised walking program in June, 2001, through a partnership of SRR and the Salisbury Parks and Recreation Department.  Led by SRR club member Bob Zirt, the group of 5-10 walkers, sometimes as many as 12-14, met at the Salisbury Greenway on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.  Club member Nancy Brandt was featured in an article about the supervised walks in the Salisbury Post. 

·    The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, had an impact on sponsorship monies for Winter Flight 2002.  The uncertainties of the economy and talk of a recession kept several long-time Winter Flight sponsors from participating as a financial sponsor of WF 2002.  Even the bulk of the monies committed by WF 2002's title sponsor, the NC Army National Guard, had to be cut in order to help provide the resources to combat the new war on terrorism. 

·    A new course had to be certified for Winter Flight 2002 due to renovations of Shuford Stadium at Catawba College.  The new course started and ended in front of the gym entrance. 

·    A helicopter circling the race day site and holding club president David Freeze and club member Nancy Brandt started the day's events for a very patriotic Winter Flight 2002. In addition, "perfect running weather" greeted the total of 473 participants from five different states who turned out to run the new 8K  course. 42 ran in the one-mile fun run.  American flags lined the finish line.  As in the previous year, NC Army National Guardsmen were highly visible, providing much of the manpower for registration, traffic control and finish line.  Static displays of military equipment delighted old and young alike.  The American Red Cross supplied water, fruit and snacks.  Greensboro's Brian St. Onge, 25, was overall winner of the 8K with a time of 24:16, the closest time ever, short of breaking the race record.  Durham's Missy Foy, 37, was first overall female with a time of 29:38.  The top Rowan County (and SRR) finishers were Robert Miller, 29, finishing 3rd overall (26:45) and Trudy Gale, 43, second masters (35:21). Prizes were also awarded to the top 3 finishers (under age 12) in the fun run.  Club member, Adam Pannabecker, age 11, placed second with a time of 6:35. The event brought in over $3000 with donations going to the New York City Trade Center Relief Fund, Rowan Special Olympics, the American Red Cross and the Rowan Amateur Radio Society.

·    Member of the Year Series was dissolved in February, 2002 due to lack of interest/support.

·   The North Carolina Lung Association made a decision not to continue with the annual 5K Lung Run.  Also, the 'going out of business" of Telespectrum, the major sponsor of the Run for the Greenway,  also left the future of the Greenway run (usually held in July) in question.

·    New officers for 2002-2003 - President: David Freeze: Vice President: Trudy Gale; Treasurer: Dan Roseman; Secretary: Judy Terrell; Membership Chair: Judy Zirt; Telephone Chair: Nancy Brandt; Board Members: Bob Zirt, Steve Clark, Molly Connor, Lewis Terrell, Rick Johnson, & Mark Alexander.  Publicity Chair: Open.

·    The 1st Annual Bare Bones Memorial Weekend 5K replaced the Run for Your Lungs 5K in May of 2002.  The "bare bones" event was done without any major sponsors and used left-over trophies. Seventy-seven runners and walkers participated in the 5K which started on Summit Ave at Catawba College, ran through the neighborhoods around Catawba, across Statesville Blvd, in and around the VA Medical Center grounds and back, finishing at the same place on Summit.   Salisbury's Robert Miller was the male overall finisher with a time of 16:41, and Jennifer Vandiver of McLeansville lead the women with a time of 19:43.
 

• The Run/Walk for the Greenway went on in spite of the loss of the Telespectrum sponsor. A field of 200 runners/walkers participated in the 5th annual 5K held at Knox Middle School, July 20, 2002. The weather was perfect, there were plenty of volunteers and things couldn't have run smoother. Salisbury's Robert Marchinko (age 31) took first place with a time of 15:22, followed by Anthony Nero (age 23) of Spencer at 16:06 and Robert Miller (30) of Salisbury at 16:14.  Female winners were Terri Bradley (34) of Fayetteville with a time of 18:41, followed by Mary Neor (21) of Greensboro, 19:39 and Jennifer Vandiver (35) of McLeansville, 19:48. Proceeds from the event went to the Salisbury Greenway Project.

