Top ranked Steven Crane (26) of Silver Spring, MD cruises home to a record victory in 24:15.

This long time event made a few alterations from previous courses, starting at the near side of the Broadlands Market Place under a huge balloon arch. Those fearing wind or rain were quickly relieved. The light winds tossed aside the rain clouds and the race started under sunny skies and about 45 degrees. Nationally ranked senior runner Patrick Griffith (63) was the only one bundled up for this mild still technically winter morn. Griffith can be excused as he is visiting from his new home in Ocala, FL. He claims he returned to visit his brand new granddaughter. Most runners suspected that he wanted to remind us that he was still the man to beat in his division.

Even after sixteen years the race continues to grow. Race official Rick Rabil, a vice president at Van Metre assured runners that they planned to keep running for another sixteen years. He also mentioned that next year the race would be planning to move up to five year age groups. Most of the larger races with awards have learned that opposite ends of the ten year age group cannot truly compete. Lou Shapiro (66) of Silver Spring, MD is the top Ranked Runner for the Washington Running Report's Winter Rankings, racing an excellent 34:40. With thirteen age group wins since Thanksgiving, he was a little surprised to be shut out of the awards. Griffith made history with his patented quick start, winning in 31:55. Griffith plans to stay in town to race the Stupid Little 10 Mile next Saturday in Berryville, VA, maybe to get himself ranked for the spring. Bob Chase (62) of Falls Church, VA made his move next, finishing in 34:25, a very solid time. Shapiro could not quite make up the gap. Revanna Krupakar (64) of Falls Church, VA pulled out all the stops with an excellent 35:03. That is a fast senior field.

At the start, they asked for the faster runners to step up front. It is more orderly for the fast runners and especially the fast starters to be up front. With the ChampionChip timing each runner's individual race, age group winners could afford to start further back, self seeding themselves, without jeopardizing their chance at an award. The first mile was a gradual up hill, which gave runners a chance to get acclimatized to racing before turning the jets on full for the next down hill mile. The course has only one moderate hill and seemed, indeed was a net downhill. The final jaunt into the parking lot was a few meters below the start on Winridge Drive. There was a mild breeze that was just enough to keep runners from getting overheated. The final mile started with a strong downhill and finished with a flat straightaway that made for some exciting finishes.

Regular racers could be expected to place their bets correctly on the champions today. Long and lean, Steven Crane (26) of Silver Spring, MD is always a threat to win in his races. His time of 24:15 is believed to be the fastest time for a Van Metre 5 Mile, causing some to wonder about the distance. Last year he was ranked number two in the whole region with a sub 50:00 GW Parkway 10 Mile to go along with his 50:02 Credit Union Cherry Blossom. Last year's time here was a third place finish in 25:11, a short lunge from the win but the course was nearly .2 miles long. Robert Wade (25) of Arlington, VA had a sharp 25:12 for the runner-up spot but never threatened for the lead. Dustin Whitlow (21) of Ashburn, VA (in photo) is getting well known flashing across the finishing mats in 25:53. Sam Blasiak (28) of Falls Church, VA stayed close in 26:08 holding off fifth place Ray Pugsley. Pugsley of Potomac River Running ran 26:27 for the first race of the 2008 Loudoun Race Series. Last year it was his wife Cathy racing the Van Metre; this year it was his turn.

Masters American record holder in the mile, Alisa Harvey (42) of Manassas, VA (in photo) is well coached to run an even race. She starts out fast and then she maintains. With 2:06 800-meter speed to go with her 4:46:29 mile, the only way to beat her is to get a sizable lead. Only Laura Turner (27) of Washington, DC had a chance. She stayed close before succumbing by about fifty meters with 29:52. The battle for third was fierce. Top ranked master Linda Foley (46) of Oak Hill, VA just held off her two closest rivals with a swift 31:19. She also had the same age as those two combined. Monica Pampell (22) of Arlington was fourth in 31:23. Betsy Eames (24) of Herndon, VA put paid to the discussion on course length from last year. This year she ran 31:27, a second ahead of soon to be masters and racing with a new vigor this year, Jeanette Dumbrell (39) of Falls Church, VA. Eames ran 32:42 for fourth place last year. Sixth place Jackie Gruendel, a former top Ranked Runner may have run her last fast race for a while; she is expecting. She finished second in her division with 31:56.

