The Annapolis Ten Miler, known for the big three H's--heat, humidity, and hills--sent them packing this year. The 7:50 AM start began with 67 degrees and less than twenty percent humidity. Former Striders president Evan Thomas joked that they would hold the start of the race until the conditions were hot enough for a normal start.

Construction was going on to enclose Navy Marine Stadium at both ends, adding thousands of seats. While this made the race starting area look like pandemonium, the race proceeded like a well-oiled machine. The Annapolis Ten Miler is the crown jewel of the Striders' running year. With more than four hundred enthusiastic volunteers, the record field, capped at 5,500, was to be handled in the best of Annapolis running tradition.

The course, which has changed many times over the years, would also be altered this year. Traditionally, the race circled the stadium and flew down Rowe Boulevard to the dock. Next, it had entered the Academy grounds before crossing the Severn River. This year we were spared the jaunt down by the water and returned to the bridge a mile and a half sooner. While that area in the Academy that was bypassed is flat, it had turns and constant exposure to an often-brutal sun. The bridge, since 1990, is no longer a flat drawbridge but at least we reached it earlier in the course instead of five miles and had a little juice left to motivate crossing.

Once across the bridge the elevation profile belied the race brochure claim that the course was mostly flat. Fortunately, there is a fine tradition of neighbors coming out with hoses and misters to cool off the runners. The backside of the race is definitely "rolling," but it was shaded as well. The extra one and a half miles was made up by continuing farther north before returning to recross the bridge.

Many runners agreed that this was the coolest day that the race has had in a dozen years. The times were faster than the last few years. Fifty-four and fifty five minutes would not be fast enough to win. Remember that many years ago, before Army became the largest race in the country with thousands of America's finest racing or before Cherry Blossom drew international runners and Olympic class Americans with boodles of cash, A-10 was posting some spectacular times, often sub 50:00. The women were running sub 57:00. Most knowledgeable runners will concede that this summer race is two or more minutes slower than either of the other races.

As with all of the Annapolis Striders races tremendous effort is made to make all the runners comfortable and welcome. Award winners get nice sailboat trophies but no cash. Everybody who finishes gets an expensive premium that costs as much as the race entry fee. This year finishers were treated to a Timex watch. Those who picked up their chips Saturday also received a free runners wallet. Did I tell you that there was a very good live band?You already knew that there is always lots of free beer along with more traditional Gatorade drinks. Snack bars and bagels fought for space with the watermelon and bananas as the thousands of runners ate their fill.

Looking over the field pacing in front of the ChampionChip mats at the start; I did not see any Kenyans and not too many obvious local superstars. Last year's champion, a teenager named Dustin Lieb, did not return to defend his title. Shirtless Chuck Moeser was not there to challenge Jim Hage for the masters crown. Indeed, Hage let Moeser have the crown last year, preferring third place overall and a healthy two plus minute gap. Hage is not ready to be old yet. This year he duked it out with Columbia's Mark Gilmore to earn fifth place in 54:14. Gilmore was sixth in 54:48. Last year their positions were reversed as Gilmore was the runner-up in 54:16 and Hage ran 54:29. Ironically, Hage earns the masters title and Gilmore first in the 35-39 age group.

This year a new face in the area, Eric Lavigne of Ashburn, VA (photo left) traveled north to earn the fourth spot just in front of Hage in 54:02. Craig Morrell of Baltimore, MD moseyed south for a fifty-yard gap and third place in 53:49. Aaron Church of South Riding, VA was the only one able to keep the race from being a total runaway. He ran 53:11. This year's champion, John Supsic of Baltimore, MD, made it look easy with the fastest time in five years in 51:42. More than twenty runners finished under an hour.

Only two of last year's top ten women returned. The winner last year was Pennsylvania's Lisah Hamilton in 61:41. The absence of the top three allowed Susannah Kvasnicka of Great Falls, VA to take the title this year. The wonderful weather allowed her to improve from 63:25 to 60:35. Jennifer Flint of Berwyn, PA stood up for her home state and improved from last year's late start 65:42 (chip time 63:55) and sixth place to earn runner-up in 61:41. Meg Letherby of CO, one of thirty states represented here, earns third place with 62:59.

