Photo below: Michael Mills (#54) of Arlington, VA definitely has his head on straight. He galloped home in a fine 39:51.

Jingle Jingle!


Reindeer antlers, Santa hats, a big ol' running snowman, and of course, the bells, bells, bells rang in the Acumen Solutions Jingle All the Way 10K, the last big race of the season at West Potomac Park. In all, 2,273 starters took advantage of the chilly but windless--and fast--racing conditions.

Solomon Semunguse (20) and Vanessa Hunter (32) each set event records, beating strong fields to win in 31 minutes 30 seconds and 35:26, respectively. Semunguse, in the area from Ethiopia for three months, sprinted away from Michael Wardian (33) in the final half mile to earn his victory. Wardian finished second, 13 seconds back. Ryan Mammen (31) ran 32:29 for third.

Hunter (in photo), in a reprise of her battle with Susannah Kvasnicka (35) in June at the Lawyers Have Heart 10K, where the pair finished one-two, again beat her friendly rival, running a personal-best 35:26 to Kvasnicka's 36:31. Mindy Kate Thomas (23) was third in 36:44.

"I know Susannah is an amazing runner," Hunter said, "but I was just trying to focus on my race. My goal was to run a steady pace, and if she beat me, then she beat me."

Kvasnicka, in the base phase of her training for the Olympic trials marathon in April, said she fell behind Hunter in the first mile by design: "I started with a conservative pace, but I couldn't ever get going and that ended up being my overall pace. But [Hunter] is in really good shape, so my pace didn't matter very much."

Hunter's time bested Christina Wells' 2005 record of 36:15.

Semunguse and Wardian ran most of the way together, although Semunguse opened a slight gap at halfway. But Wardian fought back, and with one mile to go, the pair ran together again.

"I thought I was going to get him," Wardian said, "but he had a strong finish. This is my first race since [winning the JFK 50 Mile Run on November 17], so I can't complain."

Semunguse said he was well aware of Wardian (who isn't?), having met the omnipresent racer at the Outer Banks (NC) Marathon, which Wardian won, when Semunguse ran the half marathon on October 28. "We are running together all the way," Semunguse said of their Jingle encounter. "And I know I must run fast to get first place.

His effort broke by one second the 2006 event record set by Ethiopian Beruk Deberework.

Semunguse (in photo) is clearly talented but admitted he is not considered particularly fast in Ethiopia, where winning usually indicates Olympic-caliber speed. But he has been racing often while abroad, hoping to attract the attention of a manager, he said, while staying with his sister in McLean.

Long-time racer Mark Stickley (45), from Winchester, VA, finished sixth overall and won the masters division in 34:17. Martha Merz (45), from Annandale, also finished sixth and won the women's masters race in 37:58.

Chan Robbins (70), from Arlington, braved stitches above his black eye and various other scrapes and bruises suffered in a run-in with black ice a few days earlier to run 46:49 (7:32 per mile pace) and win the 70-74 division.

Karolynn Coleman (63), from Chevy Chase, ran 43:28 and Rosemary Schwartzbard (65), from Arlington, ran 52:39 to win their age groups.

Lee Glassco (76), from McLean was the most senior women's finisher, and the indomitable Walt Washburn (85), from Vienna, took most senior honors among the men.

Acumen Solution's David Joubran finished in 50:34, and Mayor Fenty ran a solid 40:08, beating brother Shawn (of Fleet Feet Adams Morgan) by just four seconds.

In the team competition, Georgetown Running Company crushed its rivals with an average time of 35:00 for the four scoring participants. Potomac Runners was second, and the Fleet Feet racing team was third.

