Article by George Banker Photography by Clay Shaw, Karen Mitchell and George Banker
On Sunday, February 23, 2025, the Howard County Striders (HCS) hosted the annual RRCA Club Challenge at Howard County Community College. HCS continues to welcome the surrounding clubs to go for the top honors. The scoring is cross-country style which means that place has the priority.
The runners who have participated know the course is challenging. The event is truly a team effort, and every runner counts. This is the only annual event where the Clubs have a chance to square off.
There were 15 Clubs with 584 starters and 580 finishers. The temperature was 30 degrees at the start with winds 7 miles per hour. The temperature at the finish was 44 degrees under a sunny sky.
Since 2021 the Georgetown Running Club has dominated the top Coed division. Since 2013 HCS has not taken the title, but victory was sweet this year as they captured first place with 449 points, 2. Montgomery County Road Runners – 487, 3. Falls Road Runners – 587 points , 4. Bullseye Running – 715, and 5. D.C. Road Runners – 769.
1:00:59 Rachel Cluett, 37, Montgomery County Road Runners
1:01:21 Kristen Gray, 31, Howard County Striders
1:01:42 Melissa Tanner, 42, Falls Road Running
1:02:58 Liz Ozeki, 36, Montgomery County Road Runners
1:03:35 Caroline Bauer, 41, Howard County Striders
1:03:47 Krystyna Rytel, 24, Montgomery Country Road Runners
1:03:49 Stephanie Reich, 32, Howard County Striders
1:03:53 Bridget Tobias, 27, DC Road Runners
1:04:04 Kristin Lemos, 43, Montgomery County Road Runners
1:04:31 Jennifer Paul, 37, Bullseye Running
1:05:08 Julia Roman-Duval, 42, Howard County Striders
1:05:12 Erin Snyder, 26, Frederick Steeplechasers
1:05:24 Samantha Merkel, 27, Howard County Striders
1:05:46 Jessica Ponds, 42, Howard County Striders52:
Top Men
52:32 Clark Otte, 26, Howard County Striders
52:58 Bobby Creese, 31, Bullseye Running
53:11 Xavier Salvador, 28, DC Road Runners
53:18 Marcelo Jauregui-Volpe, 29, Georgetown Running Club
53:24 Sean O’Leary, 33, Georgetown Running Club
53:28 Daniel Rowe, 40, Falls Road Running
53:46 Steve Mrozinski, 39, Falls Road Running
53:50 Nicolas Crouzier, 39, Montgomery County Road Runners
54:07 Patrick Blair, 43, Bullseye Running
54:10 James Heilman, 30, Georgetown Running Club
54:14 Ethan Gonzales, 28, Falls Road Running
54:14 Cameron Peters, 25, DC Road Runners
54:18 Jerry Greenlaw, 37, Georgetown Running Club
54:44 John-Louis Pane, 33, Georgetown Running Club
54:55 Max McNeill, 31, DC Road Runners
The start of the MD/DC RRCA 10-Mile Challenge. Steve Mrozinski #400, Daniel Rowe #406 of Falls Road, share lead with Bobby Creese#216 of Bullseye Running, Max McNeill #297 of DCRR.
Hannah Betman of Baltimore was the women’s champion in 58:38 and led the Howard County Striders to the women’s team title.
Clark Otte of Columbia, MD was the overall winner in 52:32. The Howard County Striders won the coed team title.
Rachel Cluett of the Montgomery County Road Runners was second in 1:00:59.
Xavier Salvador of Washington, DC was third in 53:11; he led the DC Road Runners team.
Kristen Gray of Columbia MD-based Howard County Striders was third in 1:01:21, as Howard County Striders won the women’s team title.
Melissa Tanner of Falls Road Running was fourth overall and top master in 1:01:42.
Liz Ozeki of Rockville, MD was fifth in 1:02:58, running for Montgomery County Road Runners.
Daniel Rowe of Baltimore was sixth overall and top master in 53:28.
Caroline Bauer of Elkridge, MD was sixth overall and second master in 1:03:35. She was key to the Howard County Striders team title.
Nicolas Crouzier of Darnestown, MD was eighth in 53:50, leading the Montgomery County Road Runners.
Ethan Gonzales of Sparks, MD was 11th in 54:14 representing Falls Road Running.
Jennifer Paul of Washington, DC was eleventh in 1:04:31. She represented Bullseye Running, with her upside-down number LOL.
Julia Roman-Doval of Columbia ran 1:05:08 to place twelfth and fourth master on the winning Howard County Striders team.
Samantha Merkel of Laurel, MD was 14th in 1:05:24 and a member of the Howard County Striders winning team.
Jessica Ponds of Ellicott City was 15th in 1:05:47. She was fifth master and part of the Howard Country Striders winning team.
Teresa Wojtasiewicz of Baltimore is very orange, running for Falls Road Running. She ran 1:11:35.
Megan DiGregorio of Baltimore and Falls Road Running ran 1:10:21.
Club competition brought out competitiveness. Jason Sammut #78 of Howard County Striders races Adam Willis #414 of Falls Road Running.
Mary Donahue of Frederick, MD ran 1:11:14 with a smile, running for the Frederick Steeplechasers.
Allison Sauntry of Edgewater, MD speeds by for Bullseye Running.
The Howard County Striders hosted the annual RRCA Club Challenge at Howard County Community College. This year they also won the club challenge, the first time since 2013, and took top male and top female. Photo by Clay Shaw
Bullseye Running Team took 4th place in the club competition.
Photo by George Banker
DC Road Runners Team looking good! They took 5th place.
Photo by George Banker
Prince George’s Running
Photo by George Banker
Annapolis Striders pose for photographer George Banker.
Runner's Gazette 
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