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Cascades Firechase 10K Produces Another Winner
May 23, 2009
Sterling, VA
For the Washington Running Report
Since 2005 the Pugleys, Ray and Cathy of Potomac River Running, have taken a special interest this Sterling community 10K event, now in its seventh year. Both have raced four years and neither has finished lower than third place. The weather toward the end of May can always be problematic and this rolling course has a few spots where runners can be altitude challenged. The race starts right in the middle of the Lowes Island Community Center and like a chick bursting from its shell careens around the corner at the top of the first hill and makes a long, wide 3.5 mile circle around, followed up by a mercifully shorter second loop.
The first mile is the longest stretch of straightaway and is largely flat. Normally, the race gets decided on the hills later on. Today's event was over quickly as Ray Pugsley (in black, moving away in the start photo) bolted away from the field matching his best time on the course from last year to the second with 33:02. Event record holder Philippe Rolly (30:48 in 2004) won last year in 32:49, taking both the crown and the submasters record away from Pugsley. Rolly, a mere 36, did not return for a third title. Pugsley, now 40, moved on to the masters field.
Runner-up Jim Nielsen (43) of Ashburn sliced two seconds off Gary Grilliot's 40-44 record of 36:15. That was still more than three minutes behind Pugsley. Ray has already run away from the competition for the spring with a 25:03 Shamrock 8K and a 52:10 Cherry Blossom, as well as a sub 20:00 four-mile race. He smiled sardonically as he noted that he really expected to race below 32:00 in his 10Ks. He had won in 2006 with 33:29 and finished second in 2007 with 34:01. The next two years, both chasing after top competition and in a runaway, he could not quite break 33:00. Still, he did lay claim on the masters title for the event breaking both Paul Okerberg's 45-49 time of 35:21 and Chuck Moeser's 50-54 record set the first year in 34:04.
Meanwhile Cathy Pugsley (photo right) had thrown her hat into the 
ring a year before Ray, finishing second in 39:22 in 2005, second overall. Though well off Alisa Harvey's submaster record of 37:45 set the first year, Cathy returned in 2006 for third in 39:26 and had her best time in 2007 with 38:57 for runner-up. She passed on 2008 but, now 40, she took down Leslie Minnix-Wolfe's 40-44 record of 40:41 set in 2004 by two seconds, The masters record is held by Patti Shull with 38:45 back in 2004 when she was 45.
The temperature rose quite quickly as a field of more than a thousand runners started the race. The air was thick and muggy but halfway through the race the air was even moister and it was wonderful. The fire department uncorked a fire hydrant just past the two mile mark just before runners began the second ascent on the course. The plume of water jetted 50 feet into the air and sent cooling refreshment showering over the runners.
Last year, top flight masters runner Linda Foley (47) had won it all in a brilliant 40:16. This year she had a tougher ride, finishing in fourth with 41:29. Mary Beth Muething (30) of Arlington, VA did exactly the reverse, turning last year's fourth place trip of 41:22 into an overall win in 39:26. Erin Kate Aleksak (29) of Sterling was third overall in 41:14.
Third for the men was J. T. Duke (16) of Potomac Falls, VA (in photo below) in a credible 36:19. He was chasing in the formidable footsteps of another champion with only letters for his name. C.W. Moran, at 19, had won it all in 2004 with a splendid 32:34. Then in 2005, when he turned 20, he lost by the closest of photo finishes with an identical 30:48 against event record holder Philippe Rolly.
Even with the muggy May heat, great food and a well marked course brought out many top runners and hundreds of happy racing fans, all ready to take home nice prizes either with speed or by following the directions of the master of ceremonies as he skillfully led the large crowd through their paces to earn one of the many fine random awards. Outback Steakhouse saw to it that even with a long line of hungry runners there would be plenty of steak and eggs for everyone. There was plenty of bottled water and bagels as well as fruit smoothies.
