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Welcome to the Washington Running Report
Spring 2005
Cool Spring Runnings Give Way to Hot Summer Days
2005 WRR Spring Runner Rankings
by James Moreland
July/August 2005
For the Washington Running Report
"Like a rosebud blooming in the warmth of the summer sun; it's growing"
--The Temptations, 1964
With the cooler spring weather, racing is booming. The Tonight Show host, Jay Leno, is always bemoaning the fattening of America. Let him see some of the 2,688 ranked runner times among the nearly 80,000 runners who raced in the more than 200 races used in this short, two-month ranking period. Check the speed limit of 55 men of all ages qualifying for the Open Division. Even more women, 63 in all, qualified for the Open Division. More than 1500 different runners ran a qualifying time this season!
We are amazed that 90 different 70 and over runners, including Walt Washburn's (82) ten races and Hedy Marque's (87) continued assault on the record books. Even more gratifying is that 200 different runners 19 and under ran qualifying times.
Runners contact us every day, trying to be sure we have collected their results. It is in the works to be posting a bi- weekly list of names of runners as they finish a qualifying race. The next ranking period extends through Labor Day. With the race levels more than doubling since the winter, we appreciate feedback so that we leave no ranked runner behind.
Women's Spring 2005 Rankings
Men's Spring 2005 Rankings
Errors acknowledged:
The last period we inadvertently omitted two qualified runners. John DiCarlo of Virginia Beach, VA should have been 21st in the 55-59 division. David Brewer of Herndon, VA should have been 22nd in the 50-54 division. We contacted them to apologize and both runners promptly ran out to qualify for the spring season! Brewer won his division at the Capitol Hill Classic 10K.
Young Rory Jenkins will be glad to be ranked 3rd in the 19 & under division and see us spell his name correctly this time.
Perhaps the worst error was the miscalculation of Susannah Kvasnicka's records. Her winning race time for the GW Birthday 10K was improperly entered as 35:59 instead of 35:39. This placed her behind the second place finisher, who ran 35:49. With the corrected time, she naturally vaulted past that runner. Her swifter time edged her past the third and fourth placed runners, making her third overall for the period. Runners three through five each moved down a place.
Fourteen races had more than 1,000 finishers. All the major distances were well represented. Again, 30 races had more than 20 qualifying times.
The top 15 races had more than 35 qualifiers. Virginia and Maryland each had a big 5K and 5 Mile. Only one marathon cracked the top fifteen, while eight 10Ks dominated the big races. The Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K led participation with more than 12,000 runners. Washington, DC spoke up loudly with three big 10Ks and the granddaddy of all the races, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile.
Two new things: Runners who win the race or win their division in a race earn an asterisk beside their name. In the Open Division, the asterisk is for overall wins only. The Speed Alone is the fastest qualifying time run for each division, and reflected in the first line after the heading in each division. In red, it means the division champion ran it. With the new times in place, some may be surprised at how many runners make the rankings. The answer is 3.5% of all the runners. Now let's see who made it to the top.
Rankings Explained
The goal of the runner rankings is to rank the best runners of Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia, in five-year age groups, for the purpose of stimulating competition in the Washington region. Runners are ranked only according to performances in included races. To be included, a race must meet the following criteria:
* Take place in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia
* Full results listed on the Washington Running Report Web site
* 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
To be included, a race must meet all of the above criteria. There will be no exceptions. If you place well in a race and want it included in the rankings, be sure to ask the race director to e-mail the complete results to the Washington Running Report at results@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, 19 and under, 35-39, 40-44, 45- 49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79 and 80 and over.
Runners may be ranked in a ranking period by meeting the following criteria:
* Reside in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia (or race here frequently)
* Better the time standard in two included races
The rankings are established using a nearly completely objective rating procedure. A preliminary sort, followed by an intensive analysis of competitive results, forms the rankings. The preliminary sort is based on number of qualifying marks and best times. The final ranking is based on head-to-head competitive results against the other top placers (50%), with time playing a major but secondary role (40%). Our general philosophy is that competition is about beating other runners, and we intend to place an increased emphasis on competitive results.
To qualify for the end-of-year rankings, top priority will go to runners who qualify in two ranking periods. A preliminary sort, followed by a more involved analysis of competitive results, also forms these rankings. The preliminary sort is based on seasonal rankings and best times. The final ranking is again based on head-to-head competitive results, with time playing a secondary, though at times deciding, role. One special race can at times put a runner over the top, though consistency is a valued asset.