Recent high school graduate Emily Buzzell from Middleton, MD (photo left) was fourth in 63:18. Erin Chlumsky of Baltimore was a minute back for fifth in 64:17. The overall awards go three deep so Buzzell and Chlumsky (23) were age group winners.

Second place (35-39) Tom Banchy of Catonsville, MD in 57:29 just bested Charles Powell of Baltimore, MD in 58:10. Fourth place Rick Kern of Frederick, MD was just a step back in 58:14. Christi Morganti of Severna Park, MD led the 35-39 women in 65:38. Multiple course recordholder on Howard County's racing hills, Julie Thienel of Columbia, MD ran her last sub masters A- 10 in 66:24. Monica Grillo of Arlington, VA was third in 67:09.

The age groups from forty through fifty-five went five deep. John Schoenberg of Crofton, MD had an easy time winning the 40- 44 division in 57:18. William Allen was next in 60:59. Matt Mace of Arnold, MD harassed Scott Paris of Catonsville, MD, nearly catching him for third place in 62:08. Paris ran 61:59. For the women, Pat Wilkerson (44) of Columbia, MD won the masters division in 67:12. The Grillo family added an age group winner with Jeanne (age group 40-44) in 68:49. Local star Marjorie Boyd of Annapolis, MD was next in 69:10. Julie Caprio dropped her last challenger on the grass in front of the finish line after leaving Taylor Avenue for a narrow five-second win in 71:47.

It seems the older the runners the stiffer the competition. Maurice Pointer of Baltimore, MD had a huge race improving nearly three minutes this year and he needed every second to eek out a squeaker over Stephen Comber of Crofton, MD 60:46 to 60:48. Peter Peterman of Ellicott City, MD watched the action a few strides back in 61:19. Janet Jones of Clarksville, MD led an all-new cast in the 45-49 women's division in 71:11. No surprise; her time was four minutes faster than last year's winner. Alison Suckling of Arnold, MD was next in 73:01; Mary Cupo of Baltimore, MD was third in 74:02.

Last year Sterling's Chuck Moeser massacred the 50-54 division with a huge four-minute victory, finishing sixth overall. This year he was absent and the fifty-something jackals started salivating. Last year's third place Jay Wind of Arlington, VA had rested all week and the Morgan boys, Rick and Tim, were ready for blood. Former champion Mick Slonaker of Columbia, MD was back and nervously eyed brand new 50-year-old David Webster of Stevensville, MD. Webster took off like a shot while Slonaker pressed along behind him hoping steady would win the day. Wind bellowed his trademark song of pain as he was determined to not let the runners steal away. Rick, using the John Campbell armless shuffle, quietly stalked. Tim, a notorious slow starter, pressed forward as the race progressed. Alas for them; former master's record holder James Pryde, Jr. of Churchville, MD had just turned fifty and he was leading the field. Slonaker and Webster traded places back and forth with Slonaker earning second in 61:51 to 62:07. Their battle even put them in sight of Pryde who won in 61:29. Rick bested his older brother 62:42 to 63:32. Wind was only two seconds slower in 64:12 than last year.

Linda Brook of Newton Square, VA won the women's 50-54 division in 1:14:50 ousting last year's champion, Karen Erb of Alexandria, VA, in 1:15:57. Mary Winston of Natural Bridge, VA was third in 1:16:42.

Former masters champion Reuben Beauchamp of Princess Anne, MD won the 55-59 division, touring the course in 63:20. Arthur Burger of Doylestown, PA was a minute ahead of third place Piriya Pinit of Catonsville, MD, 65:50-66:52. For the women, we have a gun versus chip controversy. Using chip times for age group winners, Natalie Vaslavsky of Baltimore, MD ran 1:19:30 to best Chris Sterling of Natural Bridge, VA who ran 1:19:57. However, in real time it was Sterling who flew over the finish line first in 80:27 with Vaslavsky back a couple hundred yards in 81:20. Meredith Bonta of Crofton, MD was third in 82:06.

