Matlick edges Oates, takes Turkey Trot

Matlick edges Oates, takes Turkey Trot
Wright overwhelms women's field in 17:54

Results

HAGERSTOWN - Former University of Maryland-Baltimore County standout Jared Matlick edged former Boonsboro High School state champ Doug Oates to take the 8th annual Turkey Trot 5K road race at Hagerstown Community College.

It's Matlick's second straight win at the holiday event.

Matlick, 22, of Shepherdstown, W.Va., bested Oates by two seconds per mile and led the field of 396 runners to the finish line in 16 minutes and 10 seconds. Oates, 30, was second in 16:59. Rio Ferrario, 18, edged Nathaniel Clark, 17, although both runners clocked a time of 16:59.

It was Matlick's fourth top-four finish since 2005, when he was third in 17:06. Matlick placed fourth in 2006 (17:22) and won last year in 15:58.

Rob Hovermale rounded out the top five in 17:11 and, at age 44, was the top 40-and-over runner in the field. Karen Abbamonte, 50, was 39th overall and the top women's masters runner in 20:54 (6:45 pace). Abbamonte was third overall in the women's field.

Leading the women was 21-year-old Jaime Wright. She cruised to the finish in 17:54 - good for 11th overall at a 5:47 clip. Shayna Weir, 22, was a distant second in 20:21.

The total of 396 finishers was 107 more than the 289 which completed the 2007 event, which benefits the HCC cross country and track and field teams.