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University of Maryland Heart Center Baltimore 10 Miler Race Report
By James Moreland
June 20, 2009
Baltimore, MD
For the Washington Running Report
Amanda Luksetich (27) of Richmond, VA sets events record with 1:07:30.
Runners flooded back to the second annual Baltimore 10 Miler held by the grounds of the Baltimore Zoo. The parking lots were soon swamped with thousands of cars as runners prepared to take on the serpentine course through the heart of the city. By the back of the staging area there was a line of portable toilet that was soon swamped with runners approaching in long lines from both directions.
Notice the hint about wet. A famous road race reporter once lectured about putting a weather report in a story. "The runners know what the weather was like." Indeed before the start of the race, many runners commented that finally we would have a dry day in June. Sure it would be muggy from the previous forty days and forty nights but the morning seemed cool compared to last year's start.
Then twenty minutes before the 7:30 AM start, the first drops of rain appeared and runners hearing lightning and thunder worried that maybe the race might even be canceled. They thought they had it bad at the U.S. Open. Try to race on rain slicked streets in a torrential down pour that have no, none, ningun, nada in the way of flat.
Before the race Maurice Pointer (last year's master winner in photo) was talking to the 55-59 winner from last year about potential times. Pointer ran an excellent Lawyers Have Heart 10K last week in 35:53 and ended up fourth grandmaster in a stellar field that included multi-race distance American masters record holder. Still he was the clear favorite in today's race. He turned to me and said, "You are what, fifty-five." The young kid standing next to him asked, "Do you think you are going to run 55:00." Pointer chuckled lamenting that he had not run that fast in many years. Standing close by prohibitive favorite in the senior division (60-99) Ronnie Wong was also eager to get underway.
The race again announced a closing number at 3000 runners which seemed to hurry runners to sign up. This year's premium given to finishers at the end of the race was a neat, lined rain jacket with a hood. Many runners savored it at the end of the race which for many was in a huge downpour. The entire race and indeed the drive home were under a series of ferocious blasts from heaven that deluged us. Fortunately the thunder and lightning disappeared by the second mile of the race, though runners could be heard to say, "I wonder if the pins in my bib are conductive."
The race start lined up with many return racers though nobody seemed too eager to push to the front. Runners were all wearing the bright orange ChronoTrack D-tag in their shoe to time their gun and net time for each of them personally. The start was more like a car race as the announcer did a countdown from 10 down to one. Many of the runners were a little confused, longing for a long silence before hearing the G word that means it is time to rock.
The police were everywhere and it was fabulous. If you ever tried to cross a busy city street, now you were getting it back. Scores of police blocked intersections and no cars had even a slight chance to get free and challenge the runners. In addition to the Maryland Heart Center, race proceeds will benefit The Police Foundation Fund.
Racing through the park in the opening miles was with a lot of chatter for many as the first three kilometers were nearly all down hill. Early in the race young high school junior Alexander Waldt (15) of Baltimore, MD in photo rabbited out to the front. As runners headed down 33rd Street toward Lake Montebello and the turnaround he was still well out in front. One racer still on his way out said, "Hey, a 12-year-old is gonna win this race."
Last year's early leader and second place finisher was John "Sspider" Sillery (37) then of York, PA, now of Chattanooga, TN. This year he arrived more than two minutes late and the he was the one having to play catch up. He fell just 5 seconds short as Waldt won in 57:18 obliterating the teen best with the fourth fastest time in the event. Last year's third place finisher Joe Lamonte moved to Colorado but came back nicely to finish third again, this time in in 57:41. He held off Christopher Sloane (25) of North Potomac, MD who finished fourth in 58:02. Sillery caught Lamonte with about 500 meters to go.
Last year runners raced to beat ESPN 1300 Radio Personality Mark Viviano to earn $1 per runner for the Police Activity League. This year before the race started runners knew they were being chased by the Commissioner Bealefeld of the Baltimore City Police who vowed to run ninety minutes. For every runner he caught, which included two thirds of the field of 2,500 racers a donation to the Police Foundation Fund will be made, the amount was announced as $4,000. With the assistance of his new police recruits, runners will have a "Caught By The Commish" sticker placed on them. Those who are caught will pose for "mug shots" following the event and be able to purchase a "Get out of Jail" card and T-shirt with the proceeds also going to the Fund.
Christopher Burns (17) of Rochester Hills, MI had an excellent 59:09 for fifth overall. Sixth place Pekka Stenholm (36) of Columbia, MD was the last runners to break an hour with 59:43.
