ROCK HALL — Historically, the Flat Five race here was never really a consideration for Erica Zaveta on the Fourth of July.
She was always more interested in helping her father decorate a float for Rock Hall’s mid-morning parade.
But for whatever reason this year, Zaveta figured she could do both — complete the 4.7-mile race that started at 8 a.m. and contribute to the family’s entry in the parade that kicked off at 10.
Turns out that Zaveta had time to spare.
She ran away with the race, leading the field of 81 finishers in 28 minutes, 20 seconds — 27 seconds faster than her nearest challenger, 2024 winner Cody Zwerlein.
Zaveta is the first female to be crowned the overall winner in the 42-year history of the race.
Also, she shattered the previous course record for women of 30:22 that was established last year.
Zaveta, 35, of Bucks County, Pennsylvania and Zwerlein, 40, of Philadelphia were with the group of front-runners at the 3-mile mark when she broke from the pack.
In a post-race interview, Zaveta recalled making a conscious decision to assert herself.
“I think some of it was me slowing down,” said Zwerlein, who added that he is training for a 100K race in September.
Zwerlein stopped the timer in 28:47 — 61 seconds faster than his winning time of last year.
Three others completed the race in 30 minutes or less: Luke Helstrom (29:00), Jaxon League (29:30) and Katie Scott (30:00).
Jack Armand followed in sixth in 30:18 and his wife Gwynne Armand, who set the women’s course record last year, was eighth in 31:20.
All 81 runners who started the race, finished the race — including Flat Five veteran John Macielag of Rock Hall, who good-naturedly compared himself to a “diesel locomotive” as he chugged across the line in 75th.
When handing out the awards, race director Dennis Herrmann noted that it was both “history making” and “exciting” to have a female as the overall winner.
A walk-on for the Lees-McRae College (North Carolina) cross country team, Zaveta is known mostly for her cycling prowess. She is a former collegiate national champion for Lees-McRae and Brevard (North Carolina), has raced for the U.S. mountain bike national team and has elite European racing experience.
She’s been a professional cycling coach for more than a decade.
Zaveta’s parents have had a home in Rock Hall for many years, and she said she “basically grew up here” during the summers.
She described her Flat Five debut as “super fun” and “efficient.”
“Everyone is super friendly, everyone is chill,” Zaveta said in an interview just before the awards presentation.
She still runs, mostly trail running, so “it was nice to do a flat course,” she said.
This was the 42nd edition of the Flat Five, which is one of the signature events of Rock Hall’s extended Independence Day celebration. The race was put on pause in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID pandemic.
The air temperature was a comfortable 70 degrees when runners took their mark on Main Street in front of the former Municipal Building.
The Flat Five initially was a 5-miler, but in 2014 the course was shortened to 4.7 miles when Herrmann moved the finish line from the center of town to alleviate the traffic tie-up that was becoming common as the race grew in popularity.
Charlie Scales, then 18, of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania established the “new” course record of 26:58 in 2016.
Now, Erica Zaveta owns the “new” record for women.
Herrmann, who has retired after decades of teaching and coaching at Kent County High School, said it is heartwarming to reconnect with his former students and the regulars who return year after year.
Everyone seems to like the volunteer-run event that provides a safe and competitive course, a very reasonable cost of $20, and an old-fashioned leader board where runners’ names are posted with thumbtacks.
“Doing the Flat 5 every year continues to delight me,” Herrmann told The Evening Enterprise in an email.
“I try to preserve the ‘old time feel’ of a road race with a modest entry fee, awards that people can really use, and a friendly home-town atmosphere with a dependable ‘team’ helping at the check-in table and at the finish line. People have responded to this.”
Herrmann said many runners “return loyally each year along with many of the athletes I coached in the past, and I welcome all of them as friends.”
“All in all, it is a fun time, and I want to keep it going onward,” he said.
As the overall winners, Zaveta and Zwerlein each received sports bags with the Rock Hall Flat Five insignia. The first-, second- and third-place finishers in various age groups received gift certificates from Java Rock coffeehouse.
All runners received a commemorative T-shirt with a logo designed by KCHS track alumna Joella Cooper (1986).
Java Rock coffeehouse and the Town of Rock Hall sponsored the race.
Prize-winners are listed here.
Overall winner: Erica Zaveta, 28:20.