Among the elite field of runners fourth place Jean Christophe Arcaz (48) of Rockville, MD (following in photo) stayed within striking distance of the runner-up spot before taking his division in 36:24. Bruce Halpin (50) of Ashburn, VA was easily top grandmaster in 39:04 for eighth overall. For the older masters, Jason Page (64) of Hamilton, VA (in photo below) always takes off quickly. He noted afterwards that he would have preferred the race end about mile four. He had to take a few walking breaks. That was enough for 55-59 age group winner Richard Adams (58) of Herndon, VA to finish ahead of his 41:36 with 41:29.
In the 65-69 division, where Page will soon be, Lou Shapiro has been trying to shake off pretenders to his crown. Last week he caught up and passed Michael Golash in the final mile at Capitol Hill to win in 45:19. Today he had to race even faster to hold off a fine 44:39 performance by Krupakar Revanna. Revanna had upset Shapiro in the spring at St. Patrick's. Shapiro ran an inspired 43:07 to "restore the status quo." Seventy and older champion Chan Robbins does not favor the hot weather. Alan Rider (73) had won at Capitol Hill but he was no match for Robbins today, who won by more than half a mile.
After the top four women runners, the top masters woman was Carole Jones (52) of Ashburn, VA (photo below). She ran a spritely 45:37 that was close to catching last year's age group winner and the event's 50-54 record holder Carole Roeder (45:19). The grandmaster event record is held by Alice Franks at 45:15, which she set in 2005 at age 56.
Several hundred runners of all ages ran the .911 mile fun run. The largest age group at the event was 19 and younger.
Awards Listing (No Duplicate Prizes)
OVERALL MALE (GUN TIME) Place Num Name Lname Age City Time
===== ===== =================== === ===================== =======
1 3 Ray Pugsley 40 Potomac Falls VA 33:02
2 529 Jim Nielsen 43 Ashburn VA 36:13
3 604 J T Duke 16 Potomac Falls VA 36:19
OVERALL FEMALE (GUN TIME)
Place Num Name Lname Age City Time
===== ===== =================== === ===================== =======
1 248 Mary Beth Muething 30 Arlington VA 39:26
2 4 Cathy Pugsley 40 Potomac Falls VA 40:39
3 26 Erin Kate Aleksak 29 Sterling VA 41:14MALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 19 (NET TIME)
1 597 Brian Robinson 18 Potomac Falls VA 36:49
2 428 Matthew Weber 18 Sterling VA 39:08
3 425 Aidan O'Hara 14 Sterling VA 40:23FEMALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 19 (NET TIME)
1 533 Marissa Olson 19 Leesburg VA 46:40
2 735 Erin Murdock 16 Sterling VA 48:21
3 354 Barbara Rion 16 Sterling VA 49:14MALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 24 (NET TIME)
1 556 Daniel Clark 24 Potomac Falls VA 41:21
2 679 Thomas Meriwether 24 Delaplane VA 42:30
3 555 Andrew Clark 20 Potomac Falls VA 42:59FEMALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 24 (NET TIME)
1 249 Katie Muething 23 Arlington VA 42:26
2 639 Amy Lane 24 Herndon VA 43:38
3 21 Ardene Kidby 24 Springfield VA 46:17MALE AGE GROUP: 25 - 29 (NET TIME)
1 155 Matthew Eluk 27 Sterling VA 41:22
2 214 Dennis Haeberle 28 Reston VA 44:22
3 710 Jason Cornelius 26 Washington DC 47:22FEMALE AGE GROUP: 25 - 29 (NET TIME)
1 522 Meredith Samson 28 South Riding VA 43:27
