FREDERICKSBURG, VA (May 15, 2016) – Fredericksburg, VA runner Mark Hopely, 27, enjoyed a hometown first-place finish at today’s Marine Corps Historic Half while leading 5,716 runners into the finish line located in Fredericksburg’s Central Park. Hopely finished his first Historic Half run in 1:11:06.
Hopely was met by Justin Valdez, 25, who took second place, finishing the 13.1 mile course in 1:13:29. Valdez, a U.S. Navy nurse stationed in Virginia Beach, also completed his first Historic Half. The third-place win was captured by U.S. Marine Capt. Sean Barrett, who completed the Historic Half in 1:14:24. The 31-year-old Barrett is a member of the elite All-Marine Running Team from San Diego, CA. Barrett was joined today by four fellow members of the All-Marine Team.
Last year’s Historic Half female champion, Britta Ultz Baxter, 37, of King George, VA repeated with a first place finish among all women runners while completing this year’s event in 1:25:24. Ultz Baxter finished in 1:27:33 in 2015.
Megan Truelove, 25, of Alexandria, VA claimed second place among women finishing in 1:25:53. Third-place Historic Half winner was Kim Fagen, 45, of Keningston, MD, who finished in 1:28:11.
The new Semper 5ive presented by Navy Federal Credit Union, which began in conjunction with the Historic Half was won today by Aaron Naraine, 17, of Fredericksburg, VA who ran the event in 30:10. Second-place winner was Jim Gregory, 43, of Wheaton, MD who finished in 30:38. Mason Howes, 43, Port Royal, VA completed the wins for the men taking third place in 31:02. The inaugural Semper 5ive included 1,267 finishers.
Women runners of the Semper 5ive’s five-mile course were led by U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Brenda Schrank, 44, who won the event in 33:34. Schrank resides in Winchester, VA and ran her last big event at the 40th Marine Corps Marathon in October. Second-place Semper 5ive winner was Jenna Scholz, 30, of Alexandria, VA who completed her run in 35:52. Emily Hopely, 29, also of Fredericksburg, took home a third-place win after completing the course in 36:12.
All of today’s finishers were cheered by enthusiastic spectators throughout the course with U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman signaling the start of today’s Historic Half. Mrs. Dorothy McAuliffe, First Lady of Virginia, signaled the start for the hand cyclists, while Tawanda “Tee” Hanible, a retired Marine gunnery sergeant and star of the FOX Network reality show “American Grit,” announced the start of the celebratory event.
Masters and age-group awards will be held at an award ceremony in early June at Pohanka Nissan of Fredericksburg, but all unofficial results are available on www.marinemarathon.com.