• SRR lost a long-time member and dear friend on September 1st, 2002 when J. R. Ewing passed away at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem after an illness of several weeks. While not a runner, JR loved SRR and maintained membership for more than 17 years.  He was a loyal volunteer at most of the smaller SRR races and always at our annual Winter Flight 8K.

• Sheri Williams of S5, Charlotte, was hired by the Winter Flight Committee in September 2002 to secure sponsors for the 20th Annual Winter Flight 2003.

• SRR provided race day registration and finish line/results for the 3rd straight year for the West Rowan YMCA Santa 8K held on Saturday, December 14, 2002 at the Cleveland YMCA.  This annual event, which had 70 participants, raised money for the YMCA Invest in Youth Campaign.
   
• Sunday, February 2, 2003 - The weather was spring-like (60s and sunny) for the 20th Annual Winter Flight 8K which also included a Be Active Fitness Festival sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and hosted by WBNA player Andrea Stinson. There were 395 participants in the 8K and 54 in the fun run. Since the title sponsors for the event were Beck's Import of the Carolinas and Mercedes Benz of Winston Salem, a new Mercedes led the 8K event. Winner of the 8K was Chris Seaton of Blacksburg, VA with a time of 24:23.  The fastest female was former club member Edie Smith of China Grove with a time of 31:10. For the first time in many years, the annual run was preceded by a kick-off pasta dinner/speaker on Saturday evening at the new Salisbury YMCA.  The speaker was engaging and energetic Bart Yasso of Runner's World Magazine.  Proceeds from the race went to the YMCA, Catawba College, Be Active North Carolina and the Rowan County Ham Radio Operators.

• A 'behind the scenes' challenge presented itself at South Rowan High School when previous bad weather forced school to be held on Saturday morning, March 1, 2003, the very morning of the Ain't Hogs Great 5K. Once school was scheduled, the only options were postponing the race, canceling it altogether, or moving the start time to early afternoon.  Since the shirts and trophies were already printed with race date, the food already bought and the volunteers already committed, race officials did the only thing they could do---move the start time.  With two days notice, they scrambled to get the word out by telephone, word of mouth, newspaper announcements, emails, flyers, etc.  As it turned out, only one irate runner --- and $3000 raised for the South Rowan Booster Club!

• SRR's 2nd Annual Bare Bones Memorial Day Weekend 5K held on Saturday, May 24th at Catawba College, saw a significant increase in participation - 129 runners/walkers, up from 77 the previous year.  Milton Matheny of Kannapolis was overall winner with a time of 16:39 and Karen Levin, also of Kannapolis, was the first place female clocking in at 19:35.  Several large bags of pre-owned running shoes were collected and donated to Rowan Medical Ministries.

• SRR worked two races in June, 2003 -- the Heritage Day 5K in Landis on Saturday, June 7th and the China Grove Challenge 5K on Friday night, June 27th..  The Burned Children's Fund reaped the proceeds from the Heritage race, and the China Grove Challenge contributed over $3500 to the Invest In Youth Campaign.  The China Grove Challenge had a challenge of its own on race night when  lightning and rain surrounded the town for about 20 minutes prior to race time, but then diminished once the race got underway.

• Salisbury Rowan Runners' Relay for Life Team, headed by team member Jo Franklin, raised $2960.00 in the fight against cancer. The event, originally scheduled for May 2 & 3 ( postponed when a violent storm ripped through the Rowan County Fair Grounds on kick-off night) took place on June 13 & 14.  The team goal was $2000.

• The 6th Annual Run/Walk for the Greenway 5K was held on Saturday, July 19 at Knox Middle School under the direction of SRR member, Steve Clark.  168 runners registered and the event raised $1368 for the continuing construction of the Greenway.

