The 23rd ACLI Capital Challenge(R) took place Wednesday, May 5th in Washington, DC's Anacostia Park. A large contingent of 29 Congressmen and Senators, plus Agency Heads, Federal Judges and scores of media were among the over 600 runners who took part in the three mile team race. Teams were captained by a US Senator, Representative, Cabinet member, or Sub Cabinet Presidential appointee, Federal Judge, On-air Media personality or professional journalist.

The purpose of the ACLI Capital Challenge is to determine who is fittest: the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, the Judicial Branch, or the media that covers them, and to raise money for the DC Special Olympics. This year over $13,000 was raised.

Bill Rodgers the celebrity guest athlete was the "official whistle blower" for the race and started the runners on their way. Senator John Sununu (R-NH) took home top Senator finisher honors (19:47) defeating 2003 winner Senator John Ensign (R-NV), while Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) repeated as the women's winner, (33:59). Representative Bart Gordon (D-TN) is still the fastest man in Congress (Mike Synar Award) with his 18:22 time.

Overall winners were Philip Huspeth of Representative Peter DeFazio's (D-OR) staff, (15:28) and Sharon Donovan of the Transportation Department (17:40). Former World Record Holder, Jim Ryun, again enlisted his twin sons and his daughter for his team and retained House team honors. Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Senator Richard Lugar continued his streak by finishing his 23rd straight Challenge. Race records were set by Independence Agency Head, Deanna Okun, Chairman of the International Trade Commission (24:58) and Fox News reporter Teri Schultz (21:33)

The ACLI Capital Challenge highlights the ability of many of the nation's busiest leaders to stay fit. All entry fees went to Special Olympics. Challenge title sponsor ACLI (American Council Of Life Insurers) and contributing sponsors, American Express Financial Services, Northwestern Mutual, Prudential Financial, Swiss Re, FannieMae, Saucony, Roll Call, Running Times and Chubb also donated funds to DC Special Olympics, as well as paying all race expenses.

Place & Category Name Team Time
Individual Winners
1st Male - Overall Philip Huspeth Rogue Runners (Rep. Peter DeFazio-D-OR)) 15:28

1st Female - Overall Sharon Donovan Mineta's Mashers (Dept of Transportation) 17:40
1st Senator - Male Senator John Sununu (R-NH) Team Sununu 19:47

1st Senator - Female Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) Kay-n't Be Stopped 33:59
1st Rep. - Male Representative Bart Gordon (D-TN) Gordon's Mercenary Highlanders 18:22 (Mike Synar Award)
1st Agency Head - Male Peter Hurtgen, Director. Fed Mediation & Conciliation Serv. FMCS is Hurtgen Again 28:17

1st Agency Head - Female Deanna Okun, Chairman; Internt'l Trade Comm Tariffiers 24:58
1st Sub-Cabinet - Male Frank Trinity, Gen.Counsel: Corp Nat'l&Community Ser. Service With A Mile 17:08

1st Sub-Cabinet - Female Sudeen Kelly, Comm. Fed Energy Reg. Comm. Federal Engery Running Commission 25:45
1st Fed.Judge - Male Judge John Mott, DC Superior Court Rocket Dockets 16:58

1st Fed.Judge - Female Judge Natalia Combs-Greene, DC Superior Court Benchwarmers 27:47
1st Print Journalist-Male Jim Hage, Washington Post-Sports More May Madness 15:58

1st Print Journalist-Female Sarah Wassner, National Geographic We All Run For A Yellow Magazine 19:18
1st Electronic Journ.-Male Jay Korff, WJLA-ABC7 Softball With Kathleen Matthews 17:45

1st ElectronicJourn.-Female Terri Schultz, Fox News Channel F-N See, Ya Later 21:33

Age Group
1st Capt. 60+ Male Judge Rufus King, DC Superior Court Rocket Dockets 24:19
2nd Capt 60+ Male John Turner, Asst Sec; State Department Team Wyoming Will Put You in frENZI 26:27
3rd Capt 60+ Male Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter, (R-ID) Otter's Trotters 27:42
1st Capt 70+ Male Senator Charles Grassley, (R-IA) Team Grassley 29:07
2nd Capt 70+ Male Harry Hoglander, Member; Nat'l Mediation Board Harry's Hurting Hopefuls 34:27
Overall Team Winner US Navy Rear Adm. Lewis Libby

Winning Teams Captain
1st Senate Team The Linc to Fast Rhodes Senator Lincoln Chaffee (R-RI)
2nd Senate Team Runn-Lugar Competitive Stress Reduction Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN)
1st House Team Team Ryun Representative Jim Ryun (R-KS)
2nd House Team Gordon's Mercenary Highlanders Representative Bart Gordon (D-TN)
1st Executive Branch Team Navy Rear Adm. Lewis Libby
2nd Executive Branch Team Census Running Totals (Census Bureau) Douglas Clift
1st Print Media Team Running From Lions (National Geographic) Barbara Noe
2nd Print Media Team Slow Child Left Behind (Chronicle of Higher Education) Welch Suggs
1st Electronic Media Team F-N, See Ya Later (Fox News Channel) Terri Schultz
2nd Electronic Media Team Radio Flyers (NPR) Jon Hamilton
1st Judicial Team Rocket Dockets (DC Superior Court) Judge John Mott, Judge Rufus King, Judge Jose Lopez
2nd Judicial Team Robe Runners (US Court of Appeal/Armed Forces) Judge Herman Gierke

Team Name Winners
Best Named Team We All Run For a Yellow Magazine Larry Porges, National Geographic
2nd Best Name Slow Child Left Behind Welch Suggs, Chronicle of Higher Education
3rd Best Name Dick Clark's American Ran Stand David Nielsen, Scripps Howard News Service
Worst Named Team Quinntet-One Short of a SixPAC Rep. Jack Quinn (R-NY) (James B. Kenin Award-1st)
2nd Worst Name Win One for the GPRA (Government Performance Reform Act) Arthur Rosenfeld, NLRB; General Counsel
3rd Worst Name Follow the Leader Senator Bill Frist,
Best Spirit Rogue Runners Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR)