Ecris Williams (70) of Reston, VA wins her age group for the 12th time.

The race starts the year by finishing its 12th edition. The course has only made small modifications since it started making Leesburg the "go to" place for New Year's Day racing back in 1998. The angle down the opening hill has changed slightly and the steep snake hill just before mile five is paved. In 2006 runners were treated to a mystery distance when the turnaround cone at mile 3.5 miraged. Most people choose this course because, though hilly, it is a delightful romp through the countryside. At right around five hundred racers in the 10K, with a 4K event starting just before, the race is the most popular of many races in the area to start the year. New Year's Day is the third most popular race day following granddaddy Thanksgiving and poppa Fourth of July.

Another bonus for the race is that it starts at a civilized 10:45 am. Show some respect for the New Year. Besides, it is colder than ever early in the morning. The sun rose and the not so gentle 35 mph "breeze" from last year/yesterday was replaced by a more manageable 10-15 mph. Of course on top of the hill in an open field, the wind left runners dancing and chattering while waiting for the magic GO word. Just before the start Aaron Church, a former runner-up in 2005 and third overall on New Year's Eve at the inaugural Fairfax Four Mile, was checking his compass for the shortest angle down the hill. When told that the course was not really a PR course he proclaimed, "I always run hard."

Just then the crowd exploded over the timing mats and charged down the hill. Last year the top three finishers were all teenagers. They do seem to have an affinity for uneven terrain. Today Church (in photo) would have no competition as he swept away the field. He had to take down George Probst's record of 32:55 with a blistering 32:49 with no one to push him. Believe it, this course, which is more than half off road and chock full of hills, is about two minutes slower than your average road race. Not far behind him but more worried about holding place for second was mild mannered Ray Pugsley. This soft spoken owner of five Potomac River Running stores is also a very determined runner who always finishes near the top. Both he and his wife Cathy will be turning forty this year which is a blessing for sub masters and a scourge for masters runners.

Pugsley knocked out Brian Schmidt's age group record of 34:27 with a scintillating 33:49. Schmidt had also been a race overall winner and owned the fastest Leesburg Resident time with 34:27 in 2004. He has also finished second three times. Today he settled for winning the 40-44 division. Third place David Miller (25) of Leesburg, VA took over the resident honors in 34:03 while chasing after Pugsley. Indeed, fourth place Andrew Budiansky (18) of Leesburg, VA was also getting into contention with a smartly done 34:35. That also put him right behind teen record holder Dustin Sweeney's 34:29. Coach Sweeney holds a lot of those teen records in the Loudoun County area and all the way down to his home in Winchester. Tim Schuler (45) of Chambersburg, PA, who held off local legend and former winner Mark Stickley a couple of years ago, won today's top masters title with a demure 37:01.

With today's cold winds and hills runners had to really press to keep the pace. Kenyon Erickson of Vienna, VA was the top grandmaster in 43:43. Doug Morris of Delaplane, VA just turned seventy and is eager for new course records. He took down Jerry Lewis's 70-99 record of 53:59 with a solid 53:08. Meanwhile, Lewis, the top dog in the Washington Running Report runner rankings for 75-79, (in photo) came in second with 55:14. That is the fastest time for any runner older than 75 and there have been a number of them. Carl Siebentritt had been the oldest runner in the 10K for years. Today, at 86-years-old, he became the oldest finisher in the 4K. The oldest 4K finisher for the women was Pamela Day at 83.

The youngest female ever in the 10K was Aurora Scott in 46:02 at age nine. That was in 2000 when she finished fifth overall. Nowadays Scott is often the overall winner in races and was the fastest teenager in the entire region last year, racing 36:14 in a 10K.

Today Meghan Ridgley (29) of Reston, VA also set an event record, edging Sharon Servidio's nine year old record with a swift 38:36. Second place Danielle Russell (44) of Ashburn, VA easily topped the masters field with a nice 39:46. That time would have won the race on more than one occasion, yet it did not quite catch Patti Shull's 39:26 finishing runner-up in 2000. Third place Rachel Moritz (38) of Potomac Falls, VA (in photo), third overall in 42:46, seemed a little surprised to learn she was third overall. Remember, this is not a PR course. That is a very solid time and a Ranked Runner time which is uncommon on this course.

Shannon Shoemake (21) Herndon, VA is a first time racer, winning her division in 45:36 and just missing the fastest first time female racer on this course. That record has been held by Marlene Haas since 1999 with 45:15.

Regular top masters Anita Freres of Reston, VA and Becky Nathan of Arlington, VA (in photo) dueled for the fourth overall spot. Freres, who is deceptively speedy, pulled away to win 43:15 to 43:53. Fifty-year-old Carol Jones of Ashburn, VA was the top grandmaster in a very solid 48:05 a minute ahead of Karen Abbamonte. Peggy Davis (56) of Vienna, VA broke the former event record with 51:32 by a minute but was turned away by Suanne Shocket of Manassas, VA who just joined the division. She has the new standard with 50:36. Pat Welch topped Punkin Lee to win the seniors.

