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Rock the House 8K Race Report
June 7, 2009
Fairfax, VA
For the Washington Running Report
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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.
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FEMALE
Place Num  Name               Ag City                 Time  Â
===== ===== =================== == ===================== =======
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  Â
===== ===== =================== == ===================== =======
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:Â 1 - 12
1  369 Katie Martin       11 Oak Hill VA            53:43
FEMALE AGE GROUP:Â 13 - 19
1  331 Alexis Chaet       15 South Riding VA        41:21
MALE AGE GROUP:Â 13 - 19
1   12 Kyle Gutierrez     19 Woodbridge VA          30:54
FEMALE AGE GROUP:Â 20 - 29
1  320 Dorothy Beal       27 Reston VA              35:19
MALE AGE GROUP:Â 20 - 29
1  191 Sam Quatromoni     24 Arlington VA           33:29
FEMALE AGE GROUP:Â 30 - 39
1  267 Julie Collins      33 Great Falls VA         34:11
MALE AGE GROUP:Â 30 - 39
1  355 Michael Kilbourne  31 Montgomery Vill MD     27:55
FEMALE AGE GROUP:Â 40 - 49
1  367 Lori Mennitt       45 McLean VA              36:10
MALE AGE GROUP:Â 40 - 49
1  363 Bryan Mikesh       44 Fairfax VA             30:13
FEMALE AGE GROUP:Â 50 - 59
1  263 Nancy Cary         53 Reston VA              41:39
MALE AGE GROUP:Â 50 - 59
1  224 Mark Boman         53 Arlington VA           34:26
FEMALE AGE GROUP:Â 60 - 69
1  313 Teresa Revanna     63 Falls Church VA      1:12:07
MALE AGE GROUP:Â 60 - 69
1  373 Bill Joyce         65 Herndon VA             33:30
FEMALE AGE GROUP:Â 70 - 79
1   85 Frances Widmann    73 Chapel Hill NC         48:01
MALE AGE GROUP:Â 70 - 79
1  352 Ken Quincy         71 Vienna VA              42:26
MALE AGE GROUP:Â 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 Â
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.
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