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Rock the House 8K Race Report
June 7, 2009
Fairfax, VA
For the Washington Running Report
In its thirteenth year the Rock the House 8K is being run as an 8K for only the third year. Before that it was a 5K in 2006. It began in 1997 as the Toucan 10K that was run in nearby Vienna until 2006. Many excellent runners have come to take on this challenging course that circles the Fairfax County Government Center and is held in conjunction with the Celebrate Fairfax Fair. The racers dart out of the Center between tents set up for the Fair and charge down Random Hills past the shopping center.
Aaron Church (33) of South Riding, VA (in photo) positioned himself quickly into his favorite place--the lead. To many of the runners struggling up Government Center Parkway just past three miles, Church looked almost leisurely approaching mile four. Second place Jimmy Piccard (23) of Midlothian, VA was the only one within a half mile and he was pressing to maintain contact. Even though June began as rainy and cool, it was soon evident to the runners that summer was on its way. By race end it was scorching, though not as hot as last year's race. Church was cool with a 25:08 victory for the third fastest time on this course.
Church, who set the course record for the Rotary Resolution 10K in Leesburg this January, has a good feel about running in hot weather. He plans to return to Leesburg for a notoriously warm Leesburg 20K this summer to, "break my course record of 1:04:29," set in 2006. He may have some competition from last year's winner, Michael Wardian, who Church noted is coming off a blistering 2:21:09 at the Vermont Marathon just two weeks a go.
The race awards prizes in ten year age groups. Race winner Church also had the fastest time in the 30-39 for the event. Piccard had the fourth fastest time of all in 25:33 but is third in the 20-29 division as Biyhanu Wukaw (25) and Abraha Aseea playfully bounded across the finish in 24:27 to set the event record in 2007. David Hryvniak (24) of Christiansburg, VA owned third easily in 27:16.
For the women, Gladys Ganiel came to town all the way from Belfast Ireland. She smashed the course record with a fine 30:25 to finish as the seventh runner in the race. Now she has to go telling us that she had no plans to try a second race. Laura Greeson (39) of Alexandria, VA, on the cusp of the masters division, seemed a little surprised to take the runner-up spot. Jessica Daley (17) of Oak Hill, VA was third, close behind in 34:20. Julie Collins of Great Falls, VA was next in 34:26 though her ChronoTrack net time was faster than Daley. The top three runners are awarded based on gun time; all others are based on net time.
Lori Mennitt (45) of Mclean, VA (in photo battling with Stephen Ritter) rambled home as the top masters division finisher in 36:12, though she was way off the course record set by Kelly Dworak in 2007 with 31:17 or the fine 32:08 set by race winner Martha Merz in last year's race. Nancy Cary (53) of Reston, VA pulverized the grandmaster record by more than six minutes in a swift 41:47. Frances Widmann (73) came all the way from Chapel Hill, NC to run a national class time of 48:17.
Tops for the masters men is Ismo Puda who was third overall in 29:01 in last year's race. Today Bryan Mikesh (44) of Fairfax, VA had the third best time for the event in 30:14 to win the masters. James Moreland holds the 50-59 record of 33:51 set in 2007. However, that is not even close to the grandmaster record set by Bill Joyce in 2008 with 32:53. This year Joyce returned for the second fastest grandmaster time in 33:30 at age 65. Continuing his rise toward the top, Krupakar Revanna (65) was next in 35:06. His wife Teresa won the 60-69 women's division. Mark Boman (53) won the 50-59 division in 34:36 for the second fastest time for the event. Walt Washburn (86) of Vienna, VA still produces victories though he admits that at times he needs to walk. On this course, I heard that.
After the race there was plenty of bottled water with bagels, bananas, and apples though I wish they would not cut the food up. It has been many years since I needed my food cut for me and I promise not to eat too much.
With a little advertising this enjoyable race could fulfill its potential and double in size. All I saw were smiles from the dozens of runners that I high fived at the finish line.
FEMALE
Place Num Name Ag City Time
===== ===== =================== == ===================== =======
1 217 Gladys Ganiel 32 Belfast Ireland 30:25
2 66 Laura Greeson 39 Alexandria VA 33:51
3 241 Jessica Daley 17 Oak Hill VA 34:20
MALE
Place Num Name Ag City Time
===== ===== =================== == ===================== =======
1 253 Aaron Church 33 South Riding VA 25:08
2 244 Jimmy Picard 23 Midlothian VA 25:33
3 247 David Hryvniak 24 Christiansburg VA 27:16
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 12
1 369 Katie Martin 11 Oak Hill VA 53:43
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 13 - 19
1 331 Alexis Chaet 15 South Riding VA 41:21
MALE AGE GROUP: 13 - 19
1 12 Kyle Gutierrez 19 Woodbridge VA 30:54
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 29
1 320 Dorothy Beal 27 Reston VA 35:19
MALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 29
1 191 Sam Quatromoni 24 Arlington VA 33:29
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 39
1 267 Julie Collins 33 Great Falls VA 34:11
MALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 39
1 355 Michael Kilbourne 31 Montgomery Vill MD 27:55
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 49
1 367 Lori Mennitt 45 McLean VA 36:10
MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 49
1 363 Bryan Mikesh 44 Fairfax VA 30:13
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 59
1 263 Nancy Cary 53 Reston VA 41:39
MALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 59
1 224 Mark Boman 53 Arlington VA 34:26
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 69
1 313 Teresa Revanna 63 Falls Church VA 1:12:07
MALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 69
1 373 Bill Joyce 65 Herndon VA 33:30
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 79
1 85 Frances Widmann 73 Chapel Hill NC 48:01
MALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 79
1 352 Ken Quincy 71 Vienna VA 42:26
MALE AGE GROUP: 80 - 99
1 364 Walt Washburn 86 Vienna VA 1:11:59
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 78 Barbara Lapini 41 F Springfield VA 43:21
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 251 Marvin Weniger 23 M Arlington VA 34:15
The Strubs, Hannah (16) and Gretchen (43), race in their hometown together.