On Oct. 4 some 500 racers and 100 volunteers will ascend on Public Landing at 9 a.m. for the 4th Annual Osprey Sprint Triathlon sponsored by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.

The program’s largest annual fundraiser, the sprint distance triathlon includes a half-mile swim in Chincoteague Bay, a 15.2-mile bike course and a 3.4-mile run on the roads surrounding the area. The course meanders through the rural countryside of southern Worcester County across from Assateague
Island. Proceeds from entrance fees and sponsorships raise money for the Coastal Bays Foundation. Last year the event brought in more than $30,000.

Already, Bacardi, Macky’s Bayside Bar and Grill, The Mansion House, South Moon Under, Runners World, Worcester County, State Highway Administration, Salisbury Schwinn, US Lifesaving Association, Ocean City Chiropractic Clinic, Wal-Mart, Sherwood of Salisbury, Peninsula Bank, Delmarva Two-Way Radio, Cain Masonry, Food City, and Knox Financial’s Stephanie Brown have donated to the cause. More than a dozen other local businesses have donated goods and services.

Last year, the top male finisher, Bill Schultz, 24, of Annapolis, finished with a time of 1:08:08. He was followed 22 seconds later by William Uffman, 21, of Annapolis. Eric Sorensen, 32, from Falls Church, VA took third with a time of 1:09:30.

The oldest finisher was 75-year-old Harry Bratt of Bethesda who finished in 268th place at a respectable 1:52:10 finishing before some 50 teenagers, twenty and thirty somethings and beating his time last year by 32 seconds. The youngest, Ellie Winchester, 10, from Sherwood Forest finished in 1:49:34 in 253rd place. In the women’s category, Tara Smith, 34, of Olney, MD finished first at 1:15:57. Suzy McCulloch, 22, of Ellicot City took second with a time of 1:18:12 and Stacy Karwacki, 40, of Baltimore took third when she crossed the finish line at 1:20:12.

Some 350 participants raced for the cause.
For information call Dave Wilson or Dave Blazer at 410-213-2297.