In photo above, Nick Gramsky, former two-time winner of the race, is seeded number one. He finished runner-up in 48:22.

For a marathon of years this roller coaster of a race has been the Mecca for runners to sharpen up their speed, renew their confidence with a bullet of a time, and perhaps put an asterisk on their newly created PR(s).

The signature 15K involves a slow climb out of downtown Cumberland to the town of Mount Savage. Of course, that climb is in a caravan of school buses taking eager runners in the predawn light to the foggy top of the mountain. The air was saturated with moisture though no rain was in sight. The day would grow to 90 degrees but just before the start it was a pleasant enough 67 degrees.

The race surprisingly fell to just 120 finishers though this cult legend of a race rarely had more than 200 racers. Just before the start runners mill around on Mount Savage gazing longingly on the steep grade (up to 6%) of the road in front of them. The drop in the first 10K is 475 feet with no hint of uphill. Some runners will tell you there is some uphill in the last 5K as well. Perhaps one hundred meters just before mile nine but really the uphill is just not as steep a downhill.

The race starter walks up and says, "I just got told two minutes ago that I am supposed to start this race. Does anybody know where the start is?" Lots of sheepish chuckles and the runners move back about fifty meters to where there was a big underlined "S" on the road. A core group of regular runners was already standing there. The starter made it real easy. He said, "There will be two commands. Is everybody ready? Okay. Set. GO!" And just like that runners streaked down the mountain top.

Quickly taking an insurmountable lead was Jaron Hawkins (24) of Cumberland, MD (in photo), winning easily in 45:48. Hawkins ran his first GAR of this century in 2001 and has run every year since. His first year he was only the second teen in 53:39, 9th place, while Nick Gramsky (now 29) of Vienna, VA won by nearly a mile in 45:44. The following year Hawkins moved up to third overall in 49:11. Gramsky won again in 46:42. In 2003, Hawkins moved to second in 50:59 and then the following year won it all in 48:13.

Nick Gramsky (in photo) returned in 2005 with his training buddy Matt Barresi of Ashton, MD. Hawkins had his fastest time so far in 47:45 but ended up third. Gramsky ran 46:31 and Barresi took the crown in 46:23. Last year another Olympic class runner joined the battle. Edmund Burke of Burtonsville, MD finished fourth in 46:44, Gramsky was third in 46:26, Hawkins moved past him to runner-up with 45:55 and Barresi won again 45:44.

The course record was set back in 1991 by Chris Fox with 43:46.

It was a bit of a surprise that Gramsky's time this year slid back to 48:13. As both he and Barresi had run 45:44 here. Hawkins was ready but he had no competition. It turns out that the other three from last year were training for the Chicago Marathon. Burke stayed healthy and will be running the marathon. Gramsky had a groin injury that slowed him down but did not take him out of running an easy race.. Barresi's injuries were more severe and he will be away from running for a while longer.

Gramsky noted that, in going from 120 miles a week to just 20, he had put on five pounds. He was feeling a little sluggish. David Mertz (21) is another home grown runner who won a close battle for third place in a swift 51:13 over Jeremy Rice (25) of Frostburg, MD--51:27.

In 2003, Phil Lang of Columbia, MD (photo) came to town and finished eighth in 56:48. At the time, he was the Howard County Striders President. Now he is the Maryland State Representative to the RRCA. The Great Allegany is once again part of the Maryland RRCA State Championship Series. Lang, now 40, decided he would take a shot at masters cash. Masters times here are very competitive, with the winner often going faster than 50:00. Back in 1993, three masters division runners broke 50:00, leaving this reporter out of the money with 51:42.

This year the cash was pooled for just one masters runner after paying off the top three overall. Lang won convincingly in 53:48 more than three minutes ahead of Rob Smith (42) of Cumberland, MD's 57:02.

The awards go three deep in five year age groups but the 50-54 division was not up to the standard set by David Webster in 2003 with 57:05. All the age group winners in the next three older divisions were ahead of the winning 50-54 time. Racing legend Steve Ruckert's younger brother Tom (55) of Grantsville, MD led the charge with 59:14. Tom noted, "This time should move me up nearer to the top of the Rankings."

