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Potomac River Running Twilight Festival 4 Miler: It's Worthwhile to Stay For the Party
By James Moreland
Ashburn, VA
June 27, 2009
For the Washington Running Report
It was the last weekend of June and summer was really starting to get underway. That usually means evening races in hopes of cooler air. Driving down Route 7 on the way to the race, the race site looked like a carnival. Potomac River Running wanted the event to be more than a race. More than a thousand runners, scores of fun walkers, and lots of family spectators provided support for them. The Sock Monkeys were back again with cool music from the sixties such as Secret Agent Man. There was face painting and moon bounces and even a dunk tank. After the race, there was a corral for beer drinkers and Moe's Southwest Grill provided food for the hungry runners on top of the usual after race fare of bagels, chips, food bars, cold bottled water, and replacement beverages.
Before the race runners were looking around for the competition. Steven Crane had set the standard last year in 19:47 but Aaron Church was hot this year and he predicted a fast time, " I plan to run somewhere between 19:35 and 19:55." He readily acknowledged that he would have competition as Gurmessa Megressa was on hand as well as Abiyot Abebe who had run 20:06 as runner-up in 2008. Also Justin Fritzius has been the quietest winner in the region with some spiffy 5K times, ten overall wins in 2008. Already this summer period, he has a 16:05 cross country 5K victory.
Muscles Moeser is back on the circuit. He claims not to have run in seven months. "I just spend a lot a time at the gym. I can do four sets of thirty pull-ups." I guess that means he was going take a shot at Mark Malander's event record 23:27 from last year. Last year the big dogs of the sixties were Bill Joyce and Jason Page. Joyce, now 65, was a DNF with the extreme heat and Page admitted that he eased up to win in 27:03 by nearly four minutes. This year Page, now 64, knew the jig was up as "Wright is here." Jim Wright has turned sixty and destroyed the field at the Lawyers Have Heart 10K earlier in the month.
In 2007, Linda Foley had set the overall and master standard winning it all in 25:23. Last year Samia Akbar toasted the field in 22:28, while nobody came close to Foley's masters time. This year Alisa Harvey (43) brought her overpowering shadow over the field and filleted the masters record as fourth overall in 23:56. Foley, now 47, nearly matched her previous time with 25:32 to win her division and finish fourth master overall. Look out for Elena Orlova. Just as Ray Pugsley did last year at age 39, she has put the masters world on notice. Orlova won wire to wire in 22:59. Second place Almaz Megerssa (25) of Washington, DC hung on to her for the first half in an identical 11:17. Third place Julia Rudd was twenty seconds behind. After Orlova pulled away, Rudd made a strong bid for runner-up coming just short 23:15 to 23:18.
Danielle Russell did not make Harvey's job easy as she was just six seconds behind at the halfway point. She finished as the fastest Ashburn resident and won her division in 24:13. Rosalind Sheppard (42) of Bowie was next in the division with 25:26. Though an excellent time, it is just a few seconds different from the 8K she ran back in 1992 when Liz McCoglan became the first women to break 25:00, winning $25, 000 for her 24:48. That was the amazing race with nine women faster than 26:00 with McCoglan walking the final fifty meters. "If they are going to pay me to break the record, I don't want it to be too hard to do next time."
Sixteen of the runners in the race come from the 50 Plus Club, a band of 106 mega racers who accounted for 3,884 races in 2008. Leading the club, Karsten Brown (in photo) won his division in 22:00 for a PR just two weeks after winning the Hatfield and McCoy Marathon in 2:51:41, as well as 3rd overall at the Highland's Sky 40 Mile Run last weekend. Brown is the tenth of these racers to have completed fifty races already this year. They come from all ages, in this race, from 30-34 age group winner Liz Jones (27:29) to Robert Gurtler (74) with nearly forty 5Ks so far this year to three-distance American Record holder for men 80-84 and still going strong Walt Washburn, who turns 87 this Columbus Day.
So early in the race Megressa bolted to a three meter lead with Church as promised tucking in behind. Fritzius and Abebe trailed a stride further back. By the mile, it was clear something was wrong with Abebe and he wisely called it a day. At the mid point, Megressa had a manageable five second led and Church was starting to get concerned. He knew his kick was not his strongest point. Fritzuis was starting to lose contact another seven seconds behind. Fourth place runner at just nineteen, Leoule Degfae must have felt comfortable crossing next in 10:18. Fifth place Bart Borghuis (33) of Arlington, VA was twenty seconds further back but he had finished third overall last year in 20:15. While nearly everyone was slower on the way home Borghuis made up ground with a 10:33 second half just missing catching Degfae by two seconds in 21:11. Fritzuis took third with a solid 20:35. Church maintained well finishing in 20:07 but could not close on Megressa who won in a steady 19:53. Next year he promises to come after Crane's record.
