Despite the fact that Sherlock’s personal life — he got married a couple weeks ago — cut back his recent training regimen, it turned out that the 24-year-old former Northern Bedford County High School track and cross country standout made a wise decision in opting for the longer race 9.3-mile race this year.

Sherlock, who now lives in Waynesboro, paced all runners in the 15K field with a time of 54 minutes, 50.88 seconds. Sherlock staved off a furious finish by runner-up Kyle Ruggery of Duncansville, who registered a time of 54:52.69, while Altoona’s A.J. Kelly — a seven-time Altoona 15K winner — finished third in 56:10.15.

Juniata Valley High School graduate Ella McCrum of Alexandria was the women’s 15K champion for the second straight year, posting an identical time to her 2025 title pace — 1 hour, 1 minute and 10.49 seconds. Ebensburg’s Amy O’Donnell finished second in the women’s field with a time of 1:04.22.40, and Duncansville’s Maddie Ruggery was third with a time of 1:06.45.93.

Despite rolling the proverbial dice in entering the 15K for the first time on a sweltering morning, Sherlock was encouraged by his performance in the first half of the race.

Ella McCrum from Alexandria won the Women's 15K with a time of 1:01:10.49, Photo for the Mirror by Chuck Meyers

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Sherlock said. “I didn’t have high expectations, because I haven’t been running as much recently.

“I got married two weeks ago,” added Sherlock, whose wife, Alyssa, ran the 5K race Saturday. “My goal wasn’t to win today — it was just to go out and have fun. But halfway through the race, I felt pretty good, and I kept plugging away.”

Consistency was a vital factor in Sherlock’s championship effort on Saturday.

“I stayed fairly consistent, running each mile in about five minutes, 50 seconds,” said Sherlock, who graduated from Waynesburg University and is employed as a marketing director at the Waynesboro Area YMCA. “In this heat, I was just trying to maintain that steady pace.

“It wasn’t bad in the shade today, but there were sections on the course where I could really feel the heat beating down on me,” Sherlock added.

Mason Kephart from Duncansville crosses the finish line, winning the 5K with a time of 16:29.13 Photo for the Mirror by Chuck Meyers

The heat didn’t bother McCrum too much, as the 20-year-old Juniata College nursing student and track and cross country standout breezed to victory in the 15K women’s bracket for the second straight summer and finished seventh in the overall field.

“It was really hot today, so it was more of a challenge than last year, when I ran the exact same time,” McCrum said. “Because of the heat, I was happy with my time today.”

McCrum started out strong, and held serve throughout the race.

“I was ahead the whole way,” McCrum said. “I was kind of hoping to get off to a strong start, and I felt really good over the first mile. The middle three miles were tougher, but I felt strong again over the last three miles.”

The United States, as well as Altoona, celebrated America’s 250th birthday and anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on Saturday, and race director Frank Kopriva said that a total of 1,060 people joined in the celebration by registering to participate in the 15K run, 5K run and 2-mile walk.

Chloe May from Bedford approaches the finish line, winning the Women's 5K with a time of 17:51.87 Photo for the Mirror by Chuck Meyers

“The crowd for the 5K run and 2-mile walk was probably the biggest ever for the start of those events,” Kopriva said.

McCrum and Sherlock were both grateful for the opportunity to participate in Saturday’s race.

“It’s a lot of fun,” McCrum said. “I look forward to doing it again next year.”

Kephart, May win 5K

Two young runners were the male and female champions in the 5K race. Mason Kephart, a 14-year-old incoming freshman in the Hollidaysburg Area School District, led all male runners with a time of 16:29.13, while Chloe May, who will be a senior at Bedford High School this fall, was the first female to cross the finish line in the 5K race, posting a time of 17:51.87.

