Photos by Kathy Freedman

For those who live and race in the Washington area, it is easy to take the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile for granted. For 34 years, the race has been a mainstay on the calendar, providing world class and the best in local competition on a flat, fast course.

But talk to the thousands - of this year's record field of 10,593 finishers - who came into town to compete in the midst of this city's most famous flowering trees, particularly with the weather cooperating as it did this year. Only then can one begin to appreciate the esteem in which the Cherry Blossom race is held nationwide.

Better yet, go international and ask Gilbert Okari [Photo above] from Kenya or Lidiya Grigoryeva from Russia, men's and women's winners of this year. Okari (27), who arrived from his native Kenya just two days before the race, enjoyed a quick and scenic traipse along Ohio Drive, across Memorial Bridge and back, and then through Rock Creek Park, where he blitzed his competition in the final half mile to win in 47 minutes 25 seconds.

Not all considered Okari the best road racer in the world last year, even though he won nearly every road race he entered after finishing fourth at Cherry Blossom. This year, Okari seems intent upon converting any remaining doubters. He ran with the leaders from the start, and took control once the field was winnowed to just four in the last couple of miles, where Okari put an end to the others' aspirations.

"Endurance and speed," is how Okari described his tactics and strategy.

Lidiya Grigoryeva (32) [Photo left], from Russia, likewise flew to Washington just prior to the race. Grigoryeva had been recovering the previous two weeks at her home in Cheboksary since winning the Los Angeles Marathon (and about $180,000) in 2:25:10 on March 19. She showed admirable turnaround time and then leg turnover - running her last two miles in 9:53 - to break away from Alevtina Ivanova, another Russian from Cheboksary who lives and trains in Germantown.

"I felt comfortable throughout the race and planned on making a move at Mile 8," Grigoryeva said through an interpreter. "When I pushed, things gradually opened up."

Grigoryeva motored to the finish alone in 52:11. Because the field of about 25 elite women started 10 minutes prior to the rest of the field, her time was a world best for a women-only field. Grigoryeva broke a tape held by Katherine Switzer, who was famously harassed by Jock Semple for having the audacity to compete officially in the 1967 Boston Marathon.

Ivanova was the runner-up for the second straight year, this time in 52:39. Athens Olympic marathon silver medalist, Lidia Simon (32), from Romania, finished third in 55:18.

Despite its international reputation, the Cherry Blossom remains an opportunity for the best runners in Washington to go at it all out for 10 miles. And although he hails from Kenya, Wilson Komen (28) lives in Washington most of the year and was the top local finisher, fifth in 47:58. Komen, who finished 16th in last year's Boston Marathon, is headed to Boston to race again on April 17.

"I'm not racing as much this year and am taking time to let my training work," said Komen, generally a prolific racer. He recently returned from a three-month training sojourn in Albuquerque.

Matt Downin (29), from Norwood, NJ, was sixth but 45 seconds behind Komen. As the top American man, however, Downin is in line to receive a trip to compete in the Cherry Blossom's sister race, the Hemiji 10 Mile run in Japan. Chris Graff (30), from Arlington, was seventh, just 12 seconds behind Downin.

Novice road racers Jacob Frey (24), a William & Mary graduate who trains in Oakton with miler Alan Webb, finished 12th in 49:38, and American University graduate Patrick MacAdie (22), the runner-up at the St. Patrick's Day 8K in March, was 13th in 50:19.

Turena Lane Johnson (30), from Muncie, IN, led a strong contingent of American women, finishing fifth in 55:42. Mary Kate Bailey (31) [Photo left], from Arlington, was the first local woman, ninth in 57:07, "an okay time," she allowed. Casey Smith (26), from Arlington, and Christina Wells (31), from Woodbridge, finished 11th and 12th, respectively.

Martha Merz (42), from Mystic, CN, was the top woman master. Merz, formerly from Annandale and still a frequent area competitor, is moving back to the area in August. Ronald Shaiko (46), from Ocean City, NJ, was the fastest masters man in 55:08.

Lou Lodovico's pace of nine minutes per mile may not sound particularly impressive, but the resident of Ellwood City, PA is 82 years old. Lodovico edged Nianxiang Xie, from Rockville, who is 78 and ran 1:34:17. Toshiko Delia (76), from Ridgewood, NJ, was the oldest female finisher and ran 1:34:36.

And no Cherry Blossom race would be complete without a result from Ben Beach (56), from Bethesda, who ran 1:13:32. Beach is the only runner to have completed every one of the race's 34 editions. He will attempt to extend his string of 38 consecutive Boston Marathon finishes later in April.

