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Potomac River Running Twilight Festival 4-Miler
By James Moreland
Ashburn, VA
June 19, 2010
For the Washington Running Report
The fifth annual Potomac River Running Twilight Festival 4-Miler cannot catch a break. After a deluge canceled the race in the first year, the race has been challenging another "Twilight" race, the one in Rockville, as the hottest race of the summer. As runners pulled up to park, they noticed a newly paved street. "You can feel the hot coming of the road." Besides the moon bounce and other carnival-like attractions, you could see pallets of bottled water. The dunk tank returned and seemed an enviable spot. There was a bunch of baby swimming pools filled with iced down beverages. The band was new and enthusiastic.
Note that after having the hottest spring on record, we are having the hottest summer on record as well. The racing industry is still booming with many new races and after only four runnings this race has established itself as the place to race for four miles.The course was no longer a two-looper. After an abbreviated first circuit, runners were treated to a longer out and back shot for the final 2.75 miles. Many runners took the advice of the announcer and broke into a walk as the race took its toll. Eighty-seven-year old Walt Washburn planned to basically walk the course. At the finish, he looked fine but complained that his feet were really hot. There were a lot of sweat soaked socks.
Still, the course is a fast course and it is more interesting both for competitors and viewing that the course dips back on itself. At least when we cannot run up with the big dogs, we do get to see them race by.
In 2009 there were nearly 1100 finishers in the four mile and lots of fun runners. Next year the numbers are expectedf to be more like 1500.
It was clear no one was going to dip below 20 minutes as they had in the past two years. As it turned out nobody even bested Darrell General's master record from 2007 at 21:28. Fifth place Matt Woods had a viable excuse for slowing. The first week in June he had bested Michael Wardian by a mile to win the DC Gore-Tex 50 Mile with a blazing time of 6:28:19. Still he moved up to fifth, while only slowing ten seconds to 21:58, and losing a photo finish to Joe Lorusso, one of two teens in the top five.
Note again that old guys just do like the heat. Jack Jasper, 18, of Herndon, VA was third in 21:49. He did not fall out of the lead pack (above) till very late. Kyle Kinally, 22, of Ashburn, VA hung on to Ermin Mujezinovic, 21, of Falls Church, VA till the final downhill sprint, racing home in 21:41. Mujezinovic won in a solid 21:38.
For the women, Kaytley Byrne, 22, of Oak Hill, VA put away the challengers early winning in 24:01. Last year four runners broke the 6 minute pace including masters event record holder Alisa Harvey with 23:55. Danielle Russell, 45, of Ashburn, VA (in photo) had run 24:13 for second master and sixth place. This year she moved up to fourth and took the masters crown but with a much slower 25:43.
Anita Freres, now 45, racing the event for third time was sixth in 27:12. She had been denied top master back in 2007 when Linda Foley won the whole ball of wax in 25:21. Erica Nemmers took the runner-up spot in 24:46. Sarah Bard, 25 of Leesburg, VA has been racing out lot lately, running well for third in 25:11. She had run Lawyers Have Heart last week for fourth overall, after ending May with an overall win at the Cascades Firechase 10K. Rounding out the top five was another youngster, 17-year-old Carolyn Hennessy with 26:28.
For the old guys George Buckheit (in photo) was out to prove he still has the stuff. He did not look happy charging up the hill at mile three but he was determined and battled home as the top grandmaster in 23:53. For the more senior division Jim Wright, 61, of Gaithersburg, MD had been 30th overall in 24:14 last year, taking out Jason Page's event record 24:25 from 2007. This year he moved up to 20th place though he slowed to 24:43, finishing fourth master overall. Top 55-59 racer Richard Adams wanted a piece of Jason Page as well. Adams toasted his division by four minutes with 26:06. That beat Page's time from last year by a second. Page barely slowed, breathing down his neck to finish in 26:11. Bob Gurtler, 75, of The Plains, VA is well on his way to again racing 100 races in a year. He topped the 70-99 division.
Moe's Southwest Grill provided hot burritos and tortilla chips that normally would go great with the cold beer being served. However, many of the runners wisely chose non alcoholic beverages for rehydration. There was lots of great food and drink, as well as the wet towels to cool off at the finish. It really is as much a festival as a race.
Mizuno was on hand to provide nice gift for the age group winners.
It is not always this hot all summer but it sure seems to hit this race. Possibly a slightly later start, say 8:00 PM might allow for more cool air. Although the Rockville Twilight 8K, being held this July 17, starts at 8:45 PM and it is still renowned for being, "the hottest race of the summer" each year.
Potomac River Running directs this third event in the 2010 Loudoun Race Series.
Ermin Mujezinovic, 21, of Falls Church, VA breaks the tape.