For the women, this century has a rich history of Laura Nelson. She has moved to three different places, from Harrisonburg to Waynesboro to Woodstock, but she always came up winning. At 34 in 2000, she started her winning ways in 56:36. That was the only year in the last ten that Maureen Hall of Lavale, MD (in photo) did not run. The masters winner was Doris Windsand-Dausman in 58:13.

In 2001 Nelson won again improving to 54:59 against a solid field that included eight-year-old Jacy Christiansen who ran 63:57. In 2002, Nelson won again in 58:28 in a slower year for all the runners. Hall was in the money at third in 63:20 her slowest time of the ten year period. Her best was 57:36. Shelley Ralston of Masontown, PA was the masters winner. She would win the masters division three more times before turning fifty last year, setting the bar at 63:27.

In 2003, Hall moved past Nelson 59:10 to 60:59 but so did three new runners. Heather Bury of Bruceton Mills, WV won over Susan Graham Green of Greencastle, PA 54:04 to 57:23. It should be noted that in this neck of the Maryland woods, West Virginia is a baseball throw across the river and Pennsylvania is less than ten miles north.

In 2004 Bury again bested Graham-Gray. This time it was 53:13 to 54:13. In 2005, Hall was fourth for the third year but now she was the masters winner in 58:46 ahead of Ralston. Vicki Cauller of York, PA came through for the win in 53:47. Bury has a tough ride for third with 58:35. Last year Bury became Heather Parks and rebounded to win by a mile in 54:59. Laura Nelson returned and she was now 40 taking the crown from Hall 59:40 to 61:06.

This year Hall was determined to be the masters champion. Paula Bridges had turned 40 last year and Windsand-Dausman was there too. Hall pulled forcefully away from the field. By the halfway mark only Amy Rowan had a realistic chance to catch her. Hall did not let up winning the whole shebang in 62:32. Rowan ran 62:59. After the race, Hall was congratulated for her first win in nine attempts in the last ten years. She said, "Thanks, a lot but the time was sure slow." Her husband Robert Hall who scores this and many other road races agreed saying with a laugh, "That's okay; she will take the win."

Meanwhile, a minute further up the road long distance aficionado Windsand-Dausaman (in photo) was having her battle for third place with Kari Brown (33) of Bedford, PA. After the race, Brown noted that she was just trying to catch her husband Rande Brown, who ran 62:47. She was amazed that 51-year-old Windsand-Dausman was right on her tail. Brown ran 63:27, just ahead of her 63:49, with Windsand-Dausman snatching a potential masters prize from fifth place Paula Bridges-- 64:55. She was the oldest masters winner as well as the second fastest grandmaster time. She also predicted this time would help her move up in the Runner Rankings.

Race Director Dave Treber (photo) transplanted out west from Montgomery County and has been the director for the last three years. He is encouraged by the amount of sponsors and the enthusiasm of the the volunteers and aide the town has had for this great race. Coning a point to point 15K course and blocking off roads can be logistically tough when there are not that many streets to drive on.

After the race, runners hung out in the downtown center which is three blocks of stores in a fountain-filled plaza and NO cars can drive through. There are plenty of little shops and restaurants to visit and nosh in after the race. At the awards ceremony, checks were given to the top three overall as well as $125 to the masters winner. Runners were given coffee mugs three deep in five year age groups in the 15K as well as in the 5K. Treber was doing well with name pronunciation until he came to the 50-54 men in the 5K. "Okay let me see if I can pronounce this right," he said. "Jeff." "Smith." That cracked up the crowd which was still waiting around for the random prizes.

The 5K race starts right in Cumberland and is virtually flat, circling around the town center. Michael Negley won the race in 18:50 with Amanda Moreland the women's winner in 22:22. There was a two mile walk, which was well attended. All three events were represented by multiple members of the families in attendance.