After the race, there were lots to drink, bottled water and power drinks, as well as yogurt with fruit cups. The top three runners in each sex received cash $300-200-100. The awards went two deep in ten year age group this year and came out quickly. First place was a gift certificates worth $50, second was for $35. By tradition, Van Metre has always had an extensive selection of random prizes. This year was no different and most runners who lingered to listen got to lug home a prize. This year the overall winner, Steven Crane, received the Albert Van Metre Memorial Trophy in honor of the founder of the business who had passed on this year. The race was happy to be able to use much of the race proceeds to help benefit Children's Hospital.

(In photo below), eighth place Jean Christophe Arcaz (47) of Rockville, MD leads a talented bunch of masters runners, winning in 28:05 with the fastest age graded time in the race after excluding the male and female overall winners.

Award Winners

FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num   Name                    Age City                  Time  
===== ===== ======================= === ===================== ===== 
    1     4 Alisa Harvey             42 Manassas VA           29:43 
    2   688 Laura Turner             27 Washington DC         29:52 
    3    11 Linda Foley              46 Oak Hill VA           31:19 
MALE OVERALL
Place Num   Name                    Age City                  Time  
===== ===== ======================= === ===================== ===== 
    1     3 Steven Crane             26 Silver Spring MD      24:15 
    2   664 Robert Wade              25                       25:12 
    3   374 Dustin Whitlow           21 Ashburn VA            25:53 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 19
    1   812 Lindsay Andersen         15 Ashburn VA            43:23 
    2   513 Josephine Guilbeau       19 Springfield VA        45:43 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 19
    1   547 Dylan Morgan             14 Fairfax Station VA    31:48 
    2   820 Garrick Clemente         15 Haymarket VA          33:15 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 29
    1   420 Monica Pampell           22 Arlington VA          31:20 
    2   366 Betsy Eames              24 Herndon VA            31:24 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 29
    1   544 Sam Blasiak              28 Falls Church VA       26:08 
    2   654 Billy Askey              25 Washington DC         27:15 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 39
    1   569 Jeanette Dumbrell        39 Falls Church VA       31:25 
    2   650 Jackie Grvendel          33 Burke VA              31:56 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 39
    1     5 Ray Pugsley              39 Sterling VA           26:27 
    2   687 David Ohard              37 Washington DC         27:09 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 49
    1   589 Liz Camire               43 Leesburg VA           34:33 
    2   286 Monique Rico             40 Aldie VA              35:46 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 49
    1  1169 Jean Christophe Arcaz    47 Rockville MD          28:04 
    2   557 Martin Calhoun           46 Herndon VA            28:31 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 59
    1    22 Elizabeth Starr          51 Aldie VA              38:45 
    2   255 Kathy Lutman             53 Lovettsville VA       43:38 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 59
    1   344 Michael Cannon           50 Springfield VA        31:54 
    2   570 Steve Boutilier          50 Gainesville VA        33:37 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 69
    1   813 Punkin Lee               61 Middleburg VA         43:45 
    2   484 Therese Murtagh          60 Reston VA             46:44 
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 69
    1    69 Patrick Griffith         63 Ocala FL              31:55 
    2   667 Bob Chase                62 Falls Church VA       34:22 
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 98
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 98
    1   246 Philip Hager             71 Falls Church VA       38:56 
    2   656 Robert Gurtler           73 Ashburn VA            52:51 

(In photo below), Liz Camire (43) of Leesburg, VA wins her age group with in 34:37. The masters ahead of her won cash for 1st overall - $300 (Alisa Harvey was the top 40-44 Ranked Runner for 2007) and 3rd overall - $100 (Linda Foley was the top 45-49 Ranked Runner for 2007.)

Full Race Day Results
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