OPA Freedom 5K A Huge Success

OCEAN PINES- The 2012 OPA Freedom 5K last week was a huge success with nearly 300 runners braving 100-degree temperatures for the early morning Fourth of July race around the South Gate pond in Ocean Pines.

A total of 276 runners competed in the OPA Freedom 5K last Wednesday despite the near-record heat. For the record, the top three finishers were Chris Sheaffer, who finished in 15:44.4; Patrick Wachter, who came in at 18:28.5; and Rob DiTota, who finished in the 18:40.7. The top female finisher was Kristen Sheaffer, who was also 10th overall among the 276 competitors in the race.

The 5K race was part of a larger Fourth of July celebration in Ocean Pines with events centered in and around the South Gate pond and the Sports Core area. A portion of the proceeds of the event were dedicated to the Home of the Brave, a Berlin residence that provides a vacation home for U.S. troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families.