2 652 Cassandra Henry 29 Potomac Falls VA 45:01
3 191 Heather Gerhard 26 Clifton VA 48:52MALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 34 (NET TIME)
1 673 Michael Vega 30 Ashburn VA 36:48
2 733 Greg Stemberger 32 Manassas VA 38:04
3 654 Chad Beechboard 34 Cross Junction VA 41:35FEMALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 34 (NET TIME)
1 475 Lyuda Anderson 30 Sterling VA 42:38
2 85 Ann Abbott 30 Annandale VA 44:53
3 515 Kristen Connor 34 Vienna VA 47:37MALE AGE GROUP: 35 - 39 (NET TIME)
1 694 Brian Szabos 35 South Riding VA 39:47
2 473 Robert Osteried 36 Sterling VA 40:12
3 142 Richard Haylor 38 Martinsburg WV 40:30FEMALE AGE GROUP: 35 - 39 (NET TIME)
1 508 Heather Schaffer 38 Potomac Falls VA 43:55
2 674 Laurie Bickart 39 Potomac Falls VA 46:23
3 312 Debbie Whitfield 36 Potomac Falls VA 46:23MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 44 (NET TIME)
1 688 Shawn Johns 43 Alexandria VA 39:54
2 629 Tom Steinbach 43 Potomac Falls VA 40:21
3 750 David Sandson 43 Arlington VA 41:42FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 44 (NET TIME)
1 520 Katherine Hoenig 40 South Riding VA 46:17
2 506 Patty Richards 41 McLean VA 49:01
3 410 Kimberly Perry 40 Sterling VA 49:57MALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49 (NET TIME)
1 680 Jean-Christophe Arc 48 Rockville MD 36:24
2 724 Bill Stahr 48 The Plains VA 41:30
3 442 Greg Gould 48 Potomac Falls VA 43:04FEMALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49 (NET TIME)
1 388 Linda Foley 47 Oak Hill VA 41:26
2 485 Lori Mennitt 45 McLean VA 45:59
3 505 Sydney Shepherd 45 Potomac Falls VA 49:01MALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 54 (NET TIME)
1 497 Bruce Halpin 52 Ashburn VA 39:02
2 553 Matt Rea 53 Potomac Falls VA 40:47
3 486 Mike Cannon 51 Springfield VA 40:48FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 54 (NET TIME)
1 50 Carole Jones 52 Ashburn VA 45:37
2 691 Stephanie Danahy 52 Fairfax Station VA 50:43
3 635 Trish Coffey 54 Fairfax VA 51:01MALE AGE GROUP: 55 - 59 (NET TIME)
1 458 Richard Adams Jr 58 Herndon VA 41:29
2 218 Ken Krehbiel 55 Washington DC 44:45
3 375 Allen Vaughan 58 Stafford VA 45:10FEMALE AGE GROUP: 55 - 59 (NET TIME)
1 675 Peggy Davis 57 Vienna VA 56:52
2 228 Margaret Bylund 58 Great Falls VA 1:02:41
3 164 Eva Hillard 55 Aldie VA 1:04:09MALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 64 (NET TIME)
1 660 Jason Page 64 Hamilton VA 41:36
2 385 Ted Baca 63 Arlington VA 47:49
3 671 Patrick Brown 64 Reston VA 51:38FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 64 (NET TIME)
1 659 Freyda Greenberg 60 Falls Church VA 57:03
2 509 Pat Welch 64 Vienna VA 59:59
3 668 Mary Proctor 60 Reston VA 1:02:19MALE AGE GROUP: 65 - 69 (NET TIME)
1 500 Lou Shapiro 67 Silver Spring MD 43:07
2 370 Krupakar Revanna 65 Falls Church VA 44:39
3 338 Craig Morgan 69 Chevy Chase MD 51:01MALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 99 (NET TIME)
1 10 Chan Robbins 71 Arlington VA 51:24
2 327 Alan Rider 73 Reston VA 57:26
3 48 Robert Gurtler 74 The Plains VA 1:06:01MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 214 Dennis Haeberle 28 M Reston VA 44:22FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 288 Kristy Simonich 36 F Potomac Falls VA 53:07