John Pitarra, Sr. of Baltimore, MD just did vanquish Francisco Sanches of Arlington, VA 69:12 to 69:18. His many hometown Annapolis fans applauded William Twigg for his third place finish in 1:13:34. Sharon Dolan of Gaithersburg decimated the women's 60-64 field with a monster fourteen-minute victory in 1:15:07. Judy Gilbert was second in 1:29:46 and Nancy Linck was third. Columbia's Art Morey won the 65-69 division in 1:15:32, followed by Charles Ross of Virginia Beach, VA and Richard Williams of Alexandria, VA. It seems there were no women in this division. 70-99 winner Hiroko Hunt topped fellow Reston runner Marjorie Blaine. George Yannakakis of Baltimore, MD won easily for the men in 1:26:43.

Next year's race, the 29th annual, will be held August 29.

Award Winners

AWARD CATEGORY      NAME                  HOMETOWN               AGE       GUNTIME      GUNPL      CHIPTIME     CHIPPL
Overall Male
                  1 SUPSIC, JOHN          BALTIMORE, MD           24      51:41.50          1      51:40.40          1
                  2 CHURCH, AARON         SOUTH RIDING, VA        28      53:10.80          2      53:09.65          2
                  3 MORRELL, CRAIG        BALTIMORE, MD           31      53:49.00          3      53:47.55          3
Overall Female
                  1 KVASNICKA, SUSANNAH   GREAT FALLS, VA         31    1:00:35.75         24    1:00:33.45         24
                  2 FLINT, JENNIFER       BERWYN, PA              33    1:01:40.35         32    1:01:31.75         32
                  3 LETHERBY, MEG         BOULDER, CO             29    1:02:59.35         54    1:02:56.05         55
Masters Male
                  1 HAGE, JIM             KENSINGTON, MD          45      54:13.50          5      54:12.25          5
Masters Female
                  1 WILKERSON, PAT        COLUMBIA, MD            44    1:07:11.10        128    1:07:06.85        142
1-19 Male
                  1 KOEHLER, SCOTT        ANNAPOLIS, MD           19      56:57.80          9      56:56.30          9
                  2 WESTLUND, ERIK        ANNAPOLIS, MD           18    1:00:27.80         23    1:00:25.20         23
                  3 COCONIS, JOHN         MIDDLETOWN, MD          17    1:05:39.40         90    1:05:34.60         98
                  4 AHN, JUSTIN           SILVER SPRING, MD       16    1:07:01.00        122    1:05:52.40        105
                  5 CHO, ANDREW           BROOKEVILLE, MD         17    1:09:45.35        203    1:06:58.45        137
1-19 Female
                  1 BUZZELL, EMILY        MIDDLETOWN, MD          18    1:03:17.60         58    1:03:11.60         62
                  2 POOLE, KATHARINE      DAMASCUS, MD            19    1:18:42.45        625    1:15:40.25        570
                  3 PRUE, JESSICA         MILLERSVILLE, MD        16    1:17:59.80        573    1:17:38.10        730
                  4 VANDERLAND, LAUREN    ELLICOTT CITY, MD       19    1:27:30.30       1476    1:18:40.50        843
                  5 STEIN, JENNIFER       SPRING GROVE, PA        19    1:27:55.35       1535    1:19:30.50        929
20-24 Male
                  1 SCERBO, NICK          ANNAPOLIS, MD           21      55:33.40          7      55:32.25          7
                  2 WERNER, JOHN          LAUREL, MD              24    1:00:04.50         22      59:58.30         22
                  3 WILLIAMS, SAM         SILVER SPRING, MD       23    1:02:23.40         46    1:02:21.35         49
                  4 VALENTINE, EDDIE      ARLINGTON, VA           23    1:02:38.20         50    1:02:34.25         51
                  5 MAGID, AARON          WILLIAMSTOWN, MA        21    1:10:15.35        214    1:04:39.70         82
20-24 Female
                  1 CHLUMSKY, ERIN        BALTIMORE, MD           23    1:04:16.50         75    1:04:12.05         76
