Through the fog and mist of the early morning, runners were treated to near perfect weather for the start of the third annual Scope it out 5K. There were warnings of street closures due to the National Marathon that had started an hour and half earlier. Many runners took advantage of the early Metro opening (6:00 AM), while others rode shuttle buses from Hains Point parking. Even with the rapid growth of this fine race to nearly 1400 5K race finishers, there was ample parking.

The course, which is virtually flat from West Potomac Park across the Inlet River Bridge onto Hains Point, is lightning fast. With little of the breeze that can plague runners racing along the Potomac River, it seemed certain that some records would fall.

Last year's winner, Brian Godsey, did not return but runner-up Bert Rodriguez (27) of Arlington, VA, who is becoming a mainstay for local races, was there to take another shot. His nemesis would be slender Alene Reta (25, photo) coming in from the Big Apple. Runners fired off as if shot from a cannon as announcer Judy Floy yelled the G-O word. Reta quickly took command. In the inaugural year, three runners bested 15:00 with John Henwood setting the standard in 14:43. Today, Rodriguez never really closed on Reta, who won convincingly in 15:04. Last year, Rodriguez dipped under 5:00 pace with 15:31. This year, with runners more spread out, he finished in 15:41. Steve Mance (22) of Alexandria, VA was third in 16:08. The time would have placed him seventh in the other two years.

Andres Wright of Frederick, MD just turned 40 but you would not know it as he flashed home fifth overall in 16:20 to win the masters division and set a course record. Next in line, Jon Torra (36) of Washington, DC set the sub masters record with 16:22.

One masters pre-race favorite is the indomitable Chuck Moeser (55) of Sterling, VA. Moeser had Garboed up for the past year. Even before the start he was commenting that he would have to start training if he wanted to compete. For Moeser, the word "compete" translates as win. Second place is for the other runner.

Indeed, there has been a new class of 55-59 men this year. Many seemed to have been training well for their new five year age group. The top three finishers over 50, grandmasters, were all 55 and older. Second place Dan Eddy (55) of Alexandria, VA ran a very credible 18:24. In fact, his 18:22 earlier in the year had held the Best of 2007 for nearly two months before Rick Platt lowered it to 18:20 two weeks ago. Moeser put it out of reach today, finishing ninth overall in 17:08. You can bet he was bummed not to dip under 17:00 in his first race back.

With course record holder Patrick Griffith (18:47 in 2006) moving to Florida, the 60s should have been wide open. Instead, 69-year-old Chan Robbins of Arlington, VA demolished the field by more than three minutes, finishing in 22:09. Larry Dickerson (75) of Burke, VA continues his comeback with a 26:25 win and a new course record. Robert Smith (73) of Comus, MD won his division right behind Dickerson with 26:37. The top teen for the men was tenth place Daniel Corrigan (15) of Solon, OH in 17:14.

For the women, Susannah Kvasnicka had run 17:10 the first two years, winning a close battle in 2005 and being edged out the following year. This year the competition came from out of the area. Alemtsehay Misganaul (26) of New York, NY used a powerful, quick turnover to take the early lead heading under the 14th Street bridge at mile one. Tatiana Chulakh (24) of Gaithersburg, MD (in photo) has won the Runner Rankings more than once. She trailed after Misganaul and as they approached the two mile mark she was five meters back. Like a cat ready to pounce, she leapt forward and crushed Christina Wells's 17:00 course record. Her masterful 16:24 made her the seventh runner to cross the ChampionChip mats. Misganaual was next, just four seconds back, also setting an age group course record.

Third place Sarah Spalding (26) of Washington, DC lost her course record for 20-24 from 2005 at 18:26, finishing a minute and half later in 18:08. Still, an excellent time and she needed every second. Hurtling home behind her was a rejuvenated Martha Merz (44), now back in the area and living in Alexandria, VA. She eliminated any sign of the former masters best set by Win Persina last year in 19:49. Merz also lowered Persina's 20:59 record for the 40-44 age group set the prior year.

Many of the top masters women were racing elsewhere. Barbara Inge (70) of Alexandria, VA came close to the course record of 35:12 set by Jacqueline O'Neill last year. Inge ran 35:34. Lee Glassco (76) of McLean, VA is back to set the standard in 42:49. Catherine Wynne (86) of Springfield, VA was the oldest runner ever at the race. Meanwhile, among the very young, Renee Richardson (11) of Dumfries, VA set a new standard to beat for runners 14 and younger with 29:26. For all the teens, Anya Oleynik (18) of Gaithersburg, MD ran 19:02. The time, sixth overall, is not as fast as she had expected for today's fast course.

