Saturday was almost too warm to run but this Sunday the weather was perfect. The skies were overcast but that made the fifty degrees at the 9:30 AM start just right. Nearly 2200 enthusiastic participants showed up to run, walk, and remember, lending their support to the Brain Tumor Society's fight against this deadly disease. This year the race was again held at Freedom Plaza, which is an ideal site for one of the largest 5K races in the city. So many of the runners wore bibs on their backs, announcing "In memory", "In celebration", or better still "Survivor." Soon runners were making their own signs, as it was hard to anticipate how many runners would be viewing this as an event to remember, to recognize that much work is still to be done to find cures for this disease.

The crowd was in a very upbeat mood. This was in part that because the king of the decadently rich ice cream bar, Ben & Jerry's, was there with lots of their ware. Enough so that everyone got at least one shot at the taste treat sensation. The bagels were ultra fresh and a welcome treat. There were bananas and oranges. DrinkMore water supplied large quantities of bottled water.

The cordoned off streets were festive and the music, supplied by Extra 104 radio, was at just the right volume to enhance the pre- race warm-ups. Announcers keep us well informed. There was a well-organized and friendly crew manning the baggage check, which went smooth as silk. Sunday parking in Washington is never too bad.

After a warm-up jog past the Old Post Office, down to Constitution Avenue, I looked over at the Washington Monument and pronounced my self ready to race. Back at Freedom Plaza, the lines for race day registration were still active. This week's cancellation of the Bay Bridge 10K may have brought a few more runners here today.

I looked at the field as I walked up to ChampionChip starting mats. I saw a few hotshots like Doug Kuderna (40, photo left), a recent winner of the Cherry Pit 10 Miler in 57:17. There was Jim Whitnah (48) an elite but oh so humble runner who asked me if maybe Malcolm Lester was the one to beat. That is often the case but every race has ringers. Pat Griffith (58) was chomping at the bit. After a fine 18:26 the day before, he was eager for one of his patented sprint starts. For the women, Casey Smith was clearly the class of the field. I expected her to maybe crack the top ten overall.

The race started smoothly as we all blasted down Pennsylvania Avenue, straight for the Capitol. Man. Some of the youngsters can jackrabbit out of the gate. Rob Schneider of Washington, DC moved quickly to the front and was never seriously challenged, winning in 16:17. Jason Weber of Reston, VA ran all alone for second place in 16:39. Besides Kuderna and Whitnah, nearly all the rest of the top dozen were a cadre of West Point runners. Did I say ringers? Anthony Calingo (19) in 17:03 and Tyler Berliner (20) in 17:09 edged out the codgers.

There was no master's prize so fifth the place Kuderna, a Howard County Strider, won his age group. Whitnah, a Montgomery County Roadrunner, was next, some fifty meters back, winning his age group. The West Pointers hogged eight of the top sixteen places. Fifteenth place and first grandmaster, Dan Eddy of Alexandria ran 18:20, slipping past one of them youngsters, one-third his age. Pat Griffith won the elder half of the fifties age groups with a swift 18:41. Newly minted senior, [60 & over] Michael Golash of Washington, DC is making his presence felt, winning his division by nearly three and one-half minutes in 20:23.

The course veers down Louisiana Avenue toward Union Station just before the first mile. Casey Smith of Arlington, VA (photo left, by Alan Penberg) had already established such a large lead that runners watching the second and third woman coming back down the hill were screaming, "First Woman!" Crossing in front of the Capitol, Maria Kozloski of Washington, DC had a small lead on Kim McLaughlin of Reston, VA. The last mile was a straight shot back Pennsylvania Avenue to the waiting balloon arch. Smith was long gone, winning in 17:59, finishing twelfth overall. Kozloski held on to the runner-up spot in 19:16 with McLaughlin just eight seconds back.

Unlike the men, the next ten runners were all youngsters, under twenty-seven years of age. The masters champion, winning the 40- 44 age group, was Kelly Timmons of Alexandria, VA in 21:52. 45- 49 age grouper Karen Bate of Arlington, VA followed her immediately in 22:09.

With so many late entries, the results could not be official in time to pass out the awards race day. Top overall and winners two deep in five-year age groups should be mailed their awards within two weeks. The awards are gift certificates and merchandise prizes. Still, many runners stayed for the presentation of checks to The Brain Tumor Society and to get a chance at some of the random awards. I filled up on the food, especially the Ben & Jerry's, and enjoyed the now sunshiny day.

The race again gathered in many thousands of dollars for this vital charity [The Brain Tumor Society]. It is always tough to match the needs of runners trying to race and organizations trying to raise money for a cause. Today's race combined a beautiful Washington May day to do both.

