Better weather this year resulted in more competition. This year there were 63 races included in the Winter rankings period, compared with 47 last year. As would be expected, the somewhat warmer weather in Virginia led to more rated races and more runners being ranked from that area.

The youngest qualifier was 21-year-old Tatyana Chulakh of Gaithersburg, Maryland by way of Russia, and the oldest qualifier was 85-year-old Cokey Daman of Virginia Beach, Virginia, whose presence has led us to create a new 85+ age category.

Women's Winter 2004 Rankings

Men's Winter 2004 Rankings

About the Runner Rankings
The goal of the runner rankings is to rank the best runners of Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia, in five-year age groups, for the purpose of stimulating competition in the Washington region. Runners are ranked only according to performances in rated races. To be included, a race must meet the following criteria:

- Take place in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia

- Full results listed on the Washington Running Report Web site

- 100 or more finishers

- Must list age (and preferably also city and state of residence) of all runners

- Standard distance--5K, 4-mile, 8K, 10K, 12K, 15K, 10-mile, 20K, 1/2 Marathon, 25K, 30K, 20-mile, or Marathon

- Road race or cross-country (not track)

To be rated, a race must meet all of the above criteria. There will be no exceptions. If you place well in a race and want it rated, be sure to ask the race director to e-mail the complete results to the Washington Running Report at office@runwashington.com so the race can be posted on the WRR Web site and counted in the runner rankings.

Runners will be ranked by age divisions for both men and women, with the divisions being open, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55- 59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and older divisions as participation warrants. The open divisions will be ranked according to gun time, and age groups will be ranked according to chip time, if chip timing is in effect.

Runners may be ranked in a ranking period by meeting the following criteria:

- Reside in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia

- Better the time standard in two included races

Runners who better the time standards in only one race may be provisional qualifiers, priority based on time, if fewer than three runners (or five runners in the Open divisions) qualify.

The rankings are established using a completely objective rating procedure. The rankings are formed by a preliminary sort, followed by an intensive analysis of competitive results. The preliminary sort is based on number of qualifying marks and best times. The final ranking, though, is based more on head-to-head competitive results against the other top placers, with time playing a secondary role.

Our general philosophy is that competition is about beating other runners, and we intend to place an increased emphasis on competitive results. Runners who compete against (and beat) other top competitors in their age group will be rewarded with higher rankings. Time will still play a major role in the rankings, but that role will be secondary to competition.

To qualify for the end-of-year rankings, top priority will go to runners who qualify in two ranking periods. If there are fewer than ten runners, then a top ten will be filled out with single qualifiers. These rankings are also formed by a preliminary sort, followed by a more involved analysis of competitive results. The preliminary sort is based on seasonal rankings and best times. The final ranking is again based more on head-to- head competitive results against the other top placers, with time playing a secondary role.

Qualifying times are set in each age division for the 10K, and then adjusted for other distances using the WAVA age-graded tables. The qualifying standards will be adjusted periodically. For Spring 2004, the qualifying standards for Open Men, Open Women, and Women 70-74 have been eased. The current qualifying standards for the 10K are:

10K Qualifying Standards

Age Group	Men		Women

Open		33:16*		38:11*
35-39		35:23		41:48
40-44		36:06		43:29
45-49		37:26		47:38
50-54		40:15		51:09
55-59		43:39		53:40
60-64		47:09		63:06
65-69		53:38		76:24
70-74		59:03		95:47*
75+		95:00		99:00

* indicates standards recently changed

The ranking periods for the 2004 ratings year are:

- Spring, March 14-May 16 (reported July-August)

- Summer, May 17-September 6 (reported November-December)

- Fall, September 7-November 14 (reported January-February 2005)

- Year-End Rankings (reported March-April 2005)

Happy racing and good luck!

Races Included in the Winter 2004 Ranking Period:

Race Name                 	Location

Governor's Land 5K         	Williamsburg, VA
Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis 5K  Richmond, VA
Turkey Trot 5K             	Herndon, VA
Journey Home 5K Challenge	Baltimore, MD
Outback Steakhouse 8K     	Hyattsville, MD
Jingle Bell Run 5K        	Baltimore, MD
Toys for Tots 5K          	Yorktown, VA
Turkey Trot 10K           	Richmond, VA
Potter Homes YMCA 5K      	Fredericksburg, VA
Boar's Head Turkey Trot 5K	Charlottesville, VA
Virginia Run Turkey Trot 5K	Centreville, VA
Ashburn Farm 10K/5K        	Ashburn, VA
Turkey Trot 5-Mile         	Alexandria, VA
Turkey Day 5K             	Westernport, MD
Turkey Trot 5K           	Towson, MD
Bethesda Turkey Chase 10K	Bethesda, MD
Northern Central Trail Marathon  Sparks, MD
Turkey Burnoff 10-Mile     	Gaithersburg, MD
Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis 10K/5K  Washington, DC
Fall into Winter 10K         	Reston, VA
Santa Claus Shuffle 5K     	Norfolk, VA
Rudolph Red Nose 10K      	Fairfax, VA
Jingle Bell Run 5K        	Solomons, MD
Toy Run 5K                	Richmond, VA
Rotary Resolution 10K Adventure  Leesburg, VA
Red Ribbon Run 5K          	Alexandria, VA
Tune-Up 20K               	Fort Story, VA
Sentara 5K                	Hampton, VA
New Year's 5K             	Charlottesville, VA
New Year's Day 5K           	Arlington, VA
Jennifer Braun Memorial 5K	Virginia Beach, VA
Over Hillandale 5-Mile    	Hillandale, MD
Tune-Up 25K               	Fort Story, VA
Snowflake Chase 5-Mile     	Garrett County, MD
Frostbite 15K              	Richmond, VA
Penguin Pace 5K           	Columbia, MD
Norfolk Half-Marathon & 5K	Norfolk, VA
Country Road 5-Miler       	Olney, MD
Super Bowl 5K             	Dundalk, MD
Penguin Classic 5K         	Virginia Beach, VA
George Washington's Birthday 10K  Alexandria, VA
Washington's Birthday 5K	Annapolis, MD
Cross-Country Challenge 5K	Virginia Beach, VA
Corporate Challenge 5K    	Baltimore, MD
Anheuser-Busch Colonial Half-Marathon  Williamsburg, VA
George Washington's Birthday Marathon  Greenbelt, MD
RRCA Club Challenge 10-Mile	Columbia, MD
Blacksburg Classic 10-Mile/5K	Blacksburg, VA
Wearin' of the Green 5K 	Warrenton, VA
5K Run for the Community	Newport News, VA
Creeds 5K                 	Virginia Beach, VA
B&A Trail Marathon & Half-Marathon  Severna Park, MD
Swamp Run 5K              	Williamsburg, VA
Shamrock Hill 5K          	Roanoke, VA
Horton Elementary 5K      	Richmond, VA
Shamrock 5K               	Manassas, VA
Martha Jefferson 8K         	Charlottesville, VA