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Anthem Great Pumpkin 5K Race Report
By James Moreland with Photos by Lainey Bernstein
Reston, VA
October 10, 2009
For the Washington Running Report
Who knows why more than 250 of the nearly 1400 runners in the inaugural Anthem Great Pumpkin 5K waited until the last day to sign up? Sure there was a threat of rain and the wind blown clouds fortuned almost spooky weather as Halloween nears. No matter for there was plenty of open slots and tons of close by free-parking at the spacious Reston Town Center.
After the rendition of our National Anthem at 9:00 AM, the police gave the green light and runners charged across the ChronoTrack timing mats, some to see who would set the standard on the certified 5K course with the top three overall earning cash $300-200-100. Many hundreds of others wanted to test their medal and perhaps take a shot at one of the decorative pumpkin medallion available to the top three in a generous five year age group with three different divisions for those 19 & younger. After the "main" event scores of youngsters, many fully costumed for the season, would take part in the Pumpkin Dash.
Believe it; there were many scores of pumpkins decorating the fountain center. Indeed, there was a "personal grooming" i.e. decorations for the orange fruits. The one monster was a blue ribbon monster at 1057 pounds, more than a pound per runner of the 1,000 official 5K finishers. It is believed to be the second largest pumpkin ever in the state Virginia, certainly the largest this year.
Before the race started masters champion Ray Pugsley of Potomac River Running (one of their seven stores is right on Democracy Drive a short block before the finish line), was getting hyped up for the race. He was hearing all about a couple of top notch masters who were trying to usurp his crown. His was planning on a strong finish here to get him ready to blast off on a really fast course. This course is interesting and rolling. Those are runner's terms for hilly and not terribly fast. Each time you turn a corner you hope for a downhill or at least to get the wind to follow behind you.
Pugsley noticed that Steve Crane was there a saw him as his challenge. Crane (in photo) had run 15:16 for third overall just last week at the also hilly Page's Run 5K. Crane was fully aware that Abiyot Abebe was milling around the starting line. Abebe had finished a mere second behind him for fourth and out of the money. Today he was looking for a payday granted the top three finishers.
Meanwhile, just before the race a tall, relative stranger to the racing scene, Steve Magness (24) of Vienna, VA was standing quietly off to the side. Attempts to get him talking failed as he prepared himself for the race. As the loudspeaker blared out the command to GO, these top athletes sprang like a shot from a cannon. The first quarter mile was mostly flat and runners soon divided themselves into their pace group. Swinging up onto Reston Parkway, it was clearly going to be a four man race. Tall and lean Crane likes to be a front runner. That was going to be hard to do.
Top senior runner Bill Joyce noted that the 5K is really hard because you cannot let up at all. Today's event channeled runners up Market Street for the last two hundred meters.
These guys did not. They do not want to lose even a single second to let up. They know just where the finish is and photos them already reaching for the watches a stride before the finish. The prize Magness got for getting there first is that all he had to do is break the tape. Unlike the other 998 finishers Crane was not happy with second place ten seconds back in 15:15 to match last week's race. Abebe fell back just a bit to 15:22 and settled for third. He could not afford to ease up though as 40-year-old Pugsley roared in six seconds later.
Before the race, no one knew of Irene Kimaiyo (27) who lists her home as Reston. This tall, powerful looking runner had forgotten to put on her D-tag. Just a couple minutes before the start she loped hurriedly back to her car to get her tag. She was moving so fast that one runner speculated, "There's goes your winner." No kidding; she jetted out with the lead pack and quickly lost contact with all the women. Indeed, after the first mile she was in no man's land between fifth place Dustin Whitlow (16:07) with seventh place Timothy McCullough (16:45) not quite close enough to pressure. She notched one of the top ten times for women in this region setting the bar high for the race's course record with 16:38.
McCullough and Kimaiyo poise soon after the catch their breath at the finish.
Masters runner Anita Freres (44) one of three Reston runners in top four had just set the Page's Run masters record with 20:11. This course at least purported to be a little faster. She stayed in a tight pack with Sarah Boatright (32) and Jessica Storm (32) through the early going. Many runners struggled three the last mile, which was clearly the toughest with its turns and elevation change and of course the fact that runners already had two miles under their belt.
