A television camera crew recorded the events of Phil’s Survival Run, a 5K along the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail Sunday. Seventy-one runners raced under a clear morning sky, following winners Shawn Loper and Megan McNew across the finish line at Annie’s Playground in Fallston.

The video crew, from Adams Community Television in Gettysburg, Pa., focused their cameras on race director Phil Anderson, gathering information and footage for a documentary about running, stroke, and rehabilitation.

Anderson, 63, a long-time runner, has become an advocate for stroke awareness. Though he seemed an unlikely candidate for a stroke, having completed dozens of marathons and ultra-marathons over the years, he suffered a stroke in April 2007.

His message today is that stroke, which cuts off blood flow to the brain and kills 160,000 Americans each year, can strike anyone at any time — and that recognizing the early signs, mini-strokes that precede a stroke, is of critical importance.

He established the race last year to raise awareness of stroke, and so far this year is ranked number two among fundraisers for the National Stroke Association. He has also become a role model for recovery from stroke, having regained his speech, his mobility, and his speed as a runner. In Sunday’s race, he was 36th, the median finisher, in 26:01 just a day after running a 10K race in Pennsylvania. In his recovery, he has raised his total number of ultra-marathon completions to 74.

He has plans are to grow Phil’s Survival Run each year, to to reach more people about prevention and minimization of the effects of stroke.

The top five men in Sunday’s race (3.0 miles) were Loper 15:49; Jerry Henderson, 16:23; Mike Feinberg, 17:43; Scott Walton, 18:28; and Scott Smith, 19:01. McNew led the women in 18:48. Margaret Starnes was second in 21:19; Rhonda Walton, 22:19; Kathleen Belsan, 23:17; and Jackie Hedrick, 23:34.

In Other Races

Brandon Scarff, 17, finished second, and 12-year-old Nathan Scarff, fourth among 386 runners Saturday in the AFCEA 5K in Columbia. The Fallston brothers ran 18:21 and 20:15 respectively. Also among the top finishers, from Forest Hill, were Joseph Shifflett, tenth in 21:29, and Daniel Shifflett, 14, who was 12th in 21:42.

George Weber of Abingdon finished 12th among 200 runners in the College-bound Foundation Race for the Future 5K in Baltimore Saturday. Weber ran 20:55 and finished third in the 40-49 age group.

Scott Smith and Donna Lewis were winners in the RASAC Polar Bear 5K in Bel Air March 29. Smith led the field of 20 runners in 20:16, with Kirk Ingold second in 20:33 and Matt Bowling third in 20:53. Lewis edged Margaret Starnes by eight seconds in 22:59, with Karen Henry third in 25:56.

In Collegiate Track

Paris Williams ran 55.04 in the 400 meters at the Florida Relays Saturday, and she anchored her team’s 4x400 relay team to a 3:44.06 clocking. The Temple junior from Aberdeen ran the 800 meters the week before in a meet in Chester, Pa., clocking a personal best 2:15.44.

Shannel Shivers of Aberdeen placed fourth in the hammer throw in the Penn Invitational in Philadelphia Saturday. The Towson freshman threw 133-5 in the hammer and 121-1 in the discus for seventh. She was also third in the shot put at 38-0 1/4. Towson’s Brandi Gervais of Churchville ran 19:05.38 in the 5,000 meters in the meet, placing seventh.

Kelli Buck of Bel Air anchored the Yale 4x800 relay team that finished fourth in the Colonial Relays in Williamsburg Saturday. The team ran 9:18.57.

Junior Track and Field

The annual Harford Junior Track and Field meet will be held Saturday, April 25, from 9 to 3 at John Carroll High School in Bel Air. The meet is conducted in four age groups, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14.

The Harford Hershey track meet, for ages 9-14 will be held May 9 at Joppatowne High School. Fliers on both youth events are posted at www.rasac.com.

Coming Races

April 18 - Victims Fund Run 5K, Patterson Park Baltimore, 9 a.m., 410-308-1870.

April 18 - Special Olympics 5K, Harford Community College, 9 a.m., 410-420-2569.

April 18 - Franklin L. Tull Memorial 5K, Lakeside Business Park, Edgewood, 9 a.m., www.geefinc.com

April 19 - RASAC Friends 4.35-mile Race, Friends’ Park, Forest Hill, 8 a.m., 410-456-0744.

April 19 - Reach Out and Run 5K, Goucher College, 8:30 a.m., 410-308-1870.

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