Concord Classic Attracts More Than 150 Participants

Nathan Martin, front, battled Zac Widner during the Concord Classic 5K run in Concord on Wednesday night. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(June 24, 2021 8:56 AM)  Concord Classic race organizer David Jordon did not know what to expect in June as he began to plan for the annual 5K event last February.

COVID-19 had canceled the 2020 event, road construction was being performed in Concord, and restrictions for the number of participants at an outdoor event were still up in the air.

Somehow all the work came together as more than 150 participated in the annual Concord Classic in Concord on Wednesday night. It was the third of nine races in the Orthopaedic Rehab Specialist Race Series. 

The weather was perfect for a Wednesday night run in Concord with temperatures in the low 70s.

“What a great night for a road race,” Jordon said on his Facebook page. “I want to say thank you to all who participated and all the individuals who worked and helped make this a successful night. 

“I also would like to give a great big shout out to all the sponsors who continually help make running in the Concord area a great tradition.”

Nathan Martin repeated as winner of the event. He ran the 5K course in 14 minutes, 43 seconds – slightly slower than his 14:32 pace from 2019. Martin recently attempted to qualify for the 2021 Olympics in the marathon.

Zac Widner finished second in the event (14:50), Ben Utz was third (15:44), Bryan Burke finished fourth (16:27), and Concord High School runner Jonathan Mikovits placed fifth (16:49).

Recent Concord graduate Skylar Thompson was the women’s winner in 21:47.

Randy Andrews finished as the master’s winner (19:07), Martha Olsen was the women’s master winner (24:23), Ward Freeman completed the course as the grand master’s winner (21:08), and Cathy Brubaker earned first place as the women’s grand master’s winner (25:49). 

Jeff Heath took first place in the men’s 5K walk in 31:49 and Janet Scott took first place as the women’s walker winner with a time of 34:41.

The event benefits runners at CHS and its running programs. 

The ORS Series continues July 4 with the Hanover Firecracker 5-Mile Run/5K walk. Information on the annual Hanover event and results can be found at www.orsraceseries.com.