Boatright did not appear to be aware how close her competition was as she swept in for the runner-up spot in 19:29. Storm arrived two seconds later. Just as with the men, Freres was the top master but out of the money in fourth.
Jason Page (64) of Hamilton, VA was at Page's run too. He brought his granddaughter and why not; her name is Page. He saw his nemesis top ranked Bill Joyce (65) of Herndon, VA. He wanted Joyce to know he could win against him especially because he was soon coming into the next age group. He did so soundly today going out in a crisp 6:10 mile and finishing in 19:27. As the gamesmanship begins he noted, "I just can't seem to get past that 19:27 time." He did tie the Best of 2009 with 19:20 at the Great Frederick Fair 5K in September.
Meanwhile Joyce rolled in with 19:58, a mite slower than his 19:47 at Kentland's on Labor Day weekend. Both runners race a lot with Joyce seeming to excel more in the longer events.
After the race there was fruit and bottled water.
The race proceed went to benefit the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute
Awards Listing (No Duplicate Prizes)
ChronoTrack Timing and Scoring
by Capital Running Company
FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Gun T Net T Pace
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== ===== ===== =====
1 843 Irene Kimaiyo 27 Reston VA 16:38 16:38 5:21
2 53 Sarah Boatright 32 Fairfax VA 19:29 19:28 6:16
3 706 Jessica Storm 32 Reston VA 19:31 19:30 6:17
MALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Gun T Net T Pace
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== ===== ===== =====
1 891 Steve Magness 24 Vienna VA 15:05 15:04 4:51
2 159 Steven Crane 28 Alexandria VA 15:15 15:15 4:55
3 1106 Abiyot Abebe 22 Washington DC 15:22 15:22 4:57
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 12
1 921 Natalie Nelson 12 Sterling VA 24:40 24:30 7:53
2 90 Natalie Bruhn 12 Burke VA 24:55 24:53 8:01
3 1049 Alexandra Benoit 12 Stafford VA 25:17 25:06 8:05
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 12
1 642 Patrick Schopper 12 Broadlands VA 22:57 21:59 7:05
2 908 Nicholas Carrigan 11 Herndon VA 22:48 22:39 7:18
3 1012 Anthony Perotti 12 Great Falls VA 24:02 24:00 7:44
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 13 - 15
1 913 Elizabeth Long 15 Sterling VA 21:32 21:30 6:56
2 386 Morgan Kershner 14 Silver Spring MD 24:05 23:16 7:30
3 1057 Hannah McKserian 14 Winchester VA 24:37 24:24 7:52
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 13 - 15
1 1081 Daniel Kosogof 13 Bethesda MD 20:22 20:21 6:33
2 777 Aaron Whitehead 13 Lovettsville VA 20:39 20:32 6:37
3 1058 Josh Knickerbocker 14 Herndon VA 21:43 21:39 6:58
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 16 - 19
1 638 Melissa Saunders 16 Sterling VA 20:04 20:04 6:28
2 494 Taylor Moore 18 Burke VA 23:03 22:34 7:16
3 13 Samantha Audet 18 McLean VA 22:57 22:47 7:20
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 16 - 19
1 455 Joel Martinez 17 Purcellville VA 18:10 18:10 5:51
2 895 Edward Wojtan 19 Herndon VA 19:46 19:45 6:22
3 229 David Escobar 18 Chevy Chase MD 20:41 20:34 6:37
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 636 Gina Sansone 22 Norwood MA 21:06 21:05 6:48
2 825 Katie Hidges 22 Marshall VA 21:26 21:21 6:53
3 1033 Alison Bryan 22 Midland Park NJ 22:25 22:11 7:09
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 779 Dustin Whitlow 23 Ashburn VA 16:07 16:07 5:12
2 970 Timothy McCullough 24 Churchton MD 16:45 16:45 5:24
3 383 Kevin Keepper 23 Washington DC 17:45 17:37 5:40
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 1055 Mary Christopher 25 Fairfax VA 20:37 20:37 6:38
2 254 Neva Fulkerson 29 Stone Ridge VA 22:33 21:06 6:48
3 230 Elisa Eways 29 Sterling VA 21:53 21:48 7:01
