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The JFK 50 Miler on the C&O Canal in Western Maryland
Thirty miles and 10 years into his quest to win the JFK 50 Mile ultra marathon, Ian Torrence took the lead for the first time.

"[Paul South and I] had been running together for a few miles, and I told him I wanted to see what it feels like to lead JFK, so he let me run a stride or two in front for 200 meters or so," Torrence said. "But I knew he wasn't going anywhere."

In fact, South, who led after the first few mountainous miles on the Appalachian Trail and survived a bout of vomiting during the middle miles on the C&O Canal towpath, pulled away from Torrence in the final road stretch to win in 6 hours 11 minutes 49 seconds. Torrence, who won the ultra marathon Grand Slam in 2002 and practically every other major ultra in the country but for JFK--the largest, oldest and arguably most prestigious-- finished second, 1 minute and 1 second back.

"I was getting closer at the end," said Torrence, 32, from Boulder City, Nev. "But I think even if had caught Paul, he could have pulled away again." Torrence, who grew up in Gaithersburg and works as a ranger with the National Park Service near Hoover Dam, completed his 11th consecutive JFK.

"I'll run this race forever," said Torrence, whose mother provides aid and support along the course every year.

South, 31, from Superior, Colo., entered as an experienced ultra runner but a JFK novice. His motivation stemmed from a difficult end to a long-term relationship with another ultra marathoner who had intended to run and win the women's division.

"Really, it was spite," South said. "I didn't expect to win but I wanted to try and steal her thunder."

Time and distance--like 50 miles--heal all wounds, and South's ex- girlfriend played a prominent but opposing role for him during the difficult closing miles.

"I was getting energy thinking of all the people that I love," South said. "She was one of them."

Martin Tighe, 46, born in England, now living and coaching high school runners in Providence, R.I., was third in 6:14:47, to complete the tightest finish in JFK history.

Connie Gardner, 41, from Medina, Ohio, won the women's race in a masters record 7:31:00 and finished 28th overall. Gardner took the JFK title for the second time in three years; she might have three titles in a row but finished second last year, six days after running the 100K ultra marathon world championships in Taiwan.

"I go really slow on the Appalachian Trail," Gardner said. "With age, I'm getting more cautious." The trail was particularly treacherous this year after nighttime rain and early morning fog limited visibility to less than 25 meters--and that for runners who started at 7 am. Hundreds of the 5 am starters used flashlights and headlamps.

Gardner finished exactly three minutes ahead of Laura Nelson, 39, from Woodstock, Vt., who won the race in 2001. Sue Johnston, 38, from Waterford, Vt., won in 1999 and led for 25 miles before finishing third in 7:40:17, averaging 9:13 per mile.

"I can run slow forever," Johnston laughed. "I'm good on the mountain, which is almost more hiking than running." Johnston, who came to the sport from long-distance hiking, ran her first JFK in 1992; with her 10th finish this year, she joins the prestigious 500-Mile Club.

Nearly half of the 876 finishers were JFK veterans, according to Mike Spinnler, who directed his 12th JFK after taking over in 1993 from race founder Buzz Sawyer.

"It's a peculiar fraternity and sorority of runners," Spinnler said. "Ultra marathoners are like that. But I guarantee every one of them has the heart of a champion."

Top Finishers in the JFK 50 Miler

Place Name              Age M/F City            State  Time    Pace  
===== =================== == = ================== === ======= ===== 
    1 PAUL SOUTH          31 M SUPERIOR           CO  6:11:49  7:25 
    2 IAN TORRENCE        32 M BOULDER CITY       NV  6:12:50  7:26 
    3 MARTIN TIGHE        46 M PROVIDENCE         RI  6:14:47  7:28 
    4 MARK LUNDBLAD       35 M ASHVILLE           NC  6:20:38  7:35 
    5 TIM HEWITT          50 M GREENSBURG         PA  6:29:30  7:46 
    6 SERGE ENGLAND-ARBON 39 M BALTIMORE          MD  6:36:38  7:55 
    7 JIM HAGE            46 M KENSINGTON         MD  6:37:32  7:56 
    8 SEAN ANDRISH        35 M LEESBURG           VA  6:40:28  7:59 
    9 ANDREW BARTLE       28 M SAN DIEGO          CA  6:43:28  8:03 
   10 MICHAEL WEDEMEYER   29 M ALEXANDRIA         VA  6:47:36  8:08 



    1 CONNIE GARDNER      41 F MEDINA             OH  7:31:00  9:00 
    2 LAURA NELSON        39 F WOODSTOCK          VA  7:34:00  9:03 
    3 SUE JOHNSTON        38 F WATERFORD          VT  7:40:17  9:11 
    4 REBECCA HARMAN      35 F WILLSEYVILLE       NY  7:55:31  9:29 
    5 SARAH ALMODOVAR     28 F STRAFFORD          CT  8:07:00  9:43 
    6 JENN DICK           28 F WATERLOO           ONT 8:11:20  9:48 
    7 KIM MARTIN          39 F MEDINA             OH  8:27:11 10:07 
    8 VERA THORNHILL      39 F COLUMBUS           OH  8:43:47 10:27 
    9 JANICE BALES        47 F AFTON              VA  8:44:25 10:27 
   10 NANCY PULLEN        30 F CARY               NC  8:46:56 10:30 

Notes: The United States Naval Academy won a spirited competition with the Marines and placed five runners, all 22 and younger, among the top 