The course was well marked and will manned with many water and replacement drink stations though water was not nearly the issue it was last year's. Thirsty runners could just point their mouths skyward to replenish. Still if you had a PR on this course, it would be safe to assume it was your first 10 mile race.
None of the top three women from last year returned but as with last year the battle for the top spot was close. Runner-up Jaclyn Truncellito (26) of Baltimore, MD started more than a minute late and was fast making up ground on Amanda Luksetich (27) of Richmond, VA. Luksetich felt the pressure in the first half from third place Katie Schettig (26) of Baltimore, MD who was just 21 seconds behind at the halfway in 32:31. The winning time and new event record was 1:07:30 which just shows racers how slow the second half of this course can be. Still Truncellito had a net time of 34:25 for the first half and a powerful finish in 32:21 to catch Schettig.
Julie Thumel (17) of Ellicott City, MD had the sixth fastest time ever, finishing fourth in 1:09:25, more than twenty minutes better than the former age best. Liz Jones (in photo) who normally races about fifty races a year (42 in 2008) was next. Before the race she noted that she was healthy, just not racing as much. The rust did not show as she had her first 10 mile race of the year in 1:09:35.
Last year's master Maurice Pointer slowed about a minute with the tough weather but was sixth overall. Last year's women's master Lisa Fichman (47) of Columbia, MD had a less kind race in 1:20:15 for third in her division. That was well off her winning time of 1:11:49 that was fourth overall. Janelle McIntyre (43) of Ellicott City was third master last year in 1:13:32. This year she laid down the hammer and set the event record in 1:11:19.
Ronnie Wong repeated as champion in the senior set as did Chris Craun for the women. Both are former champion in the Runner Rankings.
After the race rain soaked runners were treated to more water, and water melon, and water down beer (AKA light beer), as well as full strength Budweiser. The feeling was still very festive and the band played on even with the pouring rain.
Brightroom photography was all over the course and gave us the photo of the Commissioner.
Considering the weather, the race was an amazing success. The legend continues and next year will be even better.
Awards Listing (No Duplicate Prizes)
FEMALE
1 Amanda Luksetich 27 F RICHMOND VA 67:30
2 Jaclyn Truncellito 26 F BALTIMORE MD 67:59
3 Katie Schettig 26 F BALTIMORE MD 68:38
MALE
1 Alexander Waldt 15 M BALTIMORE MD 57:18
2 John Sillery 37 M CHATTANOOGA TN 57:23
3 Joe Lamonte 28 M DENVER CO 57:41
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 99 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Janelle McIntyre 43 F ELLICOTT CITY MD 1:11:19 1:11:11 7:08
MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 99 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Maurice Pointer 53 M BALTIMORE MD 1:01:14 1:01:13 6:08
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 19 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Julie Thumel 17 F ELLICOTT CITY MD 1:09:25 1:09:20 6:56
2 Ellie Kavanagh 18 F TOWSON MD 1:30:25 1:30:06 9:01
3 Jenny Donoghue 17 F FREDERICK MD 1:31:20 1:30:50 9:05
MALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 19 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Christopher Burns 17 M ROCHESTER HILLS MI 59:11 59:10 5:55
2 Robert Allaway 19 M DARNESTOWN MD 1:07:37 1:07:16 6:44
3 Matthew Lea-Wilson 18 M FREDERICK MD 1:21:13 1:19:31 7:58
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 24 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Reisel Berger 23 F BALTIMORE MD 1:11:34 1:11:25 7:09
2 Carly Page 23 F BALTIMORE MD 1:19:53 1:19:23 7:57
3 Crissy Sharp 24 F ODENTON MD 1:20:37 1:19:35 7:58
MALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 24 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Daniel Miranda 23 M BALTIMORE MD 1:10:49 1:10:37 7:04
2 Matthew Tully 24 M TOWSON MD 1:12:20 1:11:49 7:11
3 Kyle Hatten 24 M BALTIMORE MD 1:12:30 1:12:01 7:13
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 25 - 29 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Melissa Wisner 26 F WASHINGTON DC 1:11:31 1:11:08 7:07