• August 2003 was a month of rest for SRR, but then September proved to be very busy with SRR doing finish line and results for the 3rd Annual Catawba College Cross Country Invitational on September 13 at Dan Nicholas Park and the Salisbury High School Hornet Cross Country Invitational on September 20, also at Dan Nicholas Park.  This was followed by our annual trip to the Pannabecker Lodge in Natural Bridge Station, Virginia the weekend of the Virginia 10-miler.

• Ten members received 1000 Mile Trophies and shirts at SRR's annual Holiday Party and Awards Presentation held on December 6, 2003 at the Spencer Women's Club.  Three members, Alan Lawson, David Freeze and Rick Karampatsos received 2000 mile trophies.  Two more accomplishments followed before the year ended: the West Rowan Santa Run 5K on December 13 and the new Frostbite 5K in Kannapolis on December 20.  2003 proved to be a very successful year for Salisbury Rowan Runners, with contributions to various charities exceeding any previous year.

• Attendance was down at Winter Flight 2004, hurt somewhat by a snow storm the weekend  prior to race day and by the SuperBowl on race day!  This was the second year the Super Bowl was played on race day.  While attendance was hurt both years by the Super Bowl, this year had an additional blow.  Our own Carolina Panthers were in the SuperBowl!!  So Charlotte and surrounding areas were rocking with Super Bowl festivities.  A total of 278 runners and walkers took time out to participate in this 21st Annual 8K.  Larry Jackson, age 34, of Boulder, CO was overall winner, leading the pack with a time of  26:49, followed by Aaron Bowman, 28, of McLeansville at 27:12 and Sean Killeen, 38 of Richmond, VA at 28:01.   Missy Foy, 39, of Durham, was the first place female winner with a time of 30:40 followed by Lynn Pitson, 43, of Salisbury at 32:40 and Kimberly Spano, 12, of Huntersville, NC at 23:59.   Edie Smith, 41, of China Grove took the female masters division with a time of 33:05.  Male Masters winner was Donny Lake, 42, of Greensboro with a time of 28:05.

• Long-time SRR member and friend, Jo Ann Franklin, passed away on September 14, 2004 after a long fight with cancer.  She was 52.

• SRR added a new 500 Mile Club in November 2004 and made the 2000 Mile Club an official mileage club due to special interest.  Several new members joined SRR just to participate in one of the mileage clubs. 

• Winter Flight 2005, scheduled for Sunday January 30th, had to be postponed due to snow.  The Saturday afternoon prior to the race was spent by SRR members calling all the applicants to tell them of the new snow date.  This was only the third time in 22 years that the winter race had to be rescheduled...once due to a measles outbreak and twice due to inclement weather.  The event was rescheduled for Sunday, February 13th...The race was dedicated to the memory of SRR member Jo Ann Franklin who passed away on September 14, 2004.  Overall winner of the Feb 13th race was Adam Lindsey (19) of Reidsville with a time of 27:43.  Female winner was Julie Cox (27) of Winston Salem with a time of 31:37.  SRR's Lynn Pitson (44) was the second overall female finisher with a time of 31:53 and SRR's first male finisher was Gene Faller (35) who finished 3rd overall in 29:59. Winter Flight 2005 raised $10,680 for Godstock.
   

• Salisbury Rowan Runners held its annual Bare Bones Memorial Weekend 5K at Knox Middle School on May 28^th.  One hundred eight runners and walkers showed up to participate in this 5K run/walk which starts in front of Knox Middle School, travels along a portion of the Salisbury Greenway, in and around Eagle Heights neighborhood and then back to finish on the Knox track.  Justin Sink took first place honors with a time of 16:37 and Alayna Levie was first place female with a time of 20:25. The weather was perfect for this 4th annual run/walk.

• Robert Miller (32) of Salisbury took first place in the Run/Walk for the Greenway held on July 16, 2005 with a time of 16:11. Mary Bertram (18) also of Salisbury was the overall female winner with a time of 19:37.  The weather was clear and warm for the 161 runners/walkers that turned out for this 8th annual event.  Most notable was the appearance of the morning crew from WSTP 1490 radio, Mark Brown and Howard Platt.  Both were responding to a challenge made to them by SRR to come out and participate in their first 5K.  Both were great sports as they took part in the event for charity, and SRR donated $100 to Mark's favorite charity, Rowan Helping Ministries.
   

