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BENJAMIN-ROSS 5K
30TH ANNUAL GEORGE BENJAMIN, JR. & H. BROWNING ROSS MEMORIAL 5K RUN & WALK (BR5K) - JUNE 7th 2026
RACE INFORMATION
- Memorial 5K honoring two of Woodbury's finest residents. Let us not forget the accomplishments and character traits of these two great Americans.
- Team registration is available
- Registration Fee: 5K – $25, 2-mile walk – $20
- On-site registration fee: $25
- Race Day Registration Opens 8:00 am. Register, Check-in, pick up T-shirts.
- 9:30 a.m. Race begins. • Course: Begins at the Benjamin and Ross memorials at the base of Wood Street outside the WHS stadium, passes Browning Ross house, continues through the tree-lined West Side of Woodbury to finish on the WHS track.
- Race distance is 5K, 3.1 miles. In keeping with a Browning Ross tradition, distances are approximate.
A portion of the race proceeds will benefit The Military Support Alliance of New Jersey.
What they do:
- Meet Physical Needs: They provide household essentials and comfort items directly to military families and dorm residents to improve their daily quality of life.
- Deployment Lifelines: They coordinate care packages and supplies for active-duty troops, ensuring they stay connected to home while serving abroad.
- Build Connection: They host monthly speakers and educational events to foster deep-rooted friendships and professional networks between the civic and military communities.
Their Mission:
- To ensure every service member at JBMDL feels supported, valued, and connected through community, care, and commitment.
PRIZES AND AWARDS
- Optional race shirt is available for sale upon registration.
- Food and snacks pre-and post-race.
- Medals are awarded to the top three male and female finishers in each 10-year age bracket from 8 and Under to 70 and Over.
Register Here:
https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Woodbury/GeorgeBenjaminBrowningRossMemorial5k
DUE TO INSURANCE REGULATIONS, NO STROLLERS, BABY CARRIERS, OR PETS ARE PERMITTED AT RRCW EVENTS. ALL RUNNERS & WALKERS MUST RUN/WALK FACING TRAFFIC (LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD). New Fun Run participants will be provided with a map of the Fun Run Course.
In 1995, the 50th Anniversary of WWII, Browning Ross organized the first George Benjamin, Jr. Memorial 5K Run, in honor of Woodbury’s Medal of Honor recipient. In 1998, after Browning’s death, the race was renamed the Benjamin-Ross Memorial 5K. In 2000, walkers were added at the request of Browning’s Sports East partner Dr. Bill Heughan.
Honoring two Distinguished Woodbury Residents
Pfc. George Benjamin, Jr. (1918-1944)
George Benjamin, Jr. was posthumously awarded our nation's
highest military award, the Congressional Medal of Honor on June 28,
1945 by President Harry S. Truman. George is Woodbury’s only Medal
of Honor winner. George was a scholar athlete at Woodbury (‘35) and
Temple University (‘39). “Benge” excelled in the discus, shot and
javelin and was captain of Coach "Cap" Paine’s track team. He was a
brilliant mathematician and artist who was loved by all.
During World War II he served in Co. A, 306th Inf. Reg., 77th
Infantry Division, US Army. It was with conspicuous acts of gallantry,
valor and heroism above and beyond the call of duty and with utter
disregard for his safety, that Pfc. Benjamin single-handedly led a
fearless and spirited charge against a well-defended Japanese stronghold
on Dec. 21, 1944 on the Island of Leyte, Philippine Islands.
After several of his officers were killed, George left his secure
position, ran across bullet-whipped terrain waving for his platoon to
follow. Carrying his bulky radio and armed only with a pistol, he
fearlessly penetrated intense machine gun and rifle fire to the enemy
position, killing one of the enemy in a foxhole and moving on to
annihilate a light machine gun crew.
Heedless of heavy fire concentrated on him, he continued to
spearhead the assault, killing two more of the enemy before falling
mortally wounded. After being evacuated to an aid station, his first
thought was still of the American advance. Overcoming great pain, he
radioed tactical information on enemy weapons and positions. His
charge allowed the advance of his entire battalion, saved countless lives,
and was a source of great and lasting inspiration to his comrades. He is
now resting peacefully in the US Army cemetery at Fort Bonifacio,
Manila, Philippines.
H. Browning Ross, (1924-1998)
Browning Ross was a 1948 and 1952 Olympian who became known
as “The Father of Long-Distance Running in America.” A life-long
resident of Woodbury, he was 1943 NJ State Mile and National
Interscholastic Indoor Mile Champion. He served in the Navy during
W.W. II and, upon discharge, was discovered by Villanova’s Jumbo
Elliott. At Villanova, he won the 1948 NCAA steeplechase, going on to
finish 7th in the 1948 Olympic steeplechase. Browning postponed his
return to the States to enter road races in Ireland. Browning told Jumbo
of the great talent he saw, which led to Villanova’s long line of great
Irish runners.
At the 1951 Pan American Games Browning won the 1500 meters,
shared 1st in the steeplechase and was 4th in the 5,000 meters. In 1952,
he again qualified for the U.S. Olympic team. He won 8 National AAU
Cross Country Championships, was a U.S. team manager and in 1969
received the first Annual AAU Long Distance Award. He is a member
of the National Long Distance Running Hall of Fame and the Villanova,
Gloucester County and Woodbury High School Halls of Fame.
Recognizing a need to publish road racing results, in 1955 Browning
founded the Long Distance Log, a national newsletter that continued
until 1975. In 1957 he founded and became the first President of the
Road Runners of Club of America, which today boasts more than
300,000 members.
At home, Browning was coach, race organizer, publisher, official
and entrepreneur. But the quality of his life that endeared him to
everyone was his mild-mannered, humble approach to life. Much like
his boyhood mentor and friend George Benjamin, who inspired
Browning’s early desire to run, Browning was loved by all.