Photographer James Moreland separates the top two 50 and over women competitors - Betty Blank (left) and Alison Suckling.

It was early winter on January the sixth when the DC Roadrunners headed for the KenGar recreation Center in border of Kensington and Garrett Park. Most of the runners were in shorts expecting a mild day with highs normally around 45. When the race started at 9:00 AM it was already sixty-five degrees. Later in the day, it hit a record seventy-three degrees. Nearly everyone was overdressed, even the scores of shirtless male runners. Indeed, it was so warm water stop volunteer Rachel Lerner (mother of Sharone Cheskis) wanted to know if she should insist on the runners taking water.

The course starts on the bike path and the more than 150 runners were packed tight. The first street crossing at Wexford is a mere 100 meters into the race and runners had not even begun to fan out. Even at the police monitored Knowles Avenue crossing at a third of a mile, the long line of mostly single file runners stretched off into the distance. The first few miles treated runners to numerous "water crossings" as the recent rains were still settling into the ground. This and the heat slowed down many of the runners on this normally very fast course. At four and quarter miles, the race ventures into the surrounding neighborhood for the 3/4 mile jaunt up the fabled Old Spring hill. Still turning around and heading for home allowed runners a momentum charging downhill plunge back into the park.

Many of the runners had not reached that intersection by the time young Mikias Gelagle (16) of Greenbelt, MD had turned the corner a jetted his way back home for a fine 56:10 victory. In photo left he beams after collecting his winner's awards. Jake Klim (26) of Bethesda, MD was firmly place in second, cruising home on his heels in 56:36. At mile six Jason Dwyer (27) of Bethesda, MD rested in fourth just off the shoulder of Matias Palavecino of Montgomery Villlage, MD. At the finish he had moved up to the bronze in a real nail biter in 57:31 with Palavecino now on his shoulder in 57:32. Mike Hart (50) of Arlington, VA held off a tough masters field for the win in 61:31, ninth overall.

Before the race top grandmaster women Betty Blank (53) of Falls Church, VA and Alison Suckling (50) of Arnold, MD lined up side by side for the challenge race. Both of these sun worshippers were more interested in the wonderful day than a competitive race. Still, both were front and center when RD Aaron Cheskis give us the word and then jetted down the path. Blank was runner-up inthe 50-59 division while Suckling finished first. Both runners bested Debbie Flynn (3rd) who had won the 50-54 division in the Fall Runner Rankings. Cindy Conant (45) of Kensington, MD just joined the new five year age group and led all masters women in 1:10:17

For the overall women Melissa Tanner (25) of Bethesda, MD separated from the field early with a swift 66:09. In the photo left, she looks over her award for winning the race. Samantha Kirby (38) of Arlington, VA edged out Kristin Andrews of bethesda, MD for second 69:15 to 69:31. Brittany Pollard Falling Waters, WV, just turned 12 years old, was the second teen in 82:17.

The race is nearly always competitive as it is part of the popular DCRRC Snow Ball Series.

Awards

Overall Women
1		Melissa Tanner	        66:09
2		Samantha Kirby	        69:15
3		Krsitin Andrews	        69:31

Master		Cindy Conant	        70:17
19 & under	Masha Berge		75:16
20-29		Toni Marie Diegoli	71:57
30-39		Elizabeth Feldman	71:32
40-49		Michelle Harmon	        72:34
50-59		Alison Suckling	        71:38
60-69		Karolynn Coleman	94:49





Overall men
1		Mikias Gelagle	        56:10
2		Jake Klim		56:36
3		Jason Dwyer		57:31

Master		Mike Hart		61:31

19 & under	Ezra Kebrab		92:36
20-29		Matias Pagaveciro	57:32
30-39		Martin Lanz		60:01
40-49		Kevin D'Amanda	        62:32
50-59		Paul Peterson		67:58
60-69		Lou Shapiro		72:46
70-79		Richard Williams	84:27

Race Day Report for 2007
Photo Gallery 2007
Page 2
Full Results