Awards Listing
FEMALE Open
1 507 Kayley Byrne 22 Oak Hill VA 24:01
2 579 Erica Nemmers 38 Arlington VA 24:46
3 606 Sarah Bard 25 Leesburg VA 25:11
FEMALE Masters
1 14 Danielle Russell 45 Ashburn VA 25:43
MALE Open
1 529 Ermin Mujezinovic 21 Falls Church VA 21:38
2 347 Kyle Kinnally 22 Ashburn VA 21:41
3 1425 Jack Jasper 18 Herndon VA 21:49
MALE Masters
1 664 Jean-Christophe Arca 49 Rockville MD 23:40
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 12
1 1416 Kate Brunotts 10 Ashburn VA 40:59 41:31
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 12
1 1478 Jonathan Kerr 11 Ashburn VA 32:03 32:07
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 13 - 19
1 1485 Carolyn Hennesey 17 Herndon VA 26:23 26:28
2 1457 Erika Hansen 19 Oakton VA 33:21 33:30
3 1413 Paola Vallejos 14 Leesburg VA 34:18 34:22
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 13 - 19
1 1484 Joe Lorusso 19 Oak Hill VA 21:57 21:58
2 1427 Zach Deaton 18 Ashburn VA 23:04 23:05
3 1482 Jack Bolo 17 Reston VA 23:53 23:54
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 451 Carissa Edens 22 Potomac Falls VA 28:23 28:25
2 136 Amy Franklin 24 Ashburn VA 29:56 30:05
3 433 Katie Hodges 23 Marshall VA 30:30 30:34
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 740 Daniel Callay 21 Round Hill VA 22:07 22:07
2 693 Zachary Armentrout 21 Leesburg VA 26:54 26:55
3 522 Kyle Neumann 24 Herndon VA 29:18 29:22
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 487 Mary Butler 27 Ashburn VA 30:29 30:41
2 181 Catherine Hayne 28 Arlington VA 34:23 34:56
3 82 Erin Cullen 29 Fairfax VA 34:51 35:01
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 207 Andrew Ciarfalia 27 Reston VA 22:31 22:32
2 670 Matt Deacon 27 Arlington VA 23:51 23:52
3 549 Matthew Eluk 28 Sterling VA 25:25 25:26
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 332 Lisa Rini 34 Aldie VA 28:56 28:57
2 299 Rebecca Flanigan 30 Round Hill VA 30:54 31:02
3 396 Amanda Statz 31 Alexandria VA 31:01 31:02
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 4 Matt Woods 30 Falls Church VA 21:57 21:58
2 335 Rohan Meredith 30 Fairfax VA 23:58 23:59
3 311 Adam Borbidge 31 South Riding VA 24:33 24:34
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 5 Michelle Cunningham 35 Centreville VA 27:40 27:41
2 513 Gina Cassella 37 Waterford VA 30:37 30:45
3 460 Debbie Geismar 39 Reston VA 33:10 33:15
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 694 John Howard 38 Germantown MD 23:59 24:00
2 718 Brian Szabas 36 South Riding VA 24:28 24:29
3 614 Robert Meadows 38 Leesburg VA 24:53 24:54
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 590 Mijiko Phelps 40 Reston VA 27:34 27:35
2 639 Ann Adkinson 40 Chevy Chase MD 30:07 30:11
3 444 Jennifer O'Halloran 40 Purcellville VA 32:18 32:26
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 121 Jeff Fritz 42 Reston VA 24:12 24:13
2 571 Theo Haast 43 Lansdowne VA 25:01 25:02
3 404 Eric Lawrence 42 Potomac MD 25:22 25:23
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 13 Anita Freres 45 Reston VA 27:11 27:12
2 247 Mandana Mortazavi 46 Leesburg VA 28:36 28:38
3 716 Jeanne Friberg 47 Ashburn VA 31:48 31:54
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 679 James Dunn 49 Leesburg VA 25:34 25:35
2 569 Lon Krall 48 Springfield VA 27:24 27:28
3 561 Robert Sichau 46 Alexandria VA 27:37 27:37
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 689 Carol Beaupre 54 Ashburn VA 39:00 39:15
2 313 Sherry Deegan 52 Leesburg VA 41:04 41:21
3 192 Heather Ketron 51 Leesburg VA 42:18 42:36
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 691 George Buckheit 52 Reston VA 23:52 23:53
2 365 Dirk Armstrong 50 Leesburg VA 28:50 28:52
3 484 Mark Meehan 52 Potomac Falls VA 30:02 30:08
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 447 Marcy Foster 56 Reston VA 34:10 34:32
2 558 Marilee Seigfried 58 Purcellville VA 35:13 35:43
3 252 Carla Bourgeois 57 Delaplane VA 40:08 40:14
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 11 Richard Adams Jr 59 Oak Hill VA 26:05 26:06
2 686 Bill Asuch 57 Kearneysville WV 30:14 30:15
3 75 James Moreland 57 Gaithersburg MD 30:56 30:57
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 148 Teresa Revanna 64 Falls Church VA 55:03 55:42
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 547 Jim Wright 61 Gaithersburg MD 24:43 24:43
2 12 Jay Jacob Wind 60 Arlington VA 29:39 29:40
3 746 Patrick Trueman 61 Oakton VA 35:41 35:54
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 439 Jason Page 65 Hamilton VA 26:10 26:11
2 546 Lou Shapiro 68 Silver Spring MD 28:05 28:07
3 149 Krupakar Revanna 66 Falls Church VA 30:19 30:22
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
1 646 Lennie Libes 78 Potomac MD 1:07:41 1:08:06
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
1 214 Robert Gurtler 75 The Plains VA 42:46 42:54
2 554 John Long 72 Clifton VA 43:06 44:01
3 663 Walt Washburn 87 Vienna VA 1:04:55 1:05:54
FEMALE ASHBURN RESIDENT
1 136 Amy Franklin 24 Ashburn VA 29:56
2 487 Mary Butler 27 Ashburn VA 30:29
3 627 Erica Cline 31 Ashburn VA 31:15
4 716 Jeanne Friberg 47 Ashburn VA 31:48
MALE ASHBURN RESIDENT
1 1427 Zach Deaton 18 Ashburn VA 23:04
2 1411 Steven Hurwitt 17 Ashburn VA 24:09
3 1477 Alex Kerr 16 Ashburn VA 26:33
4 696 Atle Nesheim 41 Ashburn VA 28:14
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 143 Allison Kearney 34 F Paeonian Springs VA 33:11 33:24
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 378 Jeff Bueche 35 M Leesburg VA 31:55 32:03
The Fun Run gets underway.
Photo Gallery