Overall male: Cody Zwerlein, 28:47.
Junior male, under 20: Jaxon League, 29:30; Clayton Hill, 31:30; and Anthony Molitor, 36:42.
Junior female, under 20: Lauren Scott, 32:57; Mia Nordhoff, 34:36; and Clare Padula, 40:22.
Open male, 20 to 35: Luke Helstrom, 29:00; Jack Armand, 30:18; and Tom Lohr, 31:38.
Open female, 20 to 35: Katie Scott, 30:00; Gwynee Armand, 31:20; and Grace Padula, 35:42.
Submaster male, 36 to 49: Matt Gillin 30:53; Jonathan League, 32:56; and Chris Blanchard, 35:16.
Submaster female, 36 to 49: Julie Trauger, 33:13; Laurie Themistos, 34:40; and Michelle DeJesus, 36:30
Master male, 50 and older: Dave Futterman, 37:03; John Davidson 42:58; and Steve Russell, 46:30.
Master female, 50 and older: Julia Hinckley, 43:02; Carole Anne Granley, 43:44; and Miriam Mullins, 43:45.
Complete results are printed here.
1. Erica Zaveta, new women’s record of 28:20
2. Cody Zwerlein, 28:47
3. Luke Helstrom, 29:00
4. Jaxon League, 29:30
5. Katie Scott, 30:00
6. Jack Armand, 30:18
7. Matt Gillin, 30:53
8. Gwynne Armand, 31:20
9. Clayton Hill, 31:30
10. Tom Lohr, 31:38
11. Christian Sunkler, 31:58
12. Anthoy Marion, 32:42
13. Jonathan League, 32:56
14. Lauren Scott, 32:57
15. Julie Trauger, 33:13
16. Andrew Dupper, 33:53
17. Mia Nordhoff, 34:36
18. Laurie Themistos, 34:40
19. Chris Blanchard, 35:16
20. Grace Padula, 35:42
21. Alice Padula, 35:56
22. Jake Heavlow, 36:15
23. Seth Neal, 36:16
24. Michelle DeJesus, 36:30
25. Peter Kleeblatt, 36:33
26. Anthony Molitor, 36:42
27. David Futterman, 37:03
28. Brandi Bliss, 37:12
29. Dave Sharp, 37:44
30. Sawyer Cornelius, 37:50
31. Jonathan Trauger, 38:10
32. Dan Lohr, 38:20
33. Tara McCallister, 38:42
34. Michael Madden, 39:20
35. Clare Padula, 40:22
36. Daniel Mitzel, 40:50
37. Thomas Quailes, 41:00
38. Madeline Boyle, 41:02
39. David Campbell, 41:53
40. Regina Campbell, 41:56
41. Grace Ross, 41:58
42. James Peacock, 42:53
43. John Davidson, 42:58
44. Julia Hinckley, 43:02
45. Chris Myers, 43:18
46. Karen Peacock, 43:37
47. Carol Anne Granley, 43:44
48. Miriam Mullins, 43:45
49. Jake Coleman, 43:47
50. John Jean, 43:49
51. Jack Curran, 43:52
52. Jessica Hinckley, 43:57
53. Colleen Kleeblatt, 44:03
54. Liam Lucreza, 44:05
55. Megan Noel, 46:05
56. Erica Stetson, 46:15
57. Steve Russell, 46:30
58. Mike Womer, 47:10
59. Julie Graham, 47:24
60. Blair Ross, 47:26
61. Ellie Macielag, 47:50
62. Richard Cookerly, 48:06
63. Grace Crockett, 48:07
64. Rachel McCormack, 48:42
65. Valerie Reihl, 48:50
66. Ally Kleeblatt, 48:54
67. Christie Grabis, 49:10
68. Brian Ross, 50:00
69. Tom Rhynalds, 53:14
70. Thomas Schreppler, 52:15
71. Sandy Womer, 52:25
72. Courtney Weaver, 54:24
73. Caitlin Hawthorne, 54:50
74. Janet Rose, 55:25
75. John Macielag, 56:40
76. Cheryl Hill, 63:03
77. Taylor Hill, 63:04
78. Megan Higgins, 66:40
79. Kayla Higgins, 66:43
80. Luke Bauwens, 66:50
81. Eduardo Lozano, 66:52