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 888 Matthew Eluk 27 Sterling VA 18:21 18:19 5:54
2 329 Brad Holzwart 28 Fairfax VA 19:38 19:08 6:10
3 342 Chris Huntington 28 Reston VA 19:46 19:41 6:21
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 875 Michelle Cunningham 34 Centreville VA 20:24 20:23 6:34
2 967 Erika Wigner 32 Sterling VA 21:48 21:46 7:01
3 563 Kristy Persons 34 Potmac Falls VA 22:23 21:54 7:03
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 18 Scott Bailey 30 Reston VA 19:36 18:38 6:00
2 537 Daniel Oconnell 32 Herndon VA 19:41 18:44 6:02
3 947 Brian Cunningham 33 Centreville VA 18:50 18:48 6:03
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 564 Sarah Peter 35 Ashburn VA 21:47 21:26 6:54
2 940 Sonia Beckner 36 Reston VA 21:30 21:26 6:54
3 142 Beth Clukey 37 Manassas VA 21:29 21:28 6:55
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 476 Michael Menster 39 Alexandria VA 17:49 17:48 5:44
2 898 Johan Duba 35 Herndon VA 18:34 18:33 5:59
3 1056 Chadd Westhoff 37 Arlington VA 18:53 18:51 6:04
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 879 Anita Freres 44 Reston VA 19:47 19:46 6:22
2 462 Leanne McAllister 42 Leesburg VA 21:02 20:58 6:45
3 349 Kimberly Isler 41 Oakton VA 21:51 21:50 7:02
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 252 Jeff Fritz 41 Reston VA 18:37 18:37 6:00
2 363 Marc Johnson 42 Herndon VA 20:50 20:41 6:40
3 178 Jim Davidson 40 Reston VA 21:49 21:45 7:00
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 540 Ruth Ohara 46 Fairfax Station VA 21:21 21:17 6:51
2 840 Michael Simmons 48 Silver Spring MD 22:07 21:51 7:02
3 1131 Mariko Russell 49 Washington DC 23:51 23:10 7:28
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 1013 Gary Grilliot 45 Reston VA 17:56 17:55 5:46
2 364 Christopher Johnston 45 Fairfax VA 19:23 19:22 6:14
3 1021 Rich Carlson 47 Chantilly VA 19:50 19:48 6:23
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 984 Kathy Manzo 54 Casanova VA 25:47 24:53 8:01
2 962 Karen Toussant 50 Reston VA 25:10 25:02 8:04
3 1028 Lisa Abred 51 26:59 25:39 8:16
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 1136 Keith Witthauer 53 19:05 19:04 6:09
2 409 Mark Lahman 51 Winchester VA 22:09 22:01 7:06
3 722 George Thigpen 50 Potomacfalls VA 22:29 22:28 7:14
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 986 Arlene Klauber 56 Springfield VA 28:43 28:25 9:09
2 57 Carla Bourgeois 56 Montclair VA 29:28 28:55 9:19
3 664 Mary Jane Shifflett 55 Reston VA 32:19 31:41 10:12
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 1117 Edward Cacciapaglia 55 Reston VA 22:17 22:17 7:11
2 1130 Ernest Baymann 58 Washington DC 23:14 22:33 7:16
3 823 James Moreland 57 Gaithersburg MD 22:36 22:36 7:17
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 138 Laurel Clement 61 Haymarket VA 26:16 25:51 8:20
2 89 Wendy Brown 60 Reston VA 31:21 30:22 9:47
3 861 Virginia Boehringer 60 Reston VA 34:09 33:31 10:48
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 547 Jason Page 64 Hamilton VA 19:27 19:26 6:16
2 738 William Turrentine 60 Centreville VA 22:46 22:39 7:18
3 956 John Scott 61 Vienna VA 25:47 25:00 8:03
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 918 Bill Joyce 65 Herndon VA 19:58 19:56 6:25
2 993 Don Owens 65 Williamston MI 21:52 21:49 7:02
3 896 Bob Eldridge 69 Reston VA 27:32 27:16 8:47
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 74
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 74
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 75 - 79
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 75 - 79
1 149 Dick Coogan 77 McLean VA 36:41 35:36 11:28
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 80 - 99
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 80 - 99
