(Photo Left) The presentation of the cup to Mayor Williams by Race Director Phil Stewart and Credit Union Miracle Day Board Member Sarah Turner

Mayor Anthony A. Williams announced at his press briefing today that Washington, DC has retained the Metropolitan Cup awarded to the fittest Metropolitan Washington jurisdiction for the second straight year. The Cup is awarded based on results from the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile competition held in Washington on April 3.

The Metropolitan Cup is a team competition among teams from Washington, DC and surrounding Maryland and Virginia counties. Teams consisting of the fastest 50 men, 30 women, and the next 10 runners of either sex are drawn from finishers from Washington, DC; Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland; and Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties in Virginia.

"The winner of this competition gets a trophy and bragging rights for their home jurisdiction as the most physically fit place to live in the Metropolitan area," said Event Director Phil Stewart. "When I see all the runners filling the streets and parks of our Nation's Capital, I am not surprised that the city of Washington has taken this title. However, I am sure that the surrounding counties will not take this lying down and will be back to try and deny Washington, DC a 'threepeat' in 2006."

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile is Washington, DC's only World Class running event featuring the world's finest roadrunners competing for $31,000 in prize money, along with 8,500 runners from throughout the Washington, DC area and across the country. The flat, fast course starts and finishes in West Potomac Park, passes by many of the city's monuments, crosses Memorial Bridge and tours Rock Creek Park during the city's prettiest time of year.

Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc., a partnership of credit unions and affiliated organizations, serves as the title sponsor. More than $1 million has been raised for the Children's Miracle Network (CMN) and its local affiliate Children's Hospital since the Credit Unions became the title sponsor in 2002. The event is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

A high-resolution version of the photo is also available; please contact Phil Stewart or 301-320-6865 if you would like a copy.