Brodie Bilthuis (left) of Duncansville and Jonathan Hill (right) of Johnstown come down the home stretch in the Blair Regional YMCA Angie Gioiosa 4th of July Memorial Race. Photo by for the Mirror by Chuck Meyers

Former Northern Bedford High School running standout Ian Zimmerman finished second overall with a time of 16:33.40, and current Altoona High standout Ashlyn Noce was second among all female finishers with a time of 19:11.64.

Only four seconds separated Kephart and Zimmerman.

“I wasn’t really expecting to win, but whenever I was leading the pack of three in front of the field, I felt pretty good about it,” Kephart said. “It was very hot today, and I’m happy with my time.”

May was the winner in last year’s 5K women’s race, and she is a three-time District 5 champion in high school track and a three-time PIAA medalist in cross country.

“It was kind of hot out there today, but my summer training really helped me,” May said.

15K runners start the Blair Regional YMCA Angie Gioiosa Fourth of July Memorial Race on 12th Avenue in front of the Mishler Theatre. Photo for the Mirror by Chuck Meyers

Altoona’s Donna Stoltz was the overall champion in the 2-mile walk, posting a time of 20:17.34. Altoona’s Nicholas Sutt led all male 2-mile walkers across the finish line, with a time of 23:19.19.

15K RACE

MEN: 1, Ian Sherlock, Waynesboro, 54:50.88. 2, Kyle Ruggery, Duncansville, 54:52.69. 3, A.J. Kelly, Altoona, 56:10.15. 4, Joel Takacs, Ebensburg, 56:47.40. 6, Shane May, Bedford, 57:30.40. 7, Travis Kagarise, 58:08.90. 8, Joey Zins, Export, Pa., 58:45.38. 9, Brandt Peterson, Lilly, 59:28.12. 10, Wes Eberhart, 59:52.69.

WOMEN: 1, Ella McCrum, Alexandria, 1:01.10.49. 2, Amy O’Donnell, Ebensburg, 1:04.22.40; 3, Maddie Ruggery, Duncansville, 1:06:45.93. 4, Jane Hallinan, Allison Park, Pa., 1:07:34.67; 5, Alexis Lovrich, Tyrone, 1:08:10.33; 6, Alexandra Arthurs, Altoona, 1:08.52.92; 7, Jayme Rhodes, Hollidaysburg, 1:09.22.39; 8, Addison Carbaugh, Johnstown, 1:10.03.68; 9, Emily Koehle, Ebensburg, 1:10:26.33; 10, Gracie Gioiosa, Altoona, 1:11:25.31.

5K RACE

MEN: 1, Mason Kephart, Duncansville, 16:29.13; 2, Ian Zimmerman, Woodbury, 16:33.40; 3, Dean Sunderland, 16:49.31; 4, Brenson Davis, Tyrone, 17:38.88; 5, Brody Bollinger, Johnstown, 17:41.13; 6, Matthew Berzonsky, Spring Mills, Pa., 17:43.52; 7, Ross Hershberger, Martinsburg, 18:03.13; 8, Jack Singer, Altoona, 18:08.52; 9, Maxwell Pohar, Duncansville, 18:16.24; 10, Xander Frederick, 18:21.32.

WOMEN: 1, Chloe May, Bedford, 17:51.87; 2, Ashlyn Noce, Altoona, 19:11.64; 3, Emma Etters, Altoona, 19:46.11; 4, Rylan Carney, 20:04.39; 5, Katie Etters, Hollidaysburg, 20:22.79; 6, Jovie Tucker, Johnstown, 20:51.14; 7, Ava Stewart, Seattle, Wash., 21:07.61; 8, Blake Pennington, Altoona, 21:18.39.

2-MILE WALK

MEN: 1, Nicholas Sutt, Altoona, 23:19.19; 2, Landon Marshall, 25:03.56; 3, Charlie Pollock, Hollidaysburg, 25:18.69.

WOMEN: 1, Donna Stoltz, Altoona, 20:17.34 (overall champion); 2, Veronique Stern, Duncansville, 22:59.15; 3, Lisa Appleby, Everett, 24:18.52.