Benjamin-Ross 5K Set for Sunday

Today may be National Running Day, but this weekend might be called South Jersey Running Weekend, with the 17th annual Benjamin-Ross 5K heating up the racing scene in Woodbury Sunday morning.

Started in 1995 by Benjamin Ross, a lifelong Woodbury resident considered the father of American distance running, for the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, the race has quickly become a tradition and a big draw year after year.

The course kicks off from the Benjamin and Ross memorials on Wood Street, loops through shaded west side of Woodbury, past the Ross family home, and back to the funky, flattened doughnut of the Woodbury High School track for the finish.

Check-in and race-day registration, which is $19, start at 8 a.m., and the starting gun fires at 9:30 for the race and walk.

Overall winners for men and women get engraved silver bowls, and there are medals for the top three runners in each age bracket. Last year, Geoffrey Shute was the fastest man, clocking 17:36, and Denice DiCarlo ran a 21:28 to be tops among women.

The race benefits a scholarship fund from the Road Runners Club of Woodbury for Woodbury High School track and field athletes.

Originally named in honor of Woodbury High School graduate and Medal of Honor recipient Army Pfc. George Benjamin, who was recognized for his valor in the Battle of Leyte during World War II, where he was killed storming a Japanese stronghold, the race was renamed to also memorialize Ross after his death in 1998.

This year, the race is sponsored by Patch–come out and race against West Deptford editor Bryan Littel and regional editor Tim Zatzariny Jr., or stop by the Patch table to score some swag and find out more about what Patch is doing locally.