Awards Winners

MALES (OVERALL):
    1 Gilbert Okari           27 Kenya                  47:25 $6000 
    2 Samuel Ndereba          29 Kenya                  47:35 $2750 
    3 Rueben Kibet Chebii     23 Kenya                  47:39 $1500 
    4 Kazuo Ietani            28 Japan                  47:39 $1200 
    5 Wilson Komen            28 Kenya                  47:58 $1000 
    6 Matt Downin             29 United States          48:43  $800 
    7 Chris Graff             30 United States          48:55  $600 
    8 Worku Beyi              19 Ethiopia               48:57  $500 
    9 Mindaugas Pukstas       27 Lithuania              49:20  $400 
   10 Michitaka Hosokawa      29 Japan                  49:26  $300 
   11 Shinichi Watanabe       29 Japan                  49:28  $250 
   12 Jacob Frey              24 United States          49:38  $200 
   13 Patrick MacAdie         22 Washington DC          50:19      
   14 Edmund Burke            36 Burtonsville MD        50:45      
   15 Brian Godsey            25 Baltimore MD           51:00      
   16 Eric Lavigne            29 Reston VA              51:32      
   17 Matt Barresi            23 Ashton MD              51:47      
   18 Jerome Ross             30 Anchorage AK           52:22      
   19 Judson Cake             28 United States          52:23      
   20 Bert Rodriguez          26 Arlington VA           53:14      
   21 Michael Wardian         31 Arlington VA           53:27      
   22 Aaron Schwartzbard      28 Reston VA              54:16      
   23 Will Boylan-Pett        23 New York NY            54:21      
   24 Brian Tullock           23 Falls Church VA        54:25      
   25 Jim Ansberry            24 Arlington VA           54:33      
FEMALES (OVERALL):
    1 Lidiya Grigoryeva       32 Russia             !   52:11 6000 
    2 Alevtina Ivanova        30 Russia             !   52:39 2750 
    3 Lidia Simon             32 Romania            !   55:18 1500 
    4 Luminita Talpos         33 Romania            !   55:33 1200 
    5 Turena Johnson Lane     30 United States      !   55:42 1000 
    6 Ilona Barvanova         33 Ukraine            !   56:45  800 
    7 Nicole Kulikov Hagobian 30 United States      !   56:48  600 
    8 Lucinda Hull            24 Gaithersburg MD    !   56:49  500 
    9 Mary Kate Bailey        31 Arlington VA       !   57:07  400 
   10 Kristin Price           24 United States      !   57:09  300 
   11 Casey Smith             26 Arlington VA       !   57:14  250 
   12 Christina Wells         31 Woodbridge VA      !   57:46  200 
   13 Heather Hanscom         28 United States      !   57:54      
   14 Cassie Hintz            18 United States      !   57:55      
   15 Diana Pool              25 Westminster MD     !   59:39      
   16 Sharon Lemberger        32 Stamford CT            59:51      
   17 Abbi Gleeson            24 New York NY        ! 1:00:13      
   18 Jill Krebs              25 Richmond VA        ! 1:00:21      
   19 Johanna Allen           24 Woodbridge VA        1:00:44      
   20 Pamela Maldeis          23 Towson MD          ! 1:01:03      
   21 Genevieve Kiley         31 Arlington VA         1:01:24      
   22 Kristin Van Eron        34 Timonium MD        ! 1:01:39      
   23 Elida Xuya              25 Guatemala          ! 1:02:15      
   24 Martha Merz             43 Mystic CT            1:02:42      
   25 Mary Jo Saunders        31 United States      ! 1:02:46      
MALE (LOCAL ATHLETE) 
    1 Patrick MacAdie         22 Washington DC        50:19 
FEMALE (LOCAL ATHLETE) 
    1 Mary Kate Bailey        31 Arlington VA         57:07 
MALES (AGES 01 - 19):
    1 Worku Beyi              19 Ethiopia             48:57 
    2 Brian Werner            19 West Des Moines IA   57:01 
    3 David Bernstein         19 Chevy Chase MD       58:14 
FEMALES (AGES 01 - 19):
    1 Cassie Hintz            18 United States        57:55 
    2 Jaime Clampitt          18 Sterling VA        1:14:04 
    3 Aaren Pastor            15 Annandale VA       1:14:50 
MALES (AGES 40 - 44):
    1 Christopher Mattingly   40 Orchard Park NY      55:25 
    2 Christopher Hamley      41 Silver Spring MD     56:07 
    3 Mark Hoon               41 Kensington MD        56:50 
    4 Steven Levin            43 Reisterstown MD      57:05 
    5 Darrell General         40 Cheverly MD          57:35 
FEMALES (AGES 40 - 44):
    1 Martha Merz             43 Mystic CT          1:02:42 