Still, the real story of the race is Ecris Williams. E.C. started this race 12 years ago at age 59 by winning her division. She has proceeded to win her division and (obviously) set new event records for the next eleven years. The Cal Ripken of the Rotary Resolution 10K has won every single year.

Both before and after the race David Berry entertained the multitude with his guitar and songs from the seventies and eighties. In the warm auditorium runners enjoyed hot coffee and cocoa as well as bagels, bananas, and huge cookies. After the awards, scores of runners rushed up to earn one of the scores of random prizes.

The course was well marked and well marshaled. The parking was plentiful and indoor facilities are a near essential commodity for the testy weather.

Men's Awards

Place Num   Name                   Ag City                  Finish 
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== ===== 
    1     6 Aaron Church           33 South Riding VA       32:49 
    2     4 Ray Pugsley            39 Potomac Falls VA      33:49 
    3     3 David Miller           25 Leesburg VA           34:03 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 19
    1   372 Andrew Budiansky       18 Leesburg VA           34:35 
    2    83 Nathan Dancher         17 San Diego CA          35:57 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
    1    66 Jonathan Abrams        24 Washington DC         45:02 
    2   198 Andy Mizell            21 Herndon VA            46:12 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
    1    79 John Woods             29 Woodbridge VA         36:46 
    2   555 Stephen England        28 Sunnyside NY          41:38 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
    1   548 Christopher Bain       31 Rockville MD          34:44 
    2   476 Harland Peelle         34 Leesburg VA           38:21 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
    1   520 Andy Mason             36 Hagerstown MD         38:09 
    2   578 Kenny Shapiro          39 Frederick MD          39:53 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
    1   477 Brian Schmidt          40 Leesburg VA           38:43 
    2   183 Todd Katz              40 Oak Hill VA           39:55 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
    1     7 Tim Schuler            45 Chambersburg PA       37:01 
    2   203 Jeff Chandler          45 Hamilton VA           43:01 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
    1   509 Kenyon Erickson        54 Vienna VA             43:43 
    2   401 Kevin Dix              50 Manassas VA           44:33 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
    1   244 Ken Krehbiel           55 Washington DC         44:43 
    2    10 James Moreland         56 Gaithersburg MD       46:30 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
    1   267 Michael Kush           63 Burke VA              48:41 
    2   514 James Hozik            63 Great Falls VA        50:05 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
    1    92 Gil Langley            66 Fairfax VA            57:23 
    2   112 Bob Eldridge           68 Reston VA             59:55 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
    1    35 Douglas Morris         70 Delaplane VA          53:08 
    2   419 Jerry Lewis            75 Reston VA             55:14 
MALE LEESBURG RESIDENT
    1   372 Andrew Budiansky       18 Leesburg VA           34:35 
MALE ROTARIAN RESIDENT
    1   133 Kevin Keating          44 Miami FL              41:33 
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
    1   214 Kevin Hensley          46 M Ashburn VA          44:58  

Photo below: Finishers climb the final hill.

Women's Awards

Place Num   Name                   Ag City                  Finish 
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== ===== 
    1     5 Meghan Ridgley         29 Reston VA             38:31 
    2   354 Danielle Russell       44 Ashburn VA            39:46 
    3   437 Rachel Moritz          38 Potomac Falls VA      42:46 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 19
    1   460 Sarah Andrew           16 Leesburg VA           52:08 
    2   316 Andrea Freska          18 Los Angeles CA        59:06 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
    1   199 Shannon Shoemake       21 Herndon VA            45:21 
    2   462 Katie Andrew           20 Leesburg VA           52:09 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
    1    81 Holly Kearl            25 Reston VA             47:30 
    2   508 Emily Young            25 Leesburg VA           52:14 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
    1   290 Sharon Adams           33 Reston VA             45:39 
    2    58 Carla Tharrington      33 Haymarket VA          49:58 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
    1    23 Heather Schaffer       37 Potomac Falls VA      48:14 
    2   338 Karen Myers            38 Harrisonburg VA       49:03 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
    1   547 Anita Freres           43 Reston VA             43:15 
    2   513 Rebecca Nathan         43 Arlington VA          43:53 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
    1   445 Kay Harrison           45 Hagerstown MD         50:02 
    2   167 Janet Janas            47 Clifton VA            51:39 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
    1   457 Carole Jones           51 Ashburn VA            48:05 
    2   517 Karen Abbamonte        50 Fahrney Keedy Mem MD  49:06 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
    1   454 Suanne Shocket         55 Manassas VA           50:36 
    2    48 Peggy Davis            56 Vienna VA             51:32 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
    1   242 Pat Welch              64 Vienna VA             59:08 
    2   522 Punkin Lee             62 Middleburg VA         61:49 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
    1    52 Ecris Williams         70 Reston VA             61:07 
    2   271 Jamie Wollard          70 N Bethesda MD         80:21 
FEMALE LEESBURG RESIDENT
    1   233 Tonya Stotler          42 Leesburg VA           48:48 
FEMALE ROTARIAN RESIDENT
    1   192 Kim Durand             45 Lorton VA             70:46 
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
    1   199 Shannon Shoemake       21 F Herndon VA          45:21 

Full Race Day Results