                  2 SACKETT, JESSIE       ROSSLYN, VA             24    1:07:21.80        132    1:07:11.25        145
                  3 PURSWELL, MELISSA     WASHINGTON, DC          23    1:09:03.05        172    1:08:53.10        201
                  4 MIKALAUSKAS, SARAH    WESTMINSTER, MD         23    1:10:20.25        216    1:09:38.70        228
                  5 BRAZIL, LAURA         WHITE MARSH, MD         20    1:13:32.75        334    1:12:29.05        353
25-29 Male
                  1 LAVIGNE, ERIC         ASHBURN, VA             27      54:01.90          4      53:59.40          4
                  2 REBOULET, TIMOTHY     ALEXANDRIA, VA          28      56:21.00          8      56:17.80          8
                  3 MEEK, TOMMY           FAIRFAX, VA             28      58:32.90         18      58:30.55         18
                  4 PINAMONTI, SHAWN      BALTIMORE, MD           27    1:01:33.70         31    1:01:30.60         31
                  5 SWEENEY, BRIAN        TIMONIUM, MD            28    1:01:47.55         33    1:01:44.45         34
25-29 Female
                  1 MCPARLAND, VICTORIA   WASHINGTON, DC          27    1:04:58.65         84    1:04:46.45         85
                  2 BENKE, KELLY          BALTIMORE, MD           29    1:09:40.30        202    1:06:43.85        131
                  3 MCTAGUE, CARRIE       PHILADELPHIA, PA        27    1:09:04.80        173    1:08:47.75        196
                  4 REICHMANN, LISA       SILVER SPRING, MD       29    1:09:56.00        206    1:09:33.95        227
                  5 JOHNSON, EMILY        FAIRFAX, VA             25    1:10:08.80        211    1:09:59.70        238
30-34 Male
                  1 CASSIDY, TREY         ELLICOTT CITY, MD       34      57:03.85         10      56:59.85         10
                  2 SCHOOLEY, PATRICK     OAKHILL, VA             32      57:33.95         13      57:30.90         13
                  3 HANNSEN, PAUL         REISTERSTOWN, MD        30      58:04.00         14      58:01.35         14
                  4 SULLIVAN, GARY        ANNAPOLIS, MD           30      59:15.00         19      59:13.40         19
                  5 KNOWLTON, TIM         BALTIMORE, MD           32      59:46.95         21      59:43.90         21
30-34 Female
                  1 VALMON, MEREDITH      ROCKVILLE, MD           34    1:12:04.60        279    1:08:30.70        187
                  2 DOMINICI, FRANCESCA   BALTIMORE, MD           33    1:10:14.15        213    1:08:46.25        195
                  3 MESSICK, JOAN         WILMINGTON, DE          33    1:08:56.60        170    1:08:48.85        197
                  4 KREIGER, AMY          ARLINGTON, VA           33    1:09:14.75        182    1:09:10.55        213
                  5 FLYNN, ELIZABETH      ELLICOTT CITY, MD       32    1:10:30.80        221    1:10:25.00        255
35-39 Male
                  1 GILMORE, MARK         COLUMBIA, MD            35      54:47.65          6      54:45.75          6
                  2 BANCHY, TOM           CATONSVILLE, MD         36      57:29.40         12      57:27.20         12
                  3 POWELL, CHARLES       BALTIMORE, MD           37      58:10.90         16      58:06.65         15
                  4 CONBOY, CHRISTOPHER   BALTIMORE, MD           36      58:10.00         15      58:07.30         16
                  5 KERN, RICK            FREDERICK, MD           37      58:16.65         17      58:13.95         17
35-39 Female
                  1 MORGANTI, CHRISSIE    SEVERNA PARK, MD        38    1:05:37.10         89    1:05:30.00         94
                  2 THIENEL, JULIE        COLUMBIA, MD            39    1:06:24.05        105    1:06:14.60        116
                  3 GRILLO, MONICA        ARLINGTON, VA           39    1:07:08.30        127    1:06:59.20        140
                  4 HALL, MAUREEN         CUMBERLAND, MD          38    1:08:12.35        150    1:08:09.70        180