    2 Christina Morganti      41 Severna Park MD    1:03:54 
    3 Monica Grillo           41 Arlington VA       1:04:36 
    4 Robyn Humphrey          42 Ellicott City MD   1:06:26 
    5 Sandy Jacobson          40 Canada             1:06:41 
MALES (AGES 45 - 49):
    1 Ronald Shaiko           46 Ocean City NJ        55:08 
    2 Robert Marino           48 Hanover MD           55:56 
    3 Mark Malander           48 Oak Hill VA          56:35 
    4 Stephen Koch            45 Shillington PA       57:37 
    5 Jean-Christophe Arcaz   45 Rockville MD         57:45 
FEMALES (AGES 45 - 49):
    1 Miae Jacobs             46 North Andover MA   1:05:17 
    2 Debbie Flynn            49 Gaithersburg MD    1:08:53 
    3 Maggie Hessel           45 South Riding VA    1:09:15 
    4 Sharon Marks            48 Parkersburg WV     1:09:30 
    5 Eleanor Kerr            46 University Park MD 1:09:40 
MALES (AGES 50 - 54):
    1 Marvin Pace             52 McLean VA          1:00:47 
    2 Bill Raabe              51 Rockville MD       1:00:56 
    3 David Webster           53 Stevensville MD    1:01:26 
    4 Gary Grimsley           51 Springfield VA     1:02:08 
    5 Paul Serra              50 Lusby MD           1:03:57 
FEMALES (AGES 50 - 54):
    1 Betty Blank             53 Falls Church VA    1:09:52 
    2 Linda Jennings          53 Burlington MA      1:10:31 
    3 Shelley Ralston         50 Uniontown PA       1:11:12 
    4 Nancy Ferris            50 Goode VA           1:11:15 
    5 Karen Marchant          52 Springfield VA     1:13:48 
MALES (AGES 55 - 59):
    1 Michael Hazilla         59 Germantown MD      1:02:35 
    2 Timothy Morgan          55 Damascus MD        1:03:16 
    3 Mick Slonaker           56 Columbia MD        1:04:01 
    4 Jim Wright              56 Gaithersburg MD    1:04:49 
    5 Ronnie Wong             59 Catonsville MD     1:05:08 
FEMALES (AGES 55 - 59):
    1 Sandra Adams            56 Winchester VA      1:10:30 
    2 Naomi Stanford          55 Washington DC      1:11:35 
    3 Alice Franks            57 Rockville MD       1:14:20 
    4 Jane Poole              58 Washington DC      1:20:45 
    5 Ginny Hughes            55 Warrenton VA       1:21:59 
MALES (AGES 60 - 64):
    1 Patrick Griffith        61 Alexandria VA      1:02:40 
    2 Piriya Pinit            60 Catonsville MD     1:07:54 
    3 David Chester           60 Houston TX         1:07:59 
    4 Bill Joyce              62 Herndon VA         1:08:45 
    5 Charles Hull            60 Germantown MD      1:09:56 
FEMALES (AGES 60 - 64):
    1 Jan Holmquist           61 Burlington MA      1:09:34 
    2 Brigitte Sutherlin      62 Washington DC      1:17:45 
    3 Christine Craun         60 Bethesda MD        1:20:50 
    4 Betty J King            61 Crofton MD         1:22:58 
    5 Priscila Prunella       62 Rockville MD       1:23:36 
MALES (AGES 65 - 69):
    1 Dewey Lafond            65 Alexandria VA      1:15:58 
    2 Stephen Forman          65 McLean VA          1:16:10 
    3 Antonio Panizza         67 Reston VA          1:16:53 
    4 Doug Walker             67 Woodstock VA       1:17:45 
    5 James Crosthwait        68 Brandon MS         1:17:47 
FEMALES (AGES 65 - 69):
    1 Imme Dyson              69 Princeton NJ       1:25:15 
    2 Cindy Clark             66 Hillsborough NJ    1:30:12 
    3 Tami Graf               69 Lusby MD           1:33:25 
    4 Brenda Murray           66 Bethesda MD        1:47:52 
    5 Soula Caris             66 Bethesda MD        1:50:01 
MALES (AGES 70 - 74):
    1 Tom Ray                 72 Kitty Hawk NC      1:19:42 
    2 Jerry Lewis             72 Reston VA          1:21:34 
    3 Richard Williams        70 Alexandria VA      1:22:17 
    4 Robert Shapiro          70 Great Neck NY      1:28:19 
    5 Robert Smith            72 Comus MD           1:29:31 
FEMALES (AGES 70 - 74):
    1 Hiroko Hunt             72 Reston VA          2:02:23 
MALES (AGES 75 - 79):
    1 Nianxiang Xie           78 Rockville MD       1:34:17 
    2 George Waxter           75 Frederick MD       1:45:27 
    3 Paul Crum               76 Jacksonville FL    1:45:41 
FEMALES (AGES 75 - 79):
    1 Toshiko Delia           76 Ridgewood NJ       1:34:36 
    2 Shirley Simmers         76 Stratford NJ       2:33:51 
MALES (AGES 80 - 99):
    1 Lou Lodovico            82 Ellwood City PA    1:32:09 
FEMALES (AGES 80 - 99):

Race Day Report for 2006
Race Results
Photo Gallery 2006
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