Navigation
Welcome to the Washington Running Report
Spring 2003
Strong Showing for Spring Season
2003 WRR Spring Runner Rankings
By Roland Rust
July/August 2003
Washington Running Report
Winter couldn't last forever, and when the weather warmed up the running really came to life. Sixty races were included in the spring ranking period, even though it only lasted two months. The performances were exceptionally strong, and the large number of qualifiers has resulted in the qualifying standards again being tightened. Qualifiers ranged from 13-year-old prodigy Aurora Scott, to 85-year-old Hedy Marque. What's more, there were many very competitive races, in which the top racers competed head-to-head. Washington area running continues to get better and better.
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 rated, 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+ 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, and 75 and over. As participation warrants, these age divisions will be extended or combined (for example, in the winter 2003 ratings there were no qualifiers in the women's 70-74 division, so results were reported for 70+). The open divisions will be rated according to gun time, and age groups will be rated according to chip time, if chip timing is in effect.
Runners may be ranked in a rating period by meeting the following criteria:
- Reside in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia
- Better the time standard in two rated races
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 ratings 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.
Summer 2003 Qualifying Standards for the 10K
Age Group Men WomenOpen 32:52* 37:43*
35-39 34:56* 41:48*
40-44 36:06* 43:29*
45-49 37:26* 48:13*
50-54 40:15* 50:24*
55-59 43:03* 52:53*
60-64 47:09* 62:05
65-69 52:50 75:00
70-74 58:07* 91:45*
75+ 95:00 99:00* indicates standards recently changed
The ranking periods for the remainder of the year are:
- Summer: May 19-September 1 (reported November-December '03) - Fall: September 2-November 16 (reported January-February '04)
Happy racing and good luck!
Races Included in the Spring 2003 Ranking Period:
Race Name Location
5K by the Bay Newport News, VA
Azalea 8K Virginia Beach, VA
Azalea Classic 5K University Park, MD
Billy Korrow 5K Baltimore, MD
Buckroe Beach Blast 8K Hampton, VA
Capitol Hill Classic 10K Washington, DC
C & P Brain Tumor Society 5K Washington, DC
Charlottesville 10-Mile Charlottesville, VA
Charlottesville 5K, Half & Marathon Charlottesville, VA
Cherry Pit 10-Miler Annapolis, MD
Clyde's 10K Columbia, MD
CU Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Washington, DC
Elizabeth River Run 10K Norfolk, VA
Ford's Colony 8K Williamsburg, VA
Fort Eustis 10K Fort Eustis, VA
Frederick Marathon Frederick, MD
Garrett's 5K Frederick, MD
G W Parkway 10-Mile & 5K Alexandria, VA
Germantown 5-Miler Germantown, MD
Hills of Cabin John 5K Potomac, MD
Linwood Holton H.S. 5K Richmond, VA
MACPA 1040 5K Baltimore, MD
Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K Baltimore, MD
Mantua Raccoon 5K Fairfax, VA
Mark's Azalea Run 5K Bethesda, MD
Martha Jefferson 8K Charlottesville, VA
Maryland Day Run for Hospice 5K Leonardtown, MD
May Day 5K Alexandria, VA
NSHS Scholarship 5K Fredericksburg, VA
O'Doul's Shamrock 5K Baltimore, MD
Oriole Advocates 5K Baltimore, MD
Pantherlon 5K Alexandria, VA
Patriot Cup Corp Challenge 8K Fairfax, VA
Piece of Cake 10K Gaithersburg, MD
Pike's Peek 10K Rockville, MD
Plaza America Family 5K Reston, VA
Running Crab 1/2 Marathon & 5K Hampton, VA
Preakness 5K & 10K Baltimore, MD
Queen's Lake 5K Williamsburg, VA
Reach Out and Run 5K Towson, MD
Reston 10-Miler Reston, VA
Run for Shelter 5K Richmond, VA
Run vs. Row 10K Alexandria, VA
Sallie Mae 10K Washington, DC
Semper Fit 5K Quantico, VA
Shamrock 5K Manassas, VA
Shamrock Hill 5K Roanoke, VA
Shamrock 8K & Marathon Virginia Beach, VA
St. Patrick's Day 10K Washington, DC
John Robbins 8K Fredericksburg, VA
Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K Richmond, VA
Victim's Fund 5K Baltimore, MD
Westfield 5K Chantilly, MD
YMCA Mother's Day 5K Arlington, VA