                  5 MCMURRAY, CHERYL      FAIRFAX, VA             35    1:10:55.60        238    1:09:15.30        216
40-44 Male
                  1 SCHOENBERG, JON       CROFTON, MD             40      57:18.25         11      57:14.95         11
                  2 ALLEN, WILLIAM        PRINCE FREDERICK, MD    42    1:01:51.20         34    1:01:49.10         35
                  3 PARIS, SCOTT          CATONSVILLE, MD         42    1:01:58.00         38    1:01:54.60         39
                  4 MACE, MATTHEW         ARNOLD, MD              43    1:02:07.50         40    1:02:05.00         41
                  5 NEFF, MARK            DERWOOD, MD             41    1:02:18.60         44    1:02:15.15         45
40-44 Female
                  1 GRILLO, JEANNE        POTOMAC, MD             42    1:08:48.95        167    1:08:41.50        192
                  2 BOYD, MARJORIE        ANNAPOLIS, MD           42    1:09:09.05        177    1:09:01.30        208
                  3 CAPRIO, JULIE         COLUMBIA, MD            42    1:11:46.50        268    1:11:10.25        290
                  4 NEARMAN, SUSANNE      ALEXANDRIA, VA          41    1:11:51.90        271    1:11:46.00        323
                  5 TRASATTI, KAREN       ANNAPOLIS, MD           40    1:13:09.50        318    1:12:32.65        354
45-49 Male
                  1 POINTER, MAURICE      BALTIMORE, MD           47    1:00:45.10         26    1:00:42.25         26
                  2 COMBER, STEPHEN       CLIFTON, VA             45    1:00:48.00         27    1:00:43.70         27
                  3 PETERMAN, PETER       ELLICOTT CITY, MD       45    1:01:18.70         29    1:01:07.00         29
                  4 HULL, GENE            STRAFFORD, PA           46    1:01:55.40         36    1:01:51.70         38
                  5 SERRA, PAUL           LUSBY, MD               47    1:02:13.10         42    1:02:11.20         44
45-49 Female
                  1 JONES, JANET          CLARKSVILLE, MD         45    1:11:10.60        250    1:10:56.80        276
                  2 SUCKLING, ALISON      ARNOLD, MD              48    1:13:00.95        311    1:12:45.25        362
                  3 GOODWIN, ROBIN        TIMONIUM, MD            45    1:14:04.55        358    1:13:41.40        422
                  4 CUPO, MARY            BALTIMORE, MD           47    1:14:02.00        356    1:13:49.50        430
                  5 HORVITZ, CATHY        POTOMAC, MD             46    1:14:43.45        385    1:14:22.85        466
50-54 Male
                  1 PRYDE JR, JAMES       CHURCHVILLE, MD         50    1:01:31.80         30    1:01:29.45         30
                  2 SLONAKER, MICK        COLUMBIA, MD            54    1:01:55.90         37    1:01:51.05         37
                  3 WEBSTER, DAVID        STEVENSVILLE, MD        50    1:02:09.75         41    1:02:07.55         42
                  4 MORGAN, RICHARD       SILVER SPRING, MD       51    1:02:46.30         52    1:02:42.65         53
                  5 MORGAN, TIMOTHY       DAMASCUS, MD            52    1:03:40.30         64    1:03:32.10         65
50-54 Female
                  1 BROOK, LINDA          NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA      51    1:14:50.15        387    1:13:01.35        379
                  2 ERB, KAREN            ALEXANDRIA, VA          52    1:16:02.30        466    1:15:45.45        574
                  3 WINSTON, MARY         NATURAL BRIDGE, VA      51    1:16:41.40        492    1:16:12.45        595
                  4 CAMPBELL, VALERIE     WHEATON, MD             52    1:18:02.80        577    1:17:50.05        752
                  5 WAIT, SUSAN           BALTIMORE, MD           52    1:22:37.70        967    1:19:14.10        905
55-59 Male
                  1 BEAUCHAMP, REUBEN     PRINCESS ANNE, MD       56    1:03:19.80         60    1:03:13.90         63
