From the Peninsula Track Club
Despite a rainy Memorial Day weekend, the 2023 edition of the Yorktown Freedom Run Memorial Day 8K was actually held under fairly good running conditions; overcast with an occasional mist and a temperature of 66 degrees at race start. 205 runners entered the 8K Run with 192 completing the 8K loop course on the scenic Yorktown Battlefield. 31 runners and walkers entered the accompanying 5K fun run with 27 finishing the 5K. There were no awards for the fun run.
One new 8K overall record and 11 new age group course records for the Yorktown Freedom Run Memorial Day 8K were set today.
For the second year in a row, a new course record for Women Overall was established. In 2022, Maria Spady, 31 of Hampton VA set the Women Overall record with a time of 30:27, beating the previous record of 30:57 set by Bethany Spector in 2021. In 2023, Bethany Spector, 33 of Virginia Beach VA returned the favor by beating the time set by Maria Spady and again setting a new Women Overall record with a time of 30:15 (6:05 per mile pace)
That time of 30:15 by Bethany Spector is also a new age group record for Women 30-34 which was also previously held by Maria Spady.
The second Woman Overall, Sabrina Little, 36 of Newport News VA set a new age group record for Women 35-39 with a time of 30:58 besting the previous record time of 32:49 set by Jessica Riggs in 2015.
The first Master Woman, Deelyn Robinson, 57 of Williamsburg VA set a new age group record for Women 55-59 with a time of 35:07, beating the previous record of 35:28 set by Mercedes Castillo-D'Amico in 2017.
Third Master Woman, Megan Schulze, 40 of Newport News set a new age group record for Women 40-44 with a time of 35:12 beating the old record of 36:14 set by Karen Sanzo in 2021.
Other age group records include Isabella Strumke, 9 of Toano VA who broke the age group record for Women 9 and under with a time of 32:49 bettering the record of 37:12 that Isabella herself set in 2022.
For Women 60-64, Becky Upton, 60 of Virginia Beach VA set a new age group record with a time of 40:25 beating the previous record of 42:11 set by Norma Phillips in 2021.
For Women 75 and over, Barbara Biasi, 75 of Yorktown VA established a new age group record with a time of 55:41. Barbara is also the current age group record holder for Women 65-69 (44:36) and Women 70-74 (49:31).
For the men, Overall winner, Adam Otstot, 41 of Williamsburg VA set a new age group record for Men 40-44 with a time of 25:51 beating the time of 28:44 set by Douglas Marshall in 2015.
For Men 10-14, Dillon DeMay, 14 of Poquoson VA set a new age group record with a time of 33:45 beating the previous record of 34:34 set by Jack Strumke in 2022.
For Men 60-64, Robert Whitaker, 64 of Yorktown VA set a new age group record with a time of 32:04 besting the time of 34:34 set by by Kelvin Anderson in 2021.
Finally, for Men 65-69, Pete Gibson, 67 of Murfreesboro NC set a new age group record with a time of 32:38 beating the previous mark of 34:33 set by Stephen Chantry in 2021.
Finish line and results services were provided by the Peninsula Track Club. A copy of the results, links to pictures from the race and listings for future road races can be found on the PTC website: www.peninsulatrackclub.com.