2 Tabia Coles 28 F HYATTSVILLE MD 1:13:09 1:11:35 7:10
3 Christine Trzcinski 26 F NOTTINGHAM MD 1:12:02 1:11:59 7:12
MALE AGE GROUP: 25 - 29 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Christopher Sloane 25 M NORTH POTOMAC MD 58:03 58:02 5:49
2 Daniel Latta 25 M PHILADELPHIA PA 1:03:56 1:03:52 6:24
3 Matt Stanford 27 M BALTIMORE MD 1:04:31 1:04:31 6:28
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 34 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Elizabeth Jones 32 F FALLS CHURCH VA 1:09:35 1:09:34 6:58
2 Terri Cook 33 F EXTON PA 1:10:45 1:10:42 7:05
3 Dawn Weber 34 F HAYMARKET VA 1:14:15 1:13:58 7:24
MALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 34 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Jim McGrath 34 M BALTIMORE MD 1:06:16 1:06:16 6:38
2 James Smiley 34 M SHERMANSDALE PA 1:06:22 1:06:21 6:39
3 Warren Wilkerson 34 M BALTIMORE MD 1:08:59 1:08:55 6:54
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 35 - 39 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Marci Benda 38 F PARKTON MD 1:11:44 1:11:41 7:11
2 Jennifer Peterson 38 F BALTIMORE MD 1:19:53 1:18:57 7:54
3 Rachel Ridgway 38 F IJAMSVILLE MD 1:21:26 1:19:24 7:57
MALE AGE GROUP: 35 - 39 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Pekka Stenholm 36 M COLUMBIA MD 59:43 59:43 5:59
2 Jason Tripp 37 M ELLICOTT CITY MD 1:03:38 1:03:38 6:22
3 Steve Jaconetti 35 M WARRINGTON PA 1:08:13 1:08:12 6:50
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 44 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Debra Johnson 42 F DALLAS TX 1:18:30 1:17:00 7:42
2 Amanda Loudin 43 F ELLICOTT CITY MD 1:17:32 1:17:23 7:45
3 Ann Fraker 43 F STEVENSON MD 1:19:32 1:18:33 7:52
MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 44 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 David Doherty 40 M TOWSON MD 1:20:48 1:02:58 6:18
2 William Clark 43 M FALLSTON MD 1:04:42 1:04:42 6:29
3 Dejan Ernestl 41 M BALTIMORE MD 1:06:34 1:06:33 6:40
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Sharon Baptiste-John 45 F BALTIMORE MD 1:12:53 1:12:53 7:18
2 Cindy Geisinger 46 F GLEN ALLEN VA 1:18:27 1:17:54 7:48
3 Lisa Fichman 47 F COLUMBIA MD 1:20:15 1:20:08 8:01
MALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Mark Neff 47 M DERWOOD MD 1:03:13 1:03:12 6:20
2 David Cooke 48 M BALTIMORE MD 1:05:13 1:05:11 6:32
3 John Escarsega 48 M BEL AIR MD 1:07:22 1:07:20 6:44
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 54 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Pat Wilkerson 50 F COLUMBIA MD 1:15:35 1:15:30 7:33
2 Mary Cupo 53 F BALTIMORE MD 1:16:48 1:16:26 7:39
3 Cynthia Evans 53 F RANDALLSTOWN MD 1:22:16 1:22:15 8:14
MALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 54 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Elias Tinta 50 M ROCKVILLE MD 1:10:01 1:09:53 7:00
2 Finley Mears 53 M TOWSON MD 1:10:35 1:10:33 7:04
3 Peter Peterman 50 M ELLICOTT CITY MD 1:10:51 1:10:44 7:05
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 55 - 59 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Linell Smith 56 F BALTIMORE MD 1:27:54 1:27:42 8:47
2 Diane O'Connell 59 F WESTMINSTER MD 1:37:35 1:31:37 9:10
3 Linda Rose 58 F BALTIMORE MD 1:32:30 1:31:58 9:12
MALE AGE GROUP: 55 - 59 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Earl Swartzendruber 58 M COCKEYSVILLE MD 1:13:35 1:13:33 7:22
2 Paul Bell 58 M REISTERSTOWN MD 1:14:54 1:14:47 7:29
3 John Ware 56 M VIENNA VA 1:16:23 1:15:47 7:35
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 99 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Chris Craun 63 F BETHESDA MD 1:29:09 1:28:56 8:54
2 Natalie Vaslavsky 60 F BALTIMORE MD 1:31:07 1:30:52 9:06
3 Joan Tapocik 61 F GERMANTOWN MD 1:40:34 1:39:47 9:59
MALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 99 (NET TIME - NET PACE)
1 Ronnie Wong 62 M CATONSVILLE MD 1:11:22 1:11:20 7:08
2 Ron Wolak 62 M HAGERSTOWN MD 1:23:20 1:22:52 8:18
3 Takanori Hishikawa 68 M VIENNA VA 1:28:54 1:28:11 8:50
Ronnie Wong (62) of Catonsville, MD repeats as senior champion. Full Race Day Results
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