A group of 110 runners and walkers wrapped up 2008 with the final event in the 5K arena with the inaugural running of the Race into the New Year 5K hosted by Fins Fish House and Raw Bar in Rehoboth Beach.

“A great first-race showing considering the change of venue,” said Fins owner Chris Bisaha.
The event began under a wind advisory for Sussex County, but that didn’t bother five youngsters who competed in the Fins Half-Mile Kids’ Run as the crowd lined the sidewalk to cheer on our future.

Next up was the unique 5K course that began on Rehoboth Avenue and took the field through a 1.5-mile loop on the north end of town in which they had to complete twice before crossing the finish line. The wind on Rehoboth Avenue, as runners made their way west, was so strong that many had to stop and walk.

At the midway point, a men’s pack of five stayed together as drafting was definitely taking place on Rehoboth Avenue, but it was 43-year-old Michael Woodman from Timonium, Md., who broke away on the second loop and crossed the finish line with a 17-second win over regular Breck Vanderwende of Bridgeville.

Vanderwende finished in 18:11 to win the 30-39 age group, while Matt Dunn out of Trappe, Md., was third in 18:25 to win the 20-29 age group. Fourth went to Craig Chase of Reston, Va., in 18:48, while 14-19 champion Logan Smith of Lancaster, Pa. rounded out the top five in 19:08.

On the female side, young 15-year-old Anna Bosse out of Rockville, Md., controlled the action from the start as she breezed through the course in an excellent time of 20:39. Bosse ran a 5:18 mile this past year as a freshman out of Walter Johnson High School.

Regular racer Susan Dunn of Laurel, Md., was second in a time of 21:58 to win the 30-39 age group, while third went to 14-19 champion Maria Moersen of Bethesda, Md., in 22:13. Kari Putterman, also of Bethesda, who this past fall ran a 3:34 New York City Marathon, found the start location to place fourth among women in a time of 22:44, while Salisbury’s Jonna Krabill celebrated her recent engagement to regular racer Mike Hitch by rounding out the top five in a time of 23:11.