Qualifying times are set in each age division for the 10K, and then adjusted for other distances. I believe in a constant time so that, while a runner may not make the top ten, he or she may consider himself or herself a ranked runner. My primary concern is that of believability. There should be few surprises. Competitiveness will always find a few disputes. Most runners know whom they can best and who remains unbeatable. The rankings should fairly reflect that. If you have comments and questions or would like to get a more complete explanation of individual rankings, contact us at james@runwashington.com.
The Current Qualifying Standards for the 10K
Age Group Men Women
Open 34:20 41:15
19 & under 38:20 46:05
35-39 36:40 44:10
40-44 38:20 46:05
45-49 39:45 48:45
50-54 42:00 51:45
55-59 43:55 54:30
60-64 49:45 62:05
65-69 52:50 75:00
70-74 56:20 89:40
75-79 1:32:30 1:39:00
80 & Up 1:45:00 1:50:00
The ranking periods for the remainder of the 2005 ranking year are:
*Summer Runner Rankings, May 23, 2005 to September 5, 2005, reported November-December '05
*Fall Runner Rankings, September 6, 2005 to November 20, 2005, reported January-February '06
*Best of 2005, reported March-April '06
Races Used in the Spring Ranking Period
1040K Run 5K Baltimore, MD
180's Shamrock 5K Run Baltimore, MD
5K By The Bay Newport News, VA
5K Run for Mental Health Williamsburg, VA
ACLI Capital Challenge 3M Washington, DC
Al Cesky Scholarship Fund 5K Bel Air, MD
Angel Kisses 5K Chantilly, VA
Animal Chase 10K Abingdon, VA
Apple Blossom 10K Winchester, VA
Arlington YMCA Mother's Day 10K Arlington, VA
Ashland 10K - NCR Trail Sparks, MD
Ashland Railroad Run 10K Ashland, VA
Atoms 5K Annandale, VA
Azalea 8K Norfolk, VA
Azalea Classic 5K University Park, MD
Billy Korrow Memorial 5k Run Baltimore, MD
Blair Clipper Classic 5K Norfolk, VA
Braemar 5K Bristow, VA
Bright Beginnings 5K Washington, DC
Bright Stars 5K Charlottesville, VA
BRRC WhiteHall 15K Baltimore, MD
BRRC WDF 5K Race Baltimore, MD
Buckhoe Beach Dash 8K Hampton, VA
CapitalOne 10K for Children Vienna, VA
Capitol Hill Classic 10K Washington, DC
Carytown 10K Richmond, VA
C&P Race for Hope 5K Washington, DC
Chantilly High School 5K Chantilly, VA
Charlottesville Marathon/Half Charlottesville
Cherry Pit 10 Mile Edgewater, MD
Chesapeake 10K Norfolk, VA
Clyde's 10K Columbia, MD
Connect the Dots 3.446M Washington, DC
Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10M Washington, DC
Danielle Roach "Save 7 Lives"5K Virginia Beach, VA
Darcars Pike's Peek 10K Rockville, MD
DCRRC Burke Lake 12K Burke Lake, VA
DCRRC Fort Hunt 10K Fort Hunt, VA
DCRRC Steve Thompson Meml 15K Alexandria, VA
Difficult Run CC 8K Great Falls, VA
Doo Dah Day 5K Winchester, VA
Fairfax Corner 5K Fairfax, VA
Falcon 5K Virginia Beach, VA
Fodderstack 10K Flint Hill, VA
Ford's Colony Run for Shelter 8KWilliamsburg, VA
Forest of Needwood 5M Brunswick, MD
Fort Eustis 10K Fort Eustis, VA
Frederick Marathon Frederick, MD
Frederick Marathon Twilight 5K Frederick, MD
Friends of Ian 5K Gaithersburg, MD
Front Royal Kiwanis 5K Front Royal, VA
Frozen Slopes Cross Country 6K Derwood, MD
Garrett's 5K Frederick, MD
Germantown 5-Miler Germantown, MD
Gibson Is. Chessie 5K Pasadena, MD
Grandin Court Baptist 5K Roanoke, VA