• SRR, in conjunction with Salisbury Parks and Recreation and the Rowan County YMCA, held an eight week Beginning Runners Program in September-October 2005 at the Salisbury City Park.  Fourteen new runners met Tuesday evenings for 30 minutes of classroom instruction followed by 30 minutes of jogging in the area around the City Park. Cost was $25 each and included a one-year membership in Salisbury Rowan Runners Club, a club t-shirt, and entry fee for one SRR 5K race. Classroom instruction included topics on running shoes, running form, nutrition, injury prevention, strengthening/stretching, and safety, etc.

• Forty club members/guests enjoyed dining and dancing at the Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant in Salisbury on December 3, 2005 for the annual SRR Christmas Party and Awards Presentation.  Eighteen members received awards for reaching mile goals in the 500, 1000, and 2000 Mile Clubs. 500 Mile winners were Bob Connor, Scotty Jordan, Susie Myers, Jo Anne Poplin, Robert Strider and Bob Zirt.  1000 Mile winners were Brandon Asciutto, Molly Connor, Rick Johnson, Susan Moore, Wayne Peurifoy, Mike Simpson and A. T. Smith.  2000 Mile winners were Steve Bradley, Bill Dusch, David Freeze and Eddie Frye.

• The weather was sunny and in the mid 40s for the 23^rd annual Winter Flight 8K which differed from previous Winter Flights in two aspects.  First, this year’s event was held on a Saturday morning (January 28, 2006) rather than the usual Sunday afternoon, and second, WF 2006 was one of only two North Carolina races to be among other RRCA State Championship events across the country.  Lena Hollaman, the RRCA representative for North Carolina was on hand to run the 8K and also to hand out State Championship trophies to the first male and female finishers. Brant Armentrout, (33) of Winston Salem led the field of 276 runners/walkers with a time of 26:27 and Alison Holinka (27) of Elkin led the females with a time of 29:51.  Both winners walked off with two first place trophies and a check for $100, sponsored by SideKick Karate.  Holinka also won $25 for being the first female to reach the one mile mark.  Robert Miller (33) of Salisbury took home the $25 prize for being the first male to reach the one mile mark and another $25 for being the first Rowan County finisher (26:40).  Lynn Pitson (45) of Salisbury took the Rowan County prize with a time of 33:17.   Donnie Lake (44) of Greensboro and Amy Mercer (40) of Lexington were male and female masters winners. 

• July 6, 2006 - Longtime SRR member Randy Ewing took third place in Bocce, one of the oldest of all lawn bowling games in the National Special Olympics Track and Field events in Ames, Iowa.  Randy hasn't been able to compete in as many events since having brain tumor surgery in 1997.  Nine years before that, Randy completed the New York Marathon in 4 hours and 50 minutes. 

• Over 200 runners turned out for the Greenway 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, July 29, 2006. SRR member Robert Marchinko took first place in this 9th annual run.

• Club member Gene Faller completed his second Ironman in less than a year on September 10, 2006 in Wisconsin.  He finished 327 overall with a time of 11:34:03. 

• SRR's second annual Adult Beginning Runners 6-week program was again held September 2006 adding 12 new members to the club roster. The coinciding after-school YMCA/SRR running program for kids also got underway with over 400 kids being served at 17 different sites.

• SRR Member Rick Karampatsos competed his third marathon in three weeks (Twin Cities Marathon, ST. Paul, MN) on October 1, 2006 with a time of 2:38:22. 

• Bill Shires' time of 17:07 gave him top honors at the Santa Run 5K held on December 2, 2006 at West Rowan YMCA in Cleveland, NC.  Jennifer Vandiver was overall female winner with a time of 19:46.  This was the 7th year for this SRR-assisted event which raises money for YMCA youth programs.