Jim Nielsen (43) of the nearby Broadlands won the masters in an inspired 22:34 that was faster than anyway has run save for the legendary Darrell General who set the tough standard of 21:28 the first year. Christopher Hamley kept him honest the whole way in 22:46. Omnipresent Jean Christophe Arcaz (48) won his division in 23:11. Moeser did take down Malander's grandmaster record with an excellent 23:15. The shirtless wonder made it look so easy that he had to pour water on himself before the race to make it look as if he were sweating. Jim Wright continues his march to the 60-64 rankings crown with as splendid 24:07 well in front of Page who improved to 26:07 to stay ahead of his former age group rival Bill Joyce he ran 26:36 to victory in the 65-69 division. Lou Shapiro (67) was next. He let Krupakar Revanna have his way in the first mile and then steadily pulled away to take second in 27:38. Seventy year-old Chan Robbins ran hard because it is the only way he knows. His time of 31:23 was about a mile ahead of his next competitor.
FEMALE Open
1 1085 Elena Orlova 39 Gaithersburg MD 22:59
2 1070 Almaz Megerssa 25 Washington DC 23:15
3 6 Julia Rudd 26 Herndon VA 23:18FEMALE Masters
1 1046 Alisa Harvey 43 Manassas VA 23:56MALE Open
1 1072 Gurmessa Megerssa 29 Washington DC 19:53
2 9 Aaron Church 33 South Riding VA 20:07
3 8 Justin Fritzius 24 Purcellville VA 20:35MALE Masters
1 907 Jim Nielsen 43 Broadlands VA 22:34FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 12
1 1415 Samantha Gernhard 12 Oakton VA 35:22 35:47 8:57MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 12
1 1452 Zachary Corley 11 Ashburn VA 32:01 32:39 8:10FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 13 - 19
1 1437 Ariel Karabinus 17 Manassas VA 24:14 24:17 6:05
2 1445 Ashley Wybersky 17 Manassas VA 26:00 26:16 6:34
3 1417 Christine Moore 19 Burke VA 27:03 27:08 6:47MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 13 - 19
1 1435 Leoule Degfae 19 Alexandria VA 21:08 21:09 5:18
2 1026 Joshua Hardin 18 Potomac Falls VA 21:42 21:44 5:26
3 1500 Tinut Degtae 19 Alexandria VA 23:06 23:07 5:47FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 1055 Jacquelyne Chantry 20 Williamsburg VA 27:15 27:18 6:50
2 1238 Woineshet Gebessa 24 Washington DC 27:41 27:42 6:56
3 187 Katie Hodges 22 Marshall VA 30:19 30:58 7:45MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 1401 Chris Hague 20 Kensington MD 22:25 22:25 5:37
2 1053 Matt Gordon 22 Falls Church VA 22:30 22:31 5:38
3 822 Brian Carnes 24 Leesburg VA 22:33 22:33 5:39FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 4 Jennifer Ledford 29 Reston VA 24:07 24:08 6:02
2 694 Megan Fogarty 25 Silver Spring MD 26:28 26:28 6:37
3 655 Amy Lane 25 Herndon VA 27:12 27:15 6:49MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 5 Matt Woods 29 Falls Church VA 21:47 21:48 5:27
2 1047 Douglas Hickey 26 Arlington VA 22:42 22:43 5:41
3 792 Andrew Ciarfalia 26 Arlington VA 23:05 23:06 5:47FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 812 Elizabeth Jones 32 Falls Church VA 27:28 27:29 6:53
2 1216 Kristy Persons 33 Potomac Falls VA 28:54 29:19 7:20
3 189 Rebecca Powell 32 Alexandria VA 29:33 29:40 7:25MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 10 Bart Borghuis 33 Arlington VA 21:10 21:11 5:18
2 1219 David Alexander 30 Silver Spring MD 23:09 23:10 5:48
3 1022 Michael Vega 31 Ashburn VA 23:13 23:13 5:49FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 615 Eleanor McManuels 35 Columbia MD 28:31 28:40 7:10
