In 2004, Michael Mann ran the half marathon in 1:14:39 for 2nd in his age group.

Michael Mann, formerly of Hampton, lost his 21/2-year fight against lung cancer, at age 38, Tuesday morning in Florida, while staying with his parents in Orange Park, FL under hospice care. His funeral is Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. in Jacksonville, FL. In photo, he races his last marathon, the 2006 Shamrock.

Mann was part of the first inductee class into the Virginia Peninsula Road Racing Hall of Fame at a ceremony last December as part of the Colonial Road Runners Awards Banquet. Mann was a three-time winner of the CRR Grand Prix men's overall title (2002-04). Despite his battle against lung cancer, he was able to place second overall in the 2006 Grand Prix. His PRs are impressive: 15:18 (1994 Busch Gardens Drachen Fire 5K), 19:09 (2004 Cheatham Annex 6K), 24:58 (1998 Shamrock 8K), 31:20 (1997 Sallie Mae 10K), 44:14 (2005 Yorktown Victory Run 8 Miler), 48:49 (1997 Richmond Frostbite 15K), 51:43 (1996 Yorktown Battlefield 10 Miler), 1:08:32 (2005 Shamrock Tune-up Series 20K), 1:09:16 (1999 Philadelphia Half Marathon), 1:26:08 (2002 Shamrock Tune-up 25K), 1:43:19 (2003 Shamrock Tune-up 30K), and in his favorite race, a 2:28:28 at the 2004 Shamrock Marathon.

Mann still holds four course records for the CRR, a 15:41 at the 2004 Freedom Park 5K, a 33:04 at the 2002 Williamsburg Jaycees 10K at Newport News Park, a 15:50 at the 2004 York River State Park 5K, and his fastest CRR time, a 15:21 at the 2004 Heritage Humane Society 5K at Ford's Colony. As of the end of the 2006 racing season, Mann held a total of 16 age-group course records for CRR Grand Prix events, exceeded only by six CRR runners. Those records include a 16:11 for the men's 35-39 age group record at the Warhill 5K in June, 2005, several days before lung surgery that removed one cancerous lobe of his lung (20% of his lung capacity) and subsequent chemotherapy, and a 23:01 for the '05 New Quarter Park 6K, while in the midst of chemotherapy. He also had age-group records at the '05 Yorktown Victory Run 8 Mile (44:14) and Ford's Colony 8K Run for Shelter (26:39), while with then undiagnosed lung cancer.

There will be a memorial run and breakfast for Mann on Sunday, September 16, starting at 9:00 a.m. from the Activities Building of the Campsites section of Newport News Park, the location of the Bikeway where Mann ran countless miles in preparation for marathons and other races. The CRR also plans to name its scholarship fund in honor of Mann, and there will be a race in 2008 that will honor his memory.

After 20 years service, Master Sergeant Mann had a retirement ceremony from the Air Force at the U.S. Joint Forces Command, Joint Warfighting Center in Suffolk on Friday, August 3, where he was given his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems, graduating with honors from Saint Leo University in April. He was born in Falls Church, VA, moved frequently during his childhood, but graduated from high school in Great Britain. He started with the Air Force in 1987, moving back to Virginia in May, 1991, for an assignment at Langley Air Force Base, where he remained for the rest of his military career.

One of Mann's favorite races was the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, and area runners excelled in the largest half marathon in the U.S. this past Sunday in Virginia Beach. (Editor's note: All of the times listed are chip time) John Piggott (42) of Williamsburg won the masters title (ages 40 & over) in 1:12:59, good for $500 in prize money. Steve Chantry (52) of Williamsburg was fourth masters, but first grandmaster (50 & over) with his 1:18:00. The race also has an age-graded listing and Chantry was the top U.S. runner on an age-graded basis.

Area runners in the top five of their age groups were Douglas Fenstermacher of Gloucester (1st, men 15-17, 1:19:18), Charlie Hurt of the Williamsburg-based Team Blitz (5th, men 18-24, 1:11:44), John Piggott (1st 40-44, 1:12:59), Steve Chantry (1st 50-54, 1:18:00), Rick Platt (1st, 55-59, 1:27:06), Emily Low of Newport News (3rd, women 18-24, 1:28:30), Ellen Enoch of Yorktown (5th, 40-44, 1:38:45) and Laura Shannon of Williamsburg (3rd, 45-49, 1:32:23).

In addition, other men faster than 1:40 from Williamsburg includes Scott Call (1:20:42), Seth Barner (1:29:30), Joe Barrow (1:30:59), Ian Esmay (1:32:33), Scott Peto (1:33:50), Timothy Collins (1:35:36), Will Murray (1:35:50), Douglas Headley (1:35:57),Chad Aldeman (1:36:06) and Thomas Fugate (1:39:07). From Yorktown were Nate Wallace (1:23:03), Alexandre Deur (1:26:22), Corey Showalter (1:37:20), Joe Day (1:38:55), Robert Whitaker (1:38:55), and Bryan Ruff (1:39:38).

In addition, other women faster than 1:54 from Williamsburg includes, Jami Peterson (1:41:03), Connie Glueck (1:45:13), Ashley Reyher (1:46:33), Emily Ransone (1:47:21), Joanna McCandlish (1:49:09), Maria Kokolis (1:50:19), Jennifer Boardman (1:50:39) Irene Sarantokos (1:50:54), Heather Moreno (1:51:25), Mary Jo Bailey (1:52:57), and Ann Dieterle (1:53:01). From Yorktown were Danielle Dash (1:48:10), Michelle Miller (1:49:00), Casey Landrum (1:50:45), and Stephanie Douglas (1:52:43).

With 80% considered national-class, the top age-graded runners from Williamsburg and Yorktown were Chantry (87.3%), Piggott (85.9), Platt (81.8), Shannon (78.0), Scott Call (73.4), Joe Day (71.3), Nate Wallace (71.3), Jim Christol (age 60, 1:43:44, 70.6%), Will Murray (70.4), and Doug Headley (70.4).

The top runners from Hampton Roads were Ryan Carroll (24) of Portsmouth (1:09:53) and Danny Tepovich (28) of Virginia Beach (1:13:40) for the men ($500 and $250 in prize money), and Erica Ortiz (29) of Chesapeake (1:20:04) and Colleen Pak (37) of Virginia Beach (1:26:21) for the women. After Piggott, the next masters runner was James Bresette (45) of Clinton, AR (1:17:21). The top female masters were Susan Loken (44) of Phoenix, AZ (1:21:49) and Anne Spillane (40) of Virginia Beach (1:27:22), also for $500 and $250 in prize money. The wheelchair winner was Tyler Byers (25) of Sterling, VA in 49:08 ($600 prize money).

There were more than 20,000 race entrants, and more than 17,000 official finishers.The race, as always, was dominated by international runners, with the top seven men from Kenya, including race winner Haron Toroitich (1:02:20). The women's winner, Edna Kiplagat, in 1:11:14, is also from Kenya. Each won $12,000.