After the race, there were the traditional random awards. Many runners were still at the overflowing snack tables enjoying ripe, ready-to-eat bananas, fresh bagels, and snack bars. The age groups went three deep in the traditional five-year divisions. Age group winners earned a variety of gift certificates and some received two tickets to see the Capitals play hockey.

We heard some impassioned speeches about the critical importance of early detection of colon cancer. Indeed, there was a large number of runners racing as polyp "mascots," (photo) urging participants to catch them as soon as possible. The most striking statement was from a doctor on the podium when he told runners that he wished they would all learn about early detection and treatment. He did NOT want to see them come into his office. That could mean that they waited too long to get themselves checked. Many runners wore bibs in remembrance and, even better, many more wore celebratory bibs of survival. For more information about, this disease, visit www.scopeitout5k.com.

Award Winners

MALE OVERALL
Place Num   Name                   Ag City                      Gun T Net T Pace  
===== ===== ====================== == ========================= ===== ===== ===== 
    1     9 Alene Reta             25 New York NY               15:04 15:04  4:51 
    2     2 Bert Rodriguez         27 Arlington VA              15:41 15:41  5:03 
    3  1606 Steve Mance            22 Alexandria VA             16:08 16:08  5:12 
FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num   Name                   Ag City                      Gun T Net T Pace  
===== ===== ====================== == ========================= ===== ===== ===== 
    1     6 Tatiana Chulakh        24 Gaithersburg MD           16:24 16:24  5:17 
    2     8 Alemtsehay Misganaul   26 New York NY               16:28 16:28  5:18 
    3  2010 Sarah Spalding         26 Washington DC             18:08 18:08  5:50 
MALE AGE GROUP:  1 - 19   (NET TIME)
    1  2012 Daniel Corrigan        15 Solon OH                  17:14 17:14  5:33 
    2  1901 Jeff Cochran           13 Great Falls VA            19:46 19:43  6:21 
    3  1902 Jonathan Keefe         13 Great Falls VA            20:37 20:35  6:38 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  1 - 19   (NET TIME)
    1  1346 Anya Oleynik           18 Gaithersburg MD           19:02 19:02  6:08 
    2   496 Alissa Slater          17 Springfield VA            20:58 20:57  6:45 
    3  1483 Margaret Bostwick      19 Chalfont PA               22:54 22:49  7:21 
MALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24   (NET TIME)
    1  1327 Brian Tullock          24 Arlington VA              16:18 16:18  5:15 
    2   959 Paul Costello          24 Washington DC             17:33 17:33  5:39 
    3  1390 Doug Hickey            24 Arlington VA              17:54 17:54  5:46 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24   (NET TIME)
    1  2019 Mary Christopher       23 Arlington VA              19:30 19:30  6:17 
    2  1326 Jenna Kruppa           24 Arlington VA              21:28 21:24  6:54 
    3    41 Katherine Swan         24 Arlington VA              23:47 23:37  7:36 
MALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29   (NET TIME)
    1    34 Christopher Bain       29 N Bethesda MD             16:34 16:34  5:20 
    2  1733 Patrick Blair          25 Halethorpe MD             17:00 17:00  5:29 
    3  1010 Aaron Bernstein        26 Washington DC             17:59 17:59  5:48 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29   (NET TIME)
    1     7 Kathleen Liever        28 Kingstowne VA             18:18 18:18  5:54 
    2  1430 Laura Jenkins          28 Arlington VA              20:15 20:12  6:30 
    3   418 Erin Burlovich         26 Chevy Chase MD            21:06 21:06  6:48 
MALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34   (NET TIME)
    1  1284 J P Cooney             30 Arlington VA              17:50 17:46  5:44 
    2  1511 Rb Brill               30 Falls Church VA           18:36 18:35  5:59 
    3   242 Brett Alessi           31 Washington DC             20:11 20:01  6:27 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34   (NET TIME)
    1  1029 Kari Richmond          31 Owings Mills MD           22:51 22:12  7:09 
    2   523 Ellen Marcus           32 Alexandria VA             23:51 23:41  7:38 
    3   860 Sarah Dumont           33 Alexandria VA             24:31 24:19  7:50 
MALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39   (NET TIME)
    1  1811 Jon Torra Ce           36 Washington DC             16:22 16:22  5:16 
    2   829 Chris Manning          39 Springfield VA            20:54 20:51  6:43 
    3  1062 Daniel Jackson         37 Washington DC             21:07 21:04  6:47 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39   (NET TIME)
