Results of the Downtown Holiday Dash in Ocean City

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Costumed runners pose before the awards ceremony. About 50 runners and a handful of Santas, elves and wrapped Christmas presents completed the inaugural Downtown Holiday Dash on Friday night. On a clear 37-degree night under the lighted garland swags of Asbury Avenue, the participants completed a one-mile course from Fifth Street to 14th Street. The event was organized by Ocean City High School Track and Field Boosters Club in partnership with with the City of Ocean City, the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Merchants Association. The groups are hoping the race becomes a new holiday tradition in Ocean City.

The inaugural Downtown Holiday Dash in Ocean City, NJ, covered a one-mile course under the holiday lights of Asbury Avenue. The race included three staggered starts a minute apart for elite runners, an open division and for a shorter kids' competition. Steve Hoffman set the course mark and won the elite division for men in 4:47.58. Kelsey Greene was the top elite woman in 6:15.58. Tina Spadafora won the open women's division, and George Steinbrenn won the men's open division. Dressed as Cindy Lou Who, Christa Faustman won the top costume prize. Winners received gift certificates for downtown shopping, but some of the top finishers such as Middle Township High School's Ryan Herlihy (second in 4:51) and Tampa University's Eddie Keenan (third in 5:03) could not accept the prizes because they still compete as amateurs. Some of the sponsors who helped make the event possible include the Ocean City Fire Department, Local Gym, Marr and Berger Realty and Johnson's Appliance. Unofficial results include the following (let us know if your name is missing or misspelled) include the following: