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Navy Federal 5K is Picture Perfect
By James Moreland
Vienna , VA
September 19, 2009
For the Washington Running Report
This race is a great community race through the quiet streets of Vienna. Runners of all ages, from hometown hero Walt Washburn who will be eighty-seven in October to 3-year-old Noura Elbehiry who finished the race with her elder brother Sherif (5). In fact before the race started we were treated to an elfin stylist singing our National Anthem. She was all of ten at the most but she did a excellent job.
Then before the race Cutler Dawson wearing bib #1 announced that the race in its 17th year had produced a tenth of the budget for the charity beneficiary, the Committee for Helping Others (CHO). (CHO has no paid staff members. Everyone who works for CHO is a volunteer. One hundred percent of the proceeds from this race will be given to CHO.) As well run and down right fun as this race is, it seems the obvious solution would be to run the race ten times a year.
Getting to the race is easy, just a couple minutes off the Beltway and there is plenty of free parking. Runners, walkers, and their family gathered around the starting line just before 9:00 AM on perhaps the nicest day of the summer. Capital Running Company, which was timing the race with ChronoTrack, had one of their race crew toeing the line this morning. Will Halstead (28) of Arlington, VA (in photo above) was feeling pretty good about his chances even though there were nearly five hundred runners eager to try out the course.
First comes the long silence and then race announcer Bob Moore bellows out the operative word GO! The race starts mercifully downhill for the first 150 meters so runners can get the legs up to speed. Even before all the runners had crossed the starting mats, Matt "Flash" Gordon (22) of Falls Church, VA (in photo) was already around the first turn.
Racing up Follin Drive the runners quickly spread out into a massive conga line. Soon they were weaving back and forth through the residential streets. The course was still very easy to follow with plenty of marshals and the ever present Vienna police keeping the runners safe--though there was little traffic on the course.
For the women, Cristina Burbach (in photo below) found herself in the lead. She held off an early challenge in the first mile and then picked up the pace to cruise home in 20:37 for the win. Kelly Burns (33) of Germantown was in fourth early on but moved forcefully past two women to garner the runner-up spot in 22:21.
They kept her just in sight as they battled for the coveted third place. Mary Messore (34) of Fairfax, VA earned that spot with 22:50, while Christine Hackman (45) of Arlington, VA was the first masters, coming in fourth in 22:52. Fifth place went to a young local runner Camille Testa (12) of Vienna, VA in a solid 23:53.
The whole course was very scenic and you never had to run uphill for very long. Still, the downhills were not so long either. Just after the second mile we headed down a street that was, "huis clos"- (No exit). No matter; we darted through a short trail in the woods and headed onto the W&OD Trail, cruised it for 100 meters, and ducked back into the woods. As we entered, a course marshal joyfully announced we had less than a half mile to go. Shortly after leaving the shady sanctuary we crossed the road and doubled back toward the finish. Last year many of the runners lost their way and ran the wrong way around the Navy Federal complex for a slightly longer ride. This year we were all eager to get back to the paddock so we brought out the whip and urged our tiring legs to giddy up for the finish line.
Matt Gordon had a strong race, winning in 17:01. Andrew Towne (27) and David Wertz (33), both of Arlington, VA spurred each other on. The younger Towne prevailed 17:41 to 17:49. Again a masters runner was fourth. It was Jeff Fritz (41) of Reston, VA in 18:10. Will Halstead was fifth in 18:28.
Steady Lou Shapiro (67) of Silver Spring, MD won his age group with an even 7:00 pace 21:52. His age graded pace was the fastest of all the runners in the race. Patricia Patrick (61) of Falls Church, VA repeated as the 60-69 winner. Betty Klonitsko (51) of Reston won her division as a first time racer.
After the race eager volunteers made sure you got a goody bag to go with a nice race T-shirt. The bag was heavy with nice things such as fruit juice, soy milk, head bands, pens, lip balm, and a lot of information about upcoming events. The D.J. kept an upbeat music atmosphere as runners waited for the awards. They came quickly. If you were not one of the really swift you could stay around for scores of random prizes, that included food, sporting goods gift certificates, hats, duffle bags, and even some sweatshirts though they will not be needed just yet.
With all the many races to chose from, it is important for races to dot all the Is and cross all the Ts. This race definitely does that and more as a truly enjoyable event for the whole family. Come join us next year for the 18th rendition.
FEMALE
Place Num Name Age City Time
===== ===== =================== === ===================== =======
1 449 Cristina Burbach 35 Washington DC 20:37
2 155 Kelly Burns 33 Germantown MD 22:21
3 177 Mary Messore 34 Fairfax VA 22:50
MALE
Place Num Name Age City Time
===== ===== =================== === ===================== =======
1 511 Matt Gordon 22 Falls Church VA 17:01
2 376 Andrew Towne 27 Arlington VA 17:41
3 385 David Wertz 33 Arlington VA 17:49
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 19
1 514 Camille Testa 12 Vienna VA 23:48
2 442 Evelyn Robinson 14 McLean VA 25:47
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 19
1 471 Ethan Cohen 18 Smithtown NY 18:46
2 498 Robert Mulloy 19 Great Falls VA 19:40
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 29
1 220 Erin Rodgers 25 Vienna VA 24:34
2 180 Jennie Kim 28 Ashburn VA 25:09
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 29
1 486 Will Halstead 28 Arlington VA 18:28
2 487 Mike Dennish 26 Red Lion PA 19:23
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 39
1 345 Kayan Thompson 32 Gainesville VA 24:06
2 189 Ann Wessel 35 Vienna VA 24:52
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 39
1 457 Ross Flint 35 Springfield VA 20:58
2 413 Joe Bushey 38 Virginia Beach VA 21:09
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 49
1 390 Christine Hackman 45 Arlington VA 22:52
2 73 Jennifer Vanderhart 40 Vienna VA 24:42
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 49
1 276 Jeff Fritz 41 Reston VA 18:10
2 146 Dennis Billings 40 Woodbridge VA 18:48
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 59
1 154 Betty Klonitsko 51 Reston VA 25:34
2 438 Darlene Packett 51 Lorton VA 27:39
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 59
1 418 Kirk Sherr 50 Vienna VA 19:52
2 505 David Pinnick 52 Manassas VA 20:09
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 69
1 437 Patricia Patrick 60 Falls Church VA 29:29
2 400 Betty Gooden 61 Meadville PA 33:16
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 69
1 488 Lou Shapiro 67 Silver Spring MD 21:49
2 358 Thomas Noonan 61 McLean VA 22:40
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
1 410 Lynn Calderwood 70 Washington DC 58:59
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
1 431 Ken Quincy 72 Vienna VA 25:34
2 186 Lawrence Dickerson 78 Burke VA 27:46
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 154 Betty Klonitsko 51 F Reston VA 25:34
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 386 Dalton Conaway 17 M Vienna VA 23:40
For Full Race Day Results
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