The colors were posted and the National Anthem was sung as a tribute to Lance Cpl. Nicholas Kirvan, U.S. Marine Corps, who was killed in a firefight on May 8, 2005.

Last year Nicholas Kurgat of Kenya was the runner-up (14:25) and this year it was time to set the record straight. At the start, he wasted no time in establishing the pace as teammate John Kipruto Korir lead a record field at the 6th PVI Runfest 5K Sunday, September 18, 2005 in Fairfax, VA. The two established a gap going into the first mile. Giving a hard chase was Michael Wardian of Team Pacers/Brooks who was coming off a 15:48 win the day prior at the Gulf Coast Relief 5K held in Alexandria, VA. A pack was never permitted to form as the pace was dropped below five minutes per mile.

The masters had the next three places locked down led by Mark Stickley (Virginia Tech Hall of Fame) of Winchester,VA, making his debut at the race. Stickley was holding off a couple of hard chargers, 2003 masters winner (16:20) Dave Berardi of Baltimore MD, and the 2004-defending champion (16:27) Chris Chattin of Columbia, MD.

The 2004 runner-up (16:24), Elena Orlova of Team Red Square Sports, took control off the start line with teammate Olga Romanova holding second place. Alisa Harvey of Manassas, VA, making her debut as a master, was in third place. Harvey won the first PVI Runfest 5K in 2000 with 17:36. Harvey was going after the record set in 2003 (18:35) by two-time masters winner Maria Spinnler of Hagerstown, MD.

The top runners were after the $4,250 in prize money. Into the second loop the positions had not changed. Kurgat had dropped the pace down to 4:49 per mile and gave Korir no chance of closing the gap. He took the win and $300 in 14:48, the slowest winning time in the history of the race. Korir was second in 15:14 and Wardian was third in 15:37.

Stickley took the masters time back down under 16 minutes with a win in 15:49 and placed fourth overall and collected the masters purse of $200. His time is the fastest in the region for 2005. Berardi was second with 16:30, followed by Chattin with 16:45. The fourth master was Chuck Moeser (who turns 54 this weekend) of Sterling, VA in 17:05.

Elena Orlova was able to secure the win and $300 in a time of 16:49 (the fastest submasters time in 2005) while Romanova was second in 17:02. Harvey smashed the masters record in 17:48 (the fastest master in 2005) and collected $200 for top master and $200 bonus for the record. Amy Blanco of Hagerstown, MD, was fourth in 18:05 and Christina Wells of Woodbridge, VA was fifth in 18:18. Meg Letherby of Boulder, CO was fifth in 18:34. Spinnler was the second master in 19:02.

Clarke-Hook Corporation and Metro Run and Walk sponsored the PVI Runfest, as well as DCACCESS, Marriott, Merrill Lynch and Nike, along with United Bank, Pohanka, Signs Plus, INTERPUNK.com, The Business Bank, Bishopp Realty, Inc., Panera Bread, Cyron & Miller and Commonwealth Commercial, Inc., Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, Emrich & Terpak, and others.

Top Award Winners

 Males

1  Nicholas Kurgat       26	14:58	Kenya             $300
2  John Kipruto Korir    25	15:14	Kenya	          $200
3  Michael Wardian       31	15:37	Arlington, VA     $100
4  Mark Stickley         43	15:49	Winchester, VA    M1$200
5  Dave Berardi          45	16:30	Baltimore, MD     M2$100
6  Chris Chattin         41	16:45	Columbia, MD      M3$75
7  Chuck Moeser          53	17:05	Sterling, VA      M4$50
8  Matthew Salerno       24	17:33	Arlington, VA     $50
9  Ian Blair             34	17:55	Alexandria, VA    $25
10 Bruce Hamilton        50	17:56	Fairfax, VA       M5$25


Females
1  Elena Orlova          35	16:49	Russia           $300
2  Olga Romanova         25	17:02	Russia           $200
3  Alisa Harvey          40	17:48	Manassas, VA     M1
$200+$200*
4  Amy Blanco            29	18:05 	Hagerstown, MD   $100
5  Christina Wells       30	18:18	Woodbridge, VA   $50
6  Meg Letherby          32	18:34	Boulder, CO      $25
7  Hilary Cairns         34	18:37	Washington, DC
8  Maria Spinnler        43	19:02	Hagerstown, MD   M2$100
9  Tammy Anderson        32	19:41	Hagerstown, MD
10 Beth Belle            51	21:27	Fairfax, VA      M3$75
11 Sushila Nanda         44	21:30	Arlington, VA    M4$50
13 Rachel Luehrs         15	23:08	Reston, VA
14 Maureen Lopina        45	23:42	Oak Hill, VA     M5$25	
	

Race Results