Men's Awards

MALE 
    1 Solomon Semunguse    20 M MCLEAN VA             31:30 
    2 Michael Wardian      33 M ARLINGTON VA          31:43 
    3 Ryan Mammen          31 M WOODBRIDGE VA         32:29 
    4 Ray Pugsley          38 M POTOMAC FALLS VA      33:11 
    5 Eric Makovsky        34 M WASHINGTON DC         34:14 
    6 Mark Stickley        45 M WINCHESTER VA         34:17 
    7 Pekka Stenholm       35 M COLUMBIA MD           34:19 
    8 Zachary Britton      24 M WASHINGTON DC         34:48 
    9 Martin Lanz          34 M WASHINGTON DC         34:49 
   10 Matthew Price        22 M FORT WASHINGTON PA    34:52 
MALE AGE GROUP:  1 - 19  (NET TIME)
    1 Joel Johnson         19 M NEW FREEDOM PA        37:49 37:42  6:04 
    2 Kris Reynolds        19 M WASHINGTON DC         38:32 38:31  6:12 
    3 Michael Hayden       18 M LYNCHBURG VA          38:57 38:56  6:16 
MALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24  (NET TIME)
    1 Marc Baker           23 M WASHINGTON DC         36:42 36:40  5:55 
    2 Anthony Guy          20 M ANNAPOLIS MD          37:19 37:15  6:00 
    3 Matt Herzog          23 M WASHINGTON DC         38:18 38:16  6:10 
MALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29  (NET TIME)
    1 Nathan Timm          27 M MONTGOMERY VILLAGE MD 36:28 36:26  5:52 
    2 James Hiebert        27 M WASHINGTON DC         36:59 36:57  5:57 
    3 Tyler Hubbard        27 M QUANTICO VA           46:46 37:04  5:58 
MALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34  (NET TIME)
    1 Stephen Olenick      31 M ELLICOTT CITY MD      37:20 37:18  6:00 
    2 Eric Sonnenschein    34 M WASHINGTON DC         37:43 37:38  6:04 
    3 Lloyd Henry          32 M WASHINGTON DC         38:12 38:09  6:09 
MALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39  (NET TIME)
    1 Max Lockwood         37 M WASHINGTON DC         35:01 34:59  5:38 
    2 David Kent           35 M ARLINGTON VA          35:46 35:45  5:46 
    3 Espen Kateraas       38 M WASHINGTON DC         36:27 36:26  5:52 
MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44  (NET TIME)
    1 William Bray         42 M FAIRFAX VA            37:23 37:21  6:01 
    2 Robert Denmark       41 M ARLINGTON VA          37:59 37:56  6:07 
    3 Michael Glikes       40 M WASHINGTON DC         38:38 38:33  6:13 
MALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49  (NET TIME)
    1 Robert Ferry         47 M MCLEAN VA             37:17 37:14  6:00 
    2 Ken Privette         47 M ALEXANDRIA VA         37:53 37:49  6:05 
    3 Antonio Claro        45 M ROCKVILLE MD          38:04 38:01  6:08 
MALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54  (NET TIME)
    1 Paul Bousel          54 M ALEXANDRIA VA         39:55 39:52  6:25 
    2 John Bean            50 M WASHINGTON DC         41:35 41:27  6:41 
    3 Lennie Carter        54 M WASHINGTON DC         41:35 41:28  6:41 
MALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59  (NET TIME)
    1 Dan Eddy             56 M ALEXANDRIA VA         38:51 38:46  6:15 
    2 Alan Pemberton       55 M SILVER SPRING MD      38:54 38:52  6:16 
    3 Richard Adams Jr     56 M HERNDON VA            39:13 39:11  6:19 
MALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64  (NET TIME)
    1 Norm Coleman         62 M CHEVY CHASE MD        43:28 43:25  7:00 
    2 Krupakar Revanna     64 M FALLS CHURCH VA       48:07 47:51  7:43 
    3 William Kane         60 M ALEXANDRIA VA         53:56 53:41  8:39 
MALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69  (NET TIME)
    1 Mike Driskel         67 M WASHINGTON DC         50:06 49:57  8:03 
    2 Ralph Bayrer         68 M WASHINGTON DC         56:27 55:28  8:56 
    3 Louis Garczynski     67 M STERLING VA           61:36 59:20  9:33 
MALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 74  (NET TIME)
    1 Chan Robbins         70 M ARLINGTON VA          46:49 46:47  7:32 
    2 Philip Hager         70 M FALLS CHURCH VA       50:30 49:44  8:01 
    3 Henry Guyot          73 M WASHINGTON DC         58:09 56:22  9:05 
MALE AGE GROUP:  75 - 79  (NET TIME)
    1 Larry Dickerson      76 M BURKE VA              56:32 56:02  9:01 
    2 Edward Green         76 M WASHINGTON DC         61:44 61:27  9:54 
    3 Charles Day          76 M POTOMAC FALLS VA      67:46 65:51 10:36 
MALE AGE GROUP:  80 - 99  (NET TIME)
    1 Walt Washburn        85 M VIENNA VA             86:21 83:45 13:29 
    2 Philip Zenchoff      80 M SILVER SPRING MD      91:01 89:01 14:20 

Photo below: Fourth place Ray Pugsley (38) of Potomac River Running, a principal sponsor of the race, takes down the sub masters course record with a swift 33:11.