15K Awards

                         MALE AGE GROUP:  Open
    1     1 Jaron Hawkins       24 FROSTBURG            45:48 
    2     2 Nick Gramsky        29 VIENNA               48:22 
    3     3 David Mertz         21 CUMBERLAND           51:13 
                         FEMALE AGE GROUP:  Open
    1    27 Maureen Hall        42 LAVALE             1:02:32 
    2    30 Amy Rowan           28 CUMBERLAND         1:02:59 
    3    32 Kari Brown          33 BEDFORD            1:03:27 
                      MASTER_MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 99
    1     7 Philip Lang         40 COLUMBIA             53:50 
    2    13 Rob Smith           42 CUMBERLAND           57:02 
                     MASTER_FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 99
    1    33 Doris Windsand-Daus 51 FREDERICK          1:03:49 
    2    37 Paula Bridges       41 CUMBERLAND         1:04:55 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  01 - 19
    1     6 Dan Dewitt          19 FROSTBURG            52:54 
    2    15 Burton Cross        16 CUMBERLAND           57:43 
    3    17 James J T Carney    18 MT. SAVAGE           58:25 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  01 - 19
    1    52 Amanda MacKlen      19 RIDGELEY           1:10:55 
    2    98 Kristen Robinette   08 FT ASHBY           1:25:02 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24
    1     5 Leo Smith           20 EAST ROCHESTER       52:53 
    2    12 Aaron MacGray       23 CUMBERLAND           57:00 
    3    16 Kirk Morningstar    24 NEW ENTERPRIZE       58:13 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24
    1   107 Crystall Yoder      22 GRANTSVILLE        1:29:11 
    2   112 Kate Figiel         21 BALTIMORE          1:33:26 
    3   118 Melissa Miller      20 MT. SAVAGE         1:38:57 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29
    1     4 Jeremy Rice         25 FROSTBURG            51:27 
    2     8 Brian Fleming       25 ELKRIDGE             54:43 
    3     9 Tommy Chandler      25 CUMBERLAND           55:26 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29
    1    53 Inga Olsen          27 FREDERICK          1:11:02 
    2    86 Kandi Wertz         26 GERMANTOWN         1:20:20 
    3    89 Denise Wolinski     29 BALTIMORE          1:21:38 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34
    1    26 Tom Breighner       30 CUMBERLAND         1:01:46 
    2    62 Scott Puffenbarger  30 CUMBERLAND         1:14:38 
    3    69 Joe McQuade         33 CUMBERLAND         1:15:35 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34
    1    45 Lori Mielecki       30 MORGANTOWN         1:08:06 
    2    56 Tina MacKlen        33 RIDGELEY           1:12:51 
    3    57 Andrea Velandia     30 CUMBERLAND         1:13:05 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39
    1    10 Steven Winter       36 LONACONINT           56:01 
    2    29 Rande Brown         37 BEDFORD            1:02:47 
    3    31 John Snodgrass      38 MORGANTOWN         1:03:21 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39
    1    48 Diann Cosgrove      38 BUFFALO MILLS      1:09:33 
    2    84 Laura Weimer        35 SOMERSET           1:19:47 
    3    96 Michelle Mull       39 CUMBERLAND         1:24:45 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44
    1    14 Joseph Molinsro     44 PITTSBURGH           57:16 
    2    18 Eric Delaney        40 FROSTBURG            58:39 
    3    22 Charlie Falter      42 CUMBERLAND           59:44 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44
    1    67 Cindy Syracuse      44 CUMBERLAND         1:15:20 
    2    78 Jane Rossi          42 FROSTBURG          1:17:00 
    3    87 Laura McGee         42 WALDORF            1:20:55 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49
    1    28 Charlie Weaver      48 BHACK VERNON       1:02:38 
    2    40 James Slack         45 CUMBERLAND         1:05:38 
    3    51 Larry Geer          49 KITZMILLER         1:10:52 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49
    1    54 Camille Blume       46 CUMBERLAND         1:11:26 
    2   100 Patricia Tims       49 FRIEDENS           1:25:34 
    3   120 D. Michele Beaulieu 46 CUMBERLAND         1:42:40 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54
    1   101 Woody Getz          52 FROSTBURG          1:25:47 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54
    1    82 Patty Moulden       54 MT. SAVAGE         1:18:38 
    2   113 Valerie Van Hollen  53 CUMBERLAND         1:33:28 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59
    1    19 Tom Ruckert         55 GRANTSVILLE          59:14 
    2    34 Michael Kozier      55 OAKLAND            1:03:54 
    3    38 Tim Palencik        55 UNIONTOWN          1:04:59 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59
    1    91 Joyce Michaels      56 RIDGELEY           1:22:29 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64
    1    42 Bob Baker           61 MORGANTOWN         1:06:57 
    2    70 David Webb          62 BURLINGTON         1:15:44 
    3    85 Donald Reese        62 WINDBER            1:20:04 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64
    1    95 Amy Rowland         60 BERKELEY SPRING    1:24:33 
    2   114 Barb Surgent        62 FROSTBURG          1:34:24 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69
    1    43 John Stump          65 ROARING SPRING     1:07:38 
    2    55 Jim Delaney         66 FROSTBURG          1:12:31 
    3    71 Marv Bridges        67 LAVALE             1:15:51 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 99
    1   105 James Bell          74 KEYSER             1:28:19 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 99