Great Escape Law Enforce't 5K Mexico Farms, MD
Greenbelt 50/50 5K Greenbelt, MD
GW Parkway 10 Mile & 5K Alexandria, VA
HCS Atholton 5K - May 1 Columbia, MD
HCS Atholton 5K - May 22 Columbia, MD
HCS Longfellow 15K Columbia, MD
HCS Swansfield 8 Mile Columbia, MD
Henrico 5K Richmond, VA
Highlands Spring Chase 15K Abingdon, VA
Hill Phoenix White Bank 5M Colonial Heights, VA
Hills of Cabin John CC 5K Cabin John, MD
Holton Elementary 5K Richmond, VA
Intl Run for Celiac Disease 5K Baltimore, MD
J.E.B. Stuart Raider Run 5K Falls Church, VA
Jamestown H.S. Swamp Run 5K Williamsburg, VA
JFS Run Roll or Stroll 5K Norfolk, VA
Journey to Better Pathways 5K Silver Spring, MD
Lion's Journey for Sight 5K Virginia Beach, VA
Mark's Azalea Run 5K Bethesda, MD
MD Day Run for Hospice 10K/5K Leonardtown, MD
May Day 5K Lake Ridge, VA
McDaniel 5K Track Run Westminster, MD
MCRRC Super Sligo 4M Silver Spring, MD
Mt. Hebron Viking Run 5K Ellicott City, MD
Natl Race to Stop Silence 8K Washington, DC
Nestle 5K Danville, VA
Ocean City Marathon Ocean City, MD
ODU Monarch 5K Norfolk, VA
Outback's 5K for the YMCA Columbia, MD
Patriot's Cup Corp. Chall. 8K Fairfax, VA
Yorktown Victory Run 8 Miler Yorktown, VA
Pet Day 5K Solomons, MD
PGRC Springburst 8K Greenbelt, MD
Piece of Cake 10K Gaithersburg, MD
Plaza America Family 5K Reston, VA
Pomoco Running Crab HM & 5K Hampton, VA
Poplar Spr. Animal Sanctuary 5K Wheaton, MD
Port to Fort 6K Baltimore, MD
Potomac River Run Marathon & HM Alexandria, VA
Preakness 5K Baltimore, MD
Purcellville 5K Purcellville, VA
PVTC Easter Classic 10K & 5K Alexandria, VA
Queen's Lake 5K Williamsburg, VA
Race for Education 5K Upper Marlboro, MD
RASAC Mother's Day 5K Bel Air, MD
RASAC Polar Bear 5K Bel Air, MD
RASAC Susquehanna 10K & 5K Bel Air, MD
R.O.A.R. 5K Baltimore, MD
Reston 10 Mile & 5K Reston, VA
Reston Shamrock 5K Run Reston, VA
Richmond Race for the Cure 5K Richmond, VA
Robbies Miles 5K Prince Frederick, MD
Roberta Romano Raccoon Run 5K Fairfax, VA
Rosner Shamrock 5K Run Fredericksburg, VA
Rotary 5K Winchester, VA
Rudy's SEAL Euro CC 8K Virginia Beach, VA
Run for Hope 5K Amelia, VA
Run For Independence 5K Virginia Beach, VA
Run for Shelter 5K Richmond, VA
Run the Crater 5K & 8M Fort Lee, VA
Run vs. Row 10K Alexandria, VA
Saints Sprint 5K Richmond, VA
Sallie Mae 10K Washington, DC
Sandburg Pantherlon 5K Alexandria, VA
Scope it Out 5K Washington, DC
Corporate Challenge 5K & 6M Baltimore, MD
Semper Fit 5K Quantico, VA
Seton Keough Gator 5K Baltimore, MD
Shamrock Hill 5K Roanoke, VA
Shamrock Marathon & 8K Virginia Beach, VA
Sheppard Pratt Celebration 5K Baltimore, MD
Spring 5K Washington, DC
St. Francis Home 5K Run Richmond, VA
St. John Freedom Run 5K Virginia Beach, VA
St. Patrick's Day 10K Washington, DC
Stupid Little 10 Mile & 5K Berryville, VA
Suffolk YMCA Spring Stride 5K Suffolk, VA
Tren Robbins Organ Donor 8K Fredericksburg, VA
Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K Richmond, VA
Union Mill Elementary 5K Clifton, VA
Victims Fund Run 5K Baltimore, MD
Vienna Elementary Run 5K Vienna, VA
Vinton Baptist Dogwood 5K Roanoke, VA
Virginia Senior Games 5K Virginia Beach, VA
Weinberg YMCA 5K Baltimore, MD
Whistlestart Fun Run 5K Richmond, VA
Whitman in Motion 5K Bethesda, MD
Wittondale 3M Towson, MD