Women's Awards

FEMALE 
    1 Vanessa Hunter       32 F ARLINGTON VA          00:35:26 
    2 Susannah Kvasnicka   35 F GREAT FALLS VA        00:36:31 
    3 Mindy Kate Thomas    23 F STAFFORD VA           00:36:44 
    4 Lindsay Goulet       29 F ARLINGTON VA          00:37:12 
    5 Lisa Thomas          31 F ALEXANDRIA VA         00:37:12 
    6 Martha Merz          45 F ANNANDALE VA          00:37:58 
    7 Hilary Cairns        37 F WASHINGTON DC         00:38:16 
    8 Jenny Fitzgerald     28 F ALEXANDRIA VA         00:38:21 
    9 Michelle Sikes       22 F WASHINGTON DC         00:39:32 
   10 Samantha Kirby       39 F ARLINGTON VA          00:39:37 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  01 - 19  (NET TIME)
    1 Jamie Lewin          19 F WASHINGTON DC         43:25 43:14  6:58 
    2 Megan Dunn           18 F WASHINGTON DC         44:49 44:02  7:06 
    3 Annie Hiatt          19 F WASHINGTON DC         45:35 44:23  7:09 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24  (NET TIME)
    1 Katie Muething       22 F ARLINGTON VA          41:50 41:38  6:42 
    2 Elyse Braner         23 F WASHINGTON DC         41:46 41:39  6:43 
    3 Tracie Curry         21 F WASHINGTON DC         42:41 42:34  6:51 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29  (NET TIME)
    1 Laura Ramos          28 F WASHINGTON DC         39:51 39:49  6:25 
    2 Meredith Warren      27 F WICHITA KS            40:15 40:12  6:29 
    3 Michelle Harburg     25 F WASHINGTON DC         40:40 40:37  6:33 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34  (NET TIME)
    1 Sarah Mouton         30 F ALEXANDRIA VA         42:08 42:03  6:46 
    2 Dionis Gauvin        33 F ALEXANDRIA VA         44:21 43:00  6:56 
    3 Cristina Burbach     33 F WASHINGTON DC         45:27 45:19  7:18 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39  (NET TIME)
    1 Suzanne Himes        38 F ALEXANDRIA VA         40:07 40:02  6:27 
    2 Gaby Grebski         36 F SILVER SPRING MD      40:41 40:35  6:32 
    3 Afsaneh Azar         37 F VIENNA VA             41:01 40:58  6:36 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44  (NET TIME)
    1 Michele Buckley      40 F ARLINGTON VA          45:15 45:01  7:15 
    2 Stephanie Cohen      41 F GERMANTOWN MD         46:40 46:31  7:29 
    3 Yoko Nakai           40 F BETHESDA MD           50:38 48:21  7:47 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49  (NET TIME)
    1 Win Persina          47 F WASHINGTON DC         40:07 40:06  6:28 
    2 Patti Stewart-Garbre 45 F BETHESDA MD           40:36 40:31  6:32 
    3 Eleanor Kerr         48 F UNIVERSITY PARK MD    42:37 42:30  6:51 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54  (NET TIME)
    1 Ofelia Perotti       51 F ALEXANDRIA VA         40:47 40:45  6:34 
    2 Julia Clark          51 F BETHESDA MD           49:03 48:56  7:53 
    3 Merrilee Seidman     53 F ALEXANDRIA VA         49:07 49:05  7:54 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59  (NET TIME)
    1 Valerie Campbell     56 F SILVER SPRING MD      47:49 47:37  7:40 
    2 Karen Rainey         57 F ARLINGTON VA          55:29 54:38  8:48 
    3 Ruby Bland           58 F ANNANDALE VA          59:31 58:02  9:21 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64  (NET TIME)
    1 Chris Craun          61 F BETHESDA MD           45:49 45:40  7:21 
    2 Janice Jacobs        61 F ARLINGTON VA          52:39 52:16  8:25 
    3 Karolynn Coleman     63 F CHEVY CHASE MD        54:14 54:10  8:43 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69  (NET TIME)
    1 Rosemary Schwartzbar 65 F ARLINGTON VA          56:55 56:27  9:05 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  75 - 79  (NET TIME)
    1 Lee Glassco          76 F MCLEAN VA             86:42 85:01 13:41 

Photo below: After finishing runner-up the last two years, Hilary Cairns of Washington, DC, only one second slower than last year in 38:16, finished seventh overall.

Top Teams

Coed Team Results - Open Coed (score 4 by net time)
                     (at least one man and one woman)

  1. 2:20:00 GEORGETOWN RUNNING COMPANY       (  35:00)
===========================================
  1    34:47  Zachary Britton      M 
  2    34:49  Martin Lanz          M 
  3    34:59  Max Lockwood         M 
  4    35:25  Vanessa Hunter       F 
  5 (  36:26) Nathan Timm          M 
  6 (  37:10) Lisa Thomas          F 
  7 (  39:30) Michelle Sikes       F 

  2. 2:32:53 POTOMAC RUNNERS                  (  38:14)
===========================================
  1    37:09  Matthew Thuesen      M 
  2    37:14  Robert Ferry         M 
  3    37:53  Michael Desmond      M 
  4    40:37  Michelle Harburg     F 

  3. 2:41:54 FLEET FEET RACING                (  40:29)
===========================================
  1    38:59  Wily Walker          M 
  2    40:08  Adrian Fenty         M 
  3    40:08  John Puskar          M 
  4    42:39  Laura Zellinger      F 

Full Race Day Results
Race Day Report for 2007
Photo Gallery 2007
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5 by Peter Silverman
Lea Gallardo's Photos
Brightroom Photos