Photo below: Lainey Bernstein of Potomac, MD mugs for the camera with her race award.

5K Awards

            MALE AGE GROUP:  Open
    1     1 Michael Negley      17   18:50 
    2     2 Ian P. MacFawn      14   19:26 
    3     3 Colby Smith         16   19:42 
                         FEMALE AGE GROUP:  Open
    1    16 Amanda Moreland     28   22:22 
    2    21 Sarah Moreland      19   23:11 
    3    27 Haley Meeks         15   23:42 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  01 - 09
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  01 - 09
    1    37 Alexandra Whitman   09   24:27 
    2    92 Margot Robinette    08   32:18 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  10 - 14
    1     7 Adam Rossi          14   20:47 
    2    14 Timothy Robinette   14   22:13 
    3    17 Ben Pannell         13   22:40 
    4    20 Luke Smith          13   23:00 
    5    34 Jaron Lutton        14   24:02 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  10 - 14
    1   101 Samantha Zimmerman  11   34:34 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  15 - 19
    1     6 Ryan Alderson       15   20:47 
    2     8 Chandler Stroup     16   20:49 
    3     9 Daniel Levitas      16   20:57 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  15 - 19
    1    31 Sarah Felton        16   23:59 
    2    45 Brianne Zimmerman   16   25:11 
    3    66 Mary Stickley       16   27:17 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 29
    1    10 Chris Morgan        20   21:03 
    2    11 Kevin Walizer       29   21:17 
    3    12 Rob Wise            22   21:20 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 29
    1    86 Elizabeth MacGray   23   30:18 
    2    89 Shauna McQuade      29   31:00 
    3    94 Jaynea Lechliter    29   32:28 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 39
    1    18 Steve Jewell        37   22:49 
    2    59 Chris Shoemaker     36   26:34 
    3    80 Mathieu Lewis       31   29:22 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 39
    1    44 Nikki Walker        31   25:09 
    2    67 Connie Milligan     38   27:18 
    3    75 Amy Adams           35   29:01 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 49
    1     4 Tom Clark           40   19:43 
    2     5 Walter Bennett      41   20:09 
    3    13 Ben Foy             49   21:50 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 49
    1    53 April Moreland      40   26:02 
    2    83 Kathy Riggs         42   29:36 
    3    98 Pam Smith           41   32:59 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 59
    1    46 George Williams     51   25:25 
    2    48 Jeff Smith          52   25:32 
    3    49 Randy Whittington   54   25:44 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 59
    1    62 Mary Moran          50   26:49 
    2    65 Lainey Bernstein    54   27:06 
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 69
    1    68 Stephan Dollinger   67   27:33 
    2   102 Perry Lantz         61   34:36 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 69
                         MALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 99
    1   104 Rolfe Singerman     70   37:45 
                        FEMALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 99

Photo below: Runners mosey around the town center after the race.

Full Race Day Results
Maryland Chapter of the Road Runners Club of America