Award Winners

FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num   Name                   Ag City                      Time  
===== ===== ====================== == ========================= ===== 
    1  1461 Casey Smith            23 Arlington VA              17:59 
    2  1777 Maria Kozloski         38 Washington DC             19:16 
    3  2136 Kim McLaughlin         38 Herndon VA                19:24 


MALE OVERALL
Place Num   Name                   Ag City                      Time  
===== ===== ====================== == ========================= ===== 
    1  2131 Robert Schneider       26 Washington DC             16:17 
    2  2122 Jason Weber            26 Reston VA                 16:39 
    3   948 Anthony Calingo        19 West Point NY             17:04 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  1 - 19
    1   523 Margaret Beddow        17 Potomac MD                21:39 
    2   950 Amy Patel              19 West Point NY             22:55 


MALE AGE GROUP:  1 - 19
    1  1468 Pete Guerdan           19 West Point NY             18:15 
    2   972 James Mccormick        18 West Point NY             18:33 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24
    1   158 Shannon O'connell      23 Washington DC             20:51 
    2  1071 Karin Von Usslar       22 Frederick MD              20:53 


MALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24
    1   956 Tyler Berliner         20 West Point NY             17:09 
    2   994 Matthew Davis          20 West Point NY             17:54 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29
    1  1450 Teha Kennard           25 Washington DC             20:21 
    2  1393 Kelly Arey             26 Arlington VA              21:10 


MALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29
    1  1807 Jeff King              27 Arlington VA              17:43 
    2  1457 James Fenzel           28 Washington DC             19:07 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34
    1  1333 Montse Puig            34 Wiesloch XX               22:02 
    2  1045 Rebecca Ghent          32 Washington DC             22:34 


MALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34
    1  2318 David Mcgee            34 Bowie MD                  18:50 
    2  1965 Rob Tyler              30 Washington DC             19:11 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39
    1  1565 Cynthia Morton         38 Arlington VA              22:51 
    2   788 Britt Jung             36 Arlington VA              23:08 


MALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39
    1  2367 Malcolm Lester         35 Washington DC             17:49 
    2  1113 Tyrone Cook            37 Dale City VA              18:57 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44
    1   842 Kelly Timmons          44 Alexandria VA             22:03 
    2  2244 Cahrmaine Davis        40 Silver Spring MD          23:28 


MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44
    1  1199 Doug Kuderna           42 Odenton MD                17:12 
    2   719 Thomas Ceremuga        40 Silver Spring MD          19:14 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49
    1  1273 Karen Bate             46 Arlington VA              21:49 
    2   808 Jacquelyn Silverman    47 N Potomac MD              23:06 


MALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49
    1  2023 Jim Whitnah            48 Chevy Chase MD            17:29 
    2  1541 Thomas Murray          46 Mclean VA                 20:14 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54
    1   206 Inga O'Neill           50 Manassas VA               23:54 
    2   549 Elisabeth Rushing      51 Washington DC             26:33 


MALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54
    1    59 Dan Eddy               51 Alexandria VA             18:20 
    2  1271 James Moreland         50 Gaithersburg MD           19:31 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59
    1   530 Tom Borger             55 Bethesda MD               21:24 
    2   436 Barbara Sarner         56 Burke VA                  25:25 


MALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59
    1    11 Patrick Griffith       58 Alexandria VA             18:39 
    2   747 Harry Cross            59 Arlington VA              21:30 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64
    1   267 Melanie Young          60 Prospect VA               30:56 
    2  1982 Josefina Moran         61 Washington DC             43:17 


MALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64
    1  1368 Michael Golash         60 Washington DC             20:23 
    2  1917 Alexander Liebowitz    62 Washington DC             23:50 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69
    1  2203 Tami Graf              66 Lusby MD                  26:53 
    2  1751 Laura Hunt             65 Mclean VA                 32:19 


MALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69
    1  2240 Joseph Conti           66 Alexandria VA             25:54 
    2   248 Richard May            69 Williamsburg VA           27:08 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 99
    1  1069 Jacqueline O'Neil      71 Washington DC             34:09 
    2   700 Elizabeth Fenner       76 Washington DC             65:58 


MALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 99
    1   745 Dick Coogan            71 Mclean VA                 28:23 
    2  1674 Howard Lang            72 Frederick MD              52:24 

In the photo above, taken by Alan Penberg on course, Jason Weber of Reston leads Anthony Calingo of West Point. They finished second and third.

See complete results of the Cassidy & Pinkard Brain Tumor 5K.

For more information about the event, see the race Web site.

Take a look at the race Photo Gallery!