OCEAN CITY- The Island to Island Half Marathon and associated 5K race held in and around the resort area last weekend was a huge success with over 4,600 racers competing in the combined events.

The Half Marathon has become a fixture on the spring special events calendar over the last decade and this year was one of the biggest yet. The total number of competitors in the half marathon was 2,298, while another 2,303 runners competed in the 5K. In a new twist this year, the 13.1-mile half marathon began on Assateague and the course wound its way up Route 611 and through West Ocean City before crossing the Route 50 bridge and concluding at the Inlet in Ocean City. In recent years, the course was reversed, beginning at the Inlet and ending at Assateague, but event sponsors OC Tri Running changed it up this year with good results.

With a 7 a.m. start time, most of the runners were across the bridge and into Ocean City by mid-morning. Local law enforcement patrolled the race route and there were few reported backups, despite the spring Bike Week and other special events going on in town.

For the record, Alex Loper of Parkville, Md. was the first to cross the finish line in 1:16:21. Robert Dinterman of Moyock, N.C. was second, finishing in 1:20:24, and Charlie Moran of Elkridge, Md. was third at 1:21:18. The top female finisher was Melissa Denman of Montague, N.J., who finished in 1:30:52. Kelsey Dunn of Waldwick, N.J. was the second female finisher, coming in at 1:32:21, while Nicole Podesta of College Park, Md. was third at 1:32:34.

The Top 20 local finishers in the half marathon were Evan Thomas of Fruitland (28), Alyson Brabitz of Ocean Pines (60), Tony Oliphant of Salisbury (62), Brian McCullough of Ocean City (79), Chaqaz Llinas of Ocean Pines (81), Chris Llinas of Ocean Pines (82), Beth Beley-Smith of Berlin (87), Jacob Manire of Ocean City (117), Sean McGarry of Ocean City (140), Nate Gregory of Ocean City (143), Jessica Reeck of Berlin (155), Lee Ralston of Salisbury (162), Robert Schroeder of Salisbury (164), Mark Valenzano of Salisbury (182), Sarah Carey of Salisbury (199), Karl Walinski of Berlin (208), Travis Sevier of Ocean City (212), Alex Sterling of Salisbury (222), Don Clayton of Salisbury (238) and Austin Mayne of Berlin (239).

In the 5K race, which was run entirely in Ocean City, Jay Hall of Waldorf was first, Jett Hall of Waldorf was second and John Ford of Selbyville was third. The top local finishers in the 5K included Richard Ritson, Bill Sieg and Shanan Schlict, all of Berlin.

The Island to Island Half Marathon and associated 5K races last weekend attracted over 4,600 competitors to the resort area. Pictured above, left, Alex Loper of Parkville, Md. was the first to cross the finish line in the half marathon, coming in at 1:16:21. Pictured above right, Melissan Denman of Montague, N.J. was the first woman to finish, crossing the line at 1:30:52.

Photos by Jeanette Deskiewicz