                  2 BURGER, ARTHUR        DOYLESTOWN, PA          59    1:05:49.85         93    1:05:34.60         97
                  3 PINIT, PIRIYA         CATONSVILLE, MD         58    1:06:51.75        118    1:06:45.25        132
                  4 DENT, KENNETH         COLUMBIA, MD            55    1:08:06.05        147    1:07:53.60        165
                  5 EDRIS, DWIGHT         LEESPORT, PA            57    1:07:56.20        141    1:07:54.60        166
55-59 Female
                  1 VASLAVSKY, NATALIE    BALTIMORE, MD           55    1:21:18.30        830    1:19:30.30        928
                  2 STERLING, CRIS        NATURAL BRIDGE, VA      57    1:20:27.40        747    1:19:57.45        974
                  3 BONTA, MEREDITH       CROFTON, MD             57    1:22:05.65        914    1:20:43.55       1064
                  4 HAYS, LYNNE           ARLINGTON, VA           57    1:23:20.00       1037    1:22:34.35       1297
                  5 CRAUN, CHRISTINE      BETHESDA, MD            57    1:30:07.70       1771    1:23:51.30       1463
60-64 Female
                  1 DOLAN, SHARON         GAITHERSBURG, MD        61    1:15:24.15        422    1:15:07.75        522
                  2 GILBERT, JUDY         STEVENSON, MD           60    1:32:11.20       2029    1:29:46.80       2265
                  3 LINCK, NANCY          ALEXANDRIA, VA          61    1:31:03.30       1869    1:30:14.95       2323
                  4 SCHWARTZ, ELIZABETH   LAUREL, MD              61    1:40:18.65       2973    1:35:49.90       3025
                  5 WRIGHT, SHARON        WASHINGTON, DC          60    1:40:46.35       3021    1:36:28.35       3095
60-64 Male
                  1 PITARRA,SR, JOHN      BALTIMORE, MD           62    1:09:24.05        190    1:09:12.65        214
                  2 SANCHES, FRANCISCO    ARLINGTON, VA           61    1:09:23.25        188    1:09:18.00        222
                  3 TWIGG, WILLIAM        ANNAPOLIS, MD           60    1:20:50.00        778    1:13:34.40        414
                  4 CLORETY, JOSEPH       CROWNSVILLE, MD         60    1:13:57.65        351    1:13:35.05        416
                  5 HESTER, HANK          WASHINGTON, DC          60    1:14:27.85        371    1:14:16.05        461
65-69 Male
                  1 MOREY, ART            COLUMBIA, MD            65    1:15:55.95        456    1:15:32.45        561
                  2 ROSS, CHARLES         VIRGINIA BEACH, VA      65    1:20:38.30        764    1:20:22.40       1025
                  3 WILLIAMS, RICHARD     ALEXANDRIA, VA          67    1:20:55.10        792    1:20:43.55       1065
                  4 FORTUNA, JOSEPH       SPRINGFIELD, VA         65    1:22:04.30        911    1:21:44.75       1183
                  5 SINGER, DON           ANNAPOLIS, MD           67    1:27:57.85       1540    1:26:32.90       1811
70-99 Female
                  1 HUNT, HIROKO          RESTON, VA              70    1:53:56.45       3984    1:52:32.25       4146
                  2 LANE, MARJORIE        RESTON, VA              70    2:06:07.95       4320    1:59:46.00       4303
70-99 Male
                  1 YANNAKAKIS, GEORGE    SPARKS, MD              71    1:27:09.75       1434    1:26:43.15       1828
                  2 CHAMBERLIN, ROSWELL   ARNOLD, MD              72    1:31:48.80       1978    1:31:10.10       2456
                  3 FRATINO, JAMES        QUEENSTOWN, MD          70    1:33:01.20       2128    1:31:13.10       2464
                  4 RUTKOWSKI, JOSEPH     BALTIMORE, MD           74    1:37:07.60       2611    1:33:15.40       2732
                  5 WAXTER, DDS, GEORGE   FREDERICK, MD           72    1:39:19.40       2865    1:33:48.10       2791

See complete results of the Annapolis Ten Miler.

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