Editor's Note: Liz Jones is a member of the 50 Plus Club, running 125 races in the past two years.

On a cold Sunday morning, roughly 230 runners converged on downtown Fredericksburg to race the Thurston Company John Robbins Organ Donor 8K.

There may have been grumbles with the early start, but that did not prevent the runners from producing some excellent times.

Julia Smith, last year's female Organ Donor winner, did not show up this year. Therefore, it was seemingly wide open as to who could win.

Leave it to the indefatigable Ruth Olson (45), who has turned some heads this year, to issue a strong challenge to her competitors. On this March morning, her main challenger was 17- year-old Sara Lasker, who signed up the previous day as race organizers were closing down the registration table. Olson led at the beginning, but Lasker came on strong and ran with her most of the race. However, Olson held off her young opponent by three seconds, running a spectacular 32:20.

Behind Olson and Lasker was Liz Jones (30), who ran a 33:00, followed by Victoria Jasparro (34) in 33:17.

Last year's Fredericksburg Area Running Club male champ, Bert Jacoby (25), has wowed all with his speed. But this year, he has been beaten now twice by Timothy Young (20), who finished February's hilly Sweetheart's Forever 4-Miler in 20:36. Jacoby ran a highly respectable 22:20 on that brisk morning, a minute ahead of his closest competitors.

Although one might have presumed that Jacoby and Young would battle it out at the 8K, Patrick Quinn (19), who won the race last year in Jacoby's absence, finished between them. Young would beat Quinn by 27 seconds (25:41 versus 26:08); however, Quinn's time was more than a minute and a half faster than it was last year. Jacoby settled for third, running a 26:30.

Jeff Klemmer (35) of Joshua Tree, CA was the next finisher in 27:22, followed closely by Williamsburg's Ryan Stevens (24) in 27:31.

At sixty, Nancy Crippen proved triumphant in the female masters category, beating Ellen Jones (45) by 11 seconds (36:28 versus 36:39). Elizabeth Quinn was third in 37:49.

The male masters champs proved they were equal to their younger opponents. Andrew Dolby (40) mustered a 28:52 for sixth overall. The resurgent Scott Mersiowsky (42) took eighth overall in 29:12, followed by the omnipresent Ted Poulos (46) in 29:22.

Full Race Results