    1  1074 Rebecca Allen          37 N Kingstown RI            21:44 21:44  7:00 
    2   668 Janice Lunenfeld       37 Rockville MD              22:55 22:46  7:20 
    3   195 Anna Hargrave          37 Alexandria VA             22:56 22:56  7:23 
MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44   (NET TIME)
    1  2020 Andres Wright          40 Frederick MD              16:20 16:20  5:16 
    2  1536 Marc Tarutani          41 Falls Church VA           18:31 18:28  5:57 
    3    35 Larry Cynkin           44 Washington DC             20:13 20:10  6:30 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44   (NET TIME)
    1     4 Martha Merz            44 Annandale VA              18:13 18:13  5:52 
    2   706 Stacy Kincaid          40 Bethesda MD               24:28 24:16  7:49 
    3  1892 Beth Gannon            40 Washington DC             24:54 24:49  8:00 
MALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49   (NET TIME)
    1  1076 Stuart Pineo           45 Columbia MD               17:26 17:26  5:37 
    2  1866 Antonio Claro          45 Rockville MD              18:32 18:32  5:58 
    3  1504 Curtis Davis           49 Gaithersburg MD           18:37 18:37  6:00 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49   (NET TIME)
    1  3004 Siriporn Khunwang      45 Silver Spring MD          24:02 24:02  7:44 
    2  1899 Susan Pandris          47 Fairfax VA                27:15 27:02  8:42 
    3  1454 Michelle Burley        46 Alexandria VA             33:15 27:57  9:00 
MALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54   (NET TIME)
    1     3 James Moreland         54 Gaithersburg MD           21:05 21:05  6:47 
    2    40 Peter Blank            52 Annandale VA              22:10 22:10  7:09 
    3  1068 James Taylor           52 Glen Burnie MD            22:29 22:25  7:13 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54   (NET TIME)
    1   459 Janice Brannon         52 Lorton VA                 27:19 27:10  8:45 
    2  1168 Nancy Haberkern        52 Springfield VA            27:44 27:28  8:51 
    3   670 Pamela Coleman         50 Washington DC             27:34 27:31  8:52 
MALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59   (NET TIME)
    1    29 Chuck Moeser           55 Sterling VA               17:08 17:08  5:31 
    2    45 Dan Eddy               55 Alexandria VA             18:24 18:24  5:56 
    3    33 John McMackin Jr       55 Washington DC             20:05 20:01  6:27 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59   (NET TIME)
    1  1637 Deborah Schnabel       56 Fairfax VA                31:28 30:50  9:56 
    2   795 Anne Pate              56 Glastonbury CT            34:29 33:04 10:39 
    3   554 Mary Jean Griffin      57 Fairfax Station VA        35:47 33:47 10:53 
MALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64   (NET TIME)
    1  1873 David Gearin           62 Arlington VA              25:28 25:26  8:11 
    2  1461 Frank Mallard          64 McLean VA                 30:17 29:57  9:39 
    3   112 Dan Riordan            60 Potomac MD                35:52 30:53  9:57 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64   (NET TIME)
    1   320 Caroline Stevens       61 Fairfax VA                39:00 37:14 11:59 
    2   294 Bonnie Rose            60 Waldorf MD                44:11 42:18 13:37 
    3   213 Connie Moy             62 Fairfax VA                51:53 49:36 15:58 
MALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69   (NET TIME)
    1  1876 Chan Robbins           69 Arlington VA              22:09 22:09  7:08 
    2  1239 Jerry Cherrington      69 Hudson OH                 31:41 31:25 10:07 
    3  1655 Larry Harris           66 Alexandria VA             54:10 52:00 16:45 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69   (NET TIME)
    1   749 Ann Coughlin           67 Washington DC             44:41 43:37 14:03 
    2   205 Yoshiko Doherty        65 Oakton VA                 60:39 59:42 19:13 
MALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 74   (NET TIME)
    1    25 Robert Smith           73 Comus MD                  26:37 26:35  8:34 
    2  1208 William Lie            74 Methuen MA                68:11 65:09 20:59 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 74   (NET TIME)
    1   676 Barbara Inge           70 Alexandria VA             35:34 35:09 11:19 
MALE AGE GROUP:  75 - 79   (NET TIME)
    1  1250 Larry Dickerson        75 Burke VA                  26:25 26:22  8:29 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  75 - 79   (NET TIME)
    1    49 Lee Glassco            76 McLean VA                 42:49 40:56 13:11 
MALE AGE GROUP:  80 - 99   (NET TIME)
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  80 - 99   (NET TIME)
    1   463 Catherine Wynne        86 Springfield VA            57:12 57:12 18:25 

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