Josey, Craddock win Raider Battalion 5K

By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com

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ROCKINGHAM — Donye Josey and Alena Craddock led the field of more than 70 runners to the finish line of the inaugural Raider Battalion 5K on Saturday at Richmond Senior High School.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com

Josey, of Hoke High, stopped the clock in 18 minutes and 29 seconds for the win. Craddock, 12, of Rockingham, was top female in 26:45. Misty Morgan, also of Rockingham, was second female in 26:49.

Lt. Col. Jon Ring, Raider Battalion commander, said the debut 5K was in conjunction with an attempt at entering the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest global 5K with a simultaneous start.

In a light rain, the field began by the G.R. Kindley Field House at noon sharp. Runners traveled down to the East Washington Street Extension gate, then back by the practice fields and, going cross-country style for a bit. The field re-entered Raider Stadium by the field house and went up the slight incline to run behind the visitors’ bleachers, back down again. The race was finished with a three-quarters loop on the track.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com

Hoke High teammates Allen Thompson (19:30) and Andrew Bowen (19:42) rounded out the top three. Ring himself was fourth overall and the first Raider Battalion finisher in 21:05.

Ring later announced that the record was not broken.

“We did, however, break the record for the largest 5K within the continental United States with 425 JROTC programs hosting 20,144 runners.”

Ring indicated this year’s event only set the bar for 2016.

“Next year in the real goal,” Ring said, with a goal of “maximum participation of 1,300 programs that should be included. We will get bigger and better next year.”