R&R Relay Draws 34 Teams

R&R Relay Draws 34 Teams

Devening, Crickenberger Stepping Down As Directors

The Lawn & Order Team won the 48th annual Lexington Road and River Relay on Saturday, May 3, and the relay bid farewell to its two longtime co-directors, Clay Devening and Grace Crickenberger.

It was a fast race for the Lawn & Order Team, which finished the 16.1-mile run/bicycle/river/run course in 1 hour, 27 minutes and 42.72 seconds, more than three minutes faster than last year’s winning time by the Lambda Jedi Team.

The race welcomed 34 teams, including seven one-person teams, on a sunny and warm morning.

The relay consisted of a 3.5-mile run from the Rockbridge Regional Library to Beans Bottom, a 9.1-mile bicycle ride on paved, hilly roads; a 2.2-mile canoe/kayak section from Beans Bottom to Jordans Point, and a 1.3-mile running loop that went on the Woods Creek Trail that started and ended at Jordans Point Park.

Placing second overall was the Ruffians Team, finishing in 1:34:50.65. Finishing third overall and winning the men’s individual title was David Burkwall in 1:35:51.7.

The women’s individual winner was Sophie Rouge, placing 28th overall in 2:30:31.83. Claiming the women’s team title was the Unsponsored Team, finishing 21st overall in 1:59:56.17. Winning the mixed gender team title was the H2Olympians Team, placing eighth overall in 1:41:52.74.

The top able racers team was the Vail Able Racers Team, coming in 26th in 2:11:30.06. In the 18-and-under division, the Appomattox Juniors Team won in 1:54:33.73, placing 19th overall.

For full results, visit www.runroanoke.com, and visit www. lexvaroadandriverrelay.org for more information on the relay.

At the awards ceremony following the relay, Devening and Crickenberger were honored and presented with two wooden canoe paddles for their service. Gabe Leasure from the Lexington Sunrise Rotary Club, made the presentation, said, “We wanted to recognize your contributions to the community by putting on the Road & River Relay for so many years. In honor of that, I made each of you a cutting board shaped like a canoe paddle with a wood-burned design of a shoelace and bike chain.” Leasure’s wife, Stephanie RiCharde, coordinated this presentation with Rotary president Jim Halasz.

In the week following the relay, Devening and Crickenberger reflected on their time serving as co-directors of the race, which was founded by Philip Clayton and John Tucker in 1975, “In the early-to-mid-90s, I rode [the bicycle leg] in the Lexington Road and River Relay for a couple of teams and enjoyed that experience very much,” said Devening. “During that time, I joined the Lexington Sunrise Rotary Club. Shortly after joining Rotary, the Relay became an event directed by the Rotary Club, and I became part of the club committee that organized the Relay. That was during the late ‘90s, and I have been part of organizing and directing the event since then. The relay has become an annual part of the Lexington and Rockbridge community for [about] 50 years. I am hopeful and confident that the Lexington Road and River Relay will continue for many more years.”

Crickenberger, a 2001 Rockbridge County High School graduate, returned to Lexington to begin her legal career in 2009, and Devening asked her to be part of the Lexington Sunrise Rotary Club and to assist with the Road and River Relay. “I was familiar with the relay, as I had participated numerous times in high school and college,” said Crickenberger. “I was excited to be on the other side and help bring this wonderful event to the community. It has been a wonderful experience.”

“One of the best times of the year is when the race is over and the participants have had a great time and are so thankful,” added Crickenberger. “The people that participate in this event really are some of the best. I look forward to being on the other side next year as a participant again.”