THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9410190166
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
The Run for Holiday House is getting to be an annual down-to-the wire battle between Raymond Ochs of Virginia Beach and Portsmouth's Mark Shea.
Ochs, a 33-year-old Naval Shipyard engineer, won the 13th annual 5K run Saturday over a downtown course in a time of 15:39. It was his second consecutive victory.
Shea, the 1992 winner, was runner-up. Shea's time was 15:55. Ochs won last year in 15:48.
The two are among only a sprinkling of area runners who can break the 16-minute barrier.
Pete Gibson of Murfreesboro, N.C., barely missed 16 minutes, finishing third in a time of 16:10. He also was third two years ago.
Ochs, a graduate of the University of Illinois, did not run track in high school or college. He became interested in the sport nine years ago while watching a marathon.
Monica Allard of Virginia Beach was the women's overall champion, clocked at 17:56.
The only age division winner to retain a title was Evie Thomson-Lakey of Virginia Beach, who repeated as the women's 35-39 champion.
Two walk winners also held on to their championships. Virginia Beach's Harry Watson won his second straight 1-mile walk in the men's 50-over class. Mary Gibbons of Gloucester Point was the women's 49-under winner again.
About 170 runners participated. Proceeds from the competition go to Holiday House. ``We hope our proceeds will reach $5,000,'' said race director Tommy Kilpatrick.
Awards were presented by former Wilson High School state champion hurdler/sprinter LaTasha Colander, now a freshman at the University of North Carolina. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Runners take off for the 13th annual Run for Holiday House on
Saturday. Raymond Ochs of Virginia Beach won the 5K race.
by CNB