Runners dash into Independence Day celebrations

Pineland Striders Running Club hosted its 47th Annual Independence Day Races on June 27, a week before the holiday. The run featured 10K, 5K, and Kids’ Fun Run races in Medford, with runners crossing the finish line at Shawnee High School. 

Roughly 140 runners participated across the 10K and 5K races, ranging from ages eight to 77. Before both of the races kicked off, about 10 kids ran off in the short Fun Run. 

The race awarded 71 runners. Winners received medals and award certificates that could be used towards discounted Striders merchandise. 

“With our award structure, we do the overall male, female, and non-binary winners for the 5K and the 10K. Then, we do 10-year age groups, and we do first, second, and third winners in each of those age groups,” said Steve Waniak, the co-race director and Pineland Striders vice president. His partner of 18 years, Samantha Creamer, is the other co-director. 

In the 10K race, Tre Tarpley of Westville won first male overall with a time of 39:16; Sofia Sparacio of Vincentown won first female overall with a time of 45:01. 

In the 5K race, Carter Ayers of Collingswood won first male overall with a time of 15:58; Haley Khokhar of Marlton won first female overall with a time of 25:50. 

However, much more came from the day than sweat and medals. 

Every year, proceeds from the race go towards funding two $250 scholarships for Shawnee High School student athletes, and the remaining proceeds are donated to a local charity. This year, proceeds from registration and extra on-site donations went to the Food Bank of South Jersey. 

The running club has been active for over five decades, and over the years, it continues to gather people of all ages, skill levels, and walks of life. It hosts two annual races – the Independence Day Races in Medford and the Boxing Day 5K in Voorhees in December – and the annual DQ Pine Barrens Olympic Triathlon, Duathlon, & Aquathlon in Shamong in September. 

Additionally, the club participates in the Mid-Atlantic USA Track & Field competitions and various local races. It also hosts run meet-ups throughout the area that anyone can attend for free to get steps in and build community. 

And above all, the club strives to be a positive, uplifting space for all participants. 

“When I came in, most of these folks have been running for around 20 years and have known each other for years, and I felt immediately welcomed,” Waniak said. He and his partner, who live in Mount Laurel, joined the club about seven years ago and took on both his leadership roles within the organization about five years ago. “I learned so much from them, not just about running, but about local history and the history of sport, and I think that’s something [special] that the Striders really can offer.”

At the Independence Day race, Waniak said it was a special day for everyone to accomplish their own goals. For some, it might have been their first race; for others, like 5K male overall winner, it was a new personal best. No matter where each participant is coming from, showing up and cheering everyone on is part of the fun.

“We’re not really hyper competitive,” Waniak said. “The one thing that I always say I really like about the club is that other clubs will come to us and be like, ‘Hey, do you guys always wait at the finish line and cheer each other on until the last runner comes through?’ And of course we do. It wouldn’t occur to us to do anything else, so that’s really kind of the vibe that we have.”

“Every time you know you see someone manages a personal record or who has their first race, it’s a really exciting feeling to have been able to facilitate that for them, and to hopefully make sure that they had a really good experience,” he said.