Baltimore Sun

Search the Baltimore County community newspaper archives

>> Click here to search for stories published AFTER 2011

>> Use this search box to find stories published prior to 2011.

Note: All Words is a more strict search. Implied operator is "AND."
Ex: Charles Dickens"

news

home

Joppatowne Track Club member; Gymnast wins 50-meter dash in Hershey

BY BILL BLEWETT

Posted 8/05/09

Christina Riggins, a 10-year-old Bel Air girl whose main sports interest is gymnastics, won the 50-meter dash in the North American Hershey Track and Field championships Saturday in Hershey, Pa.

Riggins, a Prospect Mill Elementary student, led from the start and finished five hundredths ahead of the runner-up in the girls 9-10 age division in 7.67 seconds.

The daughter of Andrew and Chong Riggins of Bel Air, Christina is a two-time Maryland state gymnastics champion with the Aberdeen-Churchville Parks and Recreation. This year, she competed in six youth track meets and was undefeated in the dashes and long jump.

She became a member of the Joppatowne Track Club in May, but according to her father had time only for about two hours of track and field training, total.

She won both the dash and the standing long jump in the Hershey State Meet in June and was selected as one of eight finalists in the 50, based on her time in the state meet.

The North American finals brought together about 560 young athletes (at least five from each state, 10 Canadian provinces and three territories) to compete in three age groups: 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14. Christina was one of 24 athletes from Maryland in the finals, and the only Marylander to win an individual title. Three Maryland foursomes won relay victories.

In road running

Mike Feinberg, of Bel Air, led the men’s 40-49 age group in the Hadassah Check it Out Challenge 5K at Hunt Valley on Sunday.

Feinberg, the director of the Bel Air Town Run, ran 19:24 to finish sixth in the field of 250 runners who followed Chris Belcher, of Leitchfield, Ky. (17:08), into the chute.

Janine Martin, 16, of Fallston, placed second among under-19 women in 24:35. Susanne Hurst, of Baltimore, led the women in 19:49.

Cherry Hill 5 Miler

Zach Huffman and Christine Trzcinski led the way over a hilly course in the RASAC Cherry Hill 5 Miler in Street on Sunday.

Huffman ran 34:58 to finish 30 seconds ahead of runner-up Derek Alban. Ron Stevenson finished third in 35:33, and Dave Stevenson, fourth in 36:29.

Trzcinski finished sixth in the field of 24 and led the women in 37:18. Megan McNew was second in 38:27. Donna Lewis took third in 42:02, and Rhonda Walton, fourth in 42:36.

Danskin Philadelphia Triathlon

Six Harford County women were among the finishers Sunday in the Danskin Philadelphia Triathlon, a race shortened by severe thunderstorms.

The event was changed to a duathlon — run, bike, run — because of heavy rain and strong currents in the Schuylkill River, where the swim was to take place.

Danielle Hanson, of Street, completed the abbreviated course in 1:26:39 to place 10th in the 30-34 age group. Terri Broemm, of Bel Air, was 10th in 55-59 with a 1:48:30.

Other Harford finishers were Linda Loveless, 1:40:35; Taffy Thomas, 1:45:09; Hayley Krause, 1:49:52; and Angelina Richardson, 1:52:32.

The competitors biked 12.4 miles, but both running phases were shortened. About half of the 2,500 starters did not finish because the course was cleared due to lightning.

Coming races

Aug. 8: Bobcat 5K, Jerusalem Mill in Joppa, Men’s race 8 a.m., women’s race 9 a.m., 410-652-5850.

Aug. 9: Boordy Vineyards 5K Trail Run, Hydes, 6 p.m., 410-308-1870.

Aug. 16: Rite Aid 5K, Rite Aid Mid-Atlantic Support Center in Perryman, 8 a.m., 410-297-5118.

Aug. 16: Harford Senior Olympics Track Meet, John Carroll School, 11 a.m., events: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,500.