Thompson, Roy leads Bobbi Jo 5K field

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Thompson, Roy leads Bobbi Jo 5K field

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THURMONT, Md., July 23 – The event website for the Bobbi Jo Memorial 5K race and 1-mile fun run notes that the late Bobbi Jo “Bird” Delphey Barber “was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt (and) youth coach.”

From the looks of things on Saturday morning at Eyler Road Park, she also was a pretty good friend – to pretty much everybody in Thurmont and the surrounding area.

Barber died unexpectedly in October 2009 at the young age of 39. She left behind a husband and five children. On Saturday, there were enough fond memories shared between family and friends before, during and after the race it was almost as if she were still alive. Almost.

More than 100 runners and walkers participated in the second annual benefit event, which raises scholarship funds for select graduating Catoctin High School seniors. Barber was a 1989 Catoctin graduate who also attended Hagerstown Community College. She was a standout high school basketball player and cross country and track and field athlete. Barber was a four-time Maryland Class 1A high jump state champion. Those same four years, she also won her county, conference and region high jump championships.

In a small way, Matthew Thompson, 21, of Thurmont, and Kirsten Roy, incoming senior at Brunswick High School, tried to measure up to Barber’s standard. At least over the reportedly short 2.9-mile single loop road course, they did just that.

Thompson was the third runner to cross the historic Roddy Road Covered Bridge – one of only eight remaining in Maryland – at the 1.4-mile point. Thompson and two others trailed the leader by 12 seconds about halfway into the race. On a warm and humid morning, the leader stopped for an extended water break. Thompson didn’t, and the time savings paid off.

Thompson led all runners to the finish line in 17 minutes and 14 seconds. Jeff Stone, 46, of Thurmont, was second in 17:19 while Jefferson resident Lance Dockery, 20, was third in 17:36. Brody Wilt, 14, was the fourth and final runner under the 18-minute barrier. He clocked a 17:48.

Roy, 17, held a commanding 15-second lead at the bridge over her closest female competitor. She lost about half that on the second half of the course, as Andrea Vietri closed to within eight seconds at the finish line. Roy finished in 23:28 while Vietri, 48, earned a time of 23:36. Tara Topper, 46, was third overall in 24:59.

The second-year event was organized by Always In Motion, a new running club in Thurmont recognized as a member of the Road Runners Club of America. Always In Motion was founded a few months after Barber’s passing as a way to remember the young woman who was always on the go.

Complete event results will be posted online at http://bobbijo5K.webs.com.

Matthew Thompson (17:14) Kirsten Roy (23:28

Participants release balloons to honor the memory of Bobbi Jo Delphey Barber

photos by Chris Baum