2 915 Anna Hall 39 Reston VA 29:13 29:17 7:20
3 666 Eliana Leonard 35 Falls Church VA 29:43 29:52 7:28MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 1009 Karsten Brown 35 Front Royal VA 22:00 22:01 5:31
2 755 Edi Turco 36 Arlington VA 22:45 22:46 5:42
3 960 Rob Meadows 37 Lansdowne VA 24:21 24:22 6:06FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 920 Danielle Russell 44 Ashburn VA 24:12 24:13 6:04
2 469 Rosalind Sheppard 42 Bowie MD 25:26 25:26 6:22
3 1249 Anita Freres 44 Reston VA 27:13 27:15 6:49MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 657 Christopher Hamley 44 Hyattsville MD 22:46 22:47 5:42
2 898 Theo Haast 42 Lansdowne VA 23:42 23:43 5:56
3 1017 Bryan Mikesh 44 Fairfax VA 23:46 23:47 5:57FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 7 Linda Foley 47 Oak Hill VA 25:31 25:32 6:23
2 862 Mandana Mortazari 45 Leesburg VA 28:12 28:17 7:05
3 1052 Katherine McKnight 46 Fairfax VA 28:34 28:35 7:09MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 1213 Jean-Christophe Arca 48 Rockville MD 23:10 23:11 5:48
2 1007 James Dunn 48 Leesburg VA 24:38 24:40 6:10
3 523 Robert Sichau 45 Alexandria VA 25:56 25:59 6:30FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 369 Laura Moore 50 Burke VA 30:30 30:35 7:39
2 829 Stephanie Danahy 52 Fairfax Station VA 31:35 31:40 7:55
3 699 Joan Woodis 50 Leesburg VA 31:58 32:20 8:05MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 437 Dean Hanson 53 Ashburn VA 27:18 27:20 6:50
2 874 Vincent McDonald 50 Arlington VA 27:22 27:23 6:51
3 1011 Tim Arnade 52 27:35 27:35 6:54FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 721 Carla Bourgeois 56 Delaplane VA 40:17 40:47 10:12
2 364 Jane Summers 58 Annandale VA 44:21 45:34 11:24
3 885 Karen McHale 55 Burke VA 47:31 48:51 12:13MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 1028 Chuck Moeser 57 Potomac Falls VA 23:14 23:15 5:49
2 1010 Mark Baldino 57 Lorton VA 27:44 27:44 6:56
3 51 Jay Jacob Wind 59 Arlington VA 27:48 27:51 6:58FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 588 Mary Proctor 60 Reston VA 41:34 42:10 10:33
2 470 Sun Min Kimes 62 Ashburn VA 44:43 45:39 11:25
3 448 Teresa Revanna 63 Falls Church VA 56:05 56:13 14:04MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 716 Jim Wright 60 Gaithersburg MD 24:13 24:14 6:04
2 914 Jason Page 64 Hamilton VA 26:07 26:07 6:32
3 1057 Bob Chase 63 Falls Church VA 29:19 29:23 7:21MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 239 Bill Joyce 65 Herndon VA 26:36 26:36 6:39
2 544 Lou Shapiro 67 Silver Spring MD 27:31 27:38 6:55
3 447 Krupakar Revanna 65 Falls Church VA 28:41 28:45 7:12MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
1 53 Chan Robbins 71 Arlington VA 31:22 31:23 7:51
2 312 Robert Gurtler 74 The Plains VA 40:27 40:43 10:11
3 461 John Long 71 Clifton VA 41:09 42:24 10:36FEMALE ASHBURN RESIDENT
1 920 Danielle Russell 44 Ashburn VA 24:12
2 958 Erica Cline 30 Ashburn VA 30:33
3 1021 Kim Ogorek 39 Ashburn VA 32:10
4 831 Megan McMullen 22 Ashburn VA 32:37MALE ASHBURN RESIDENT
1 1022 Michael Vega 31 Ashburn VA 23:13
2 1460 Zachary Deaton 17 Ashburn VA 24:08
3 1433 Matt Panzica 14 Ashburn VA 25:23
4 921 Daniel Pettibone 36 Ashburn VA 25:47FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 146 Erin Cuyun 27 F College Park MD 34:18 34:33 8:39MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 405 Brendan Leonard 46 M Ashburn VA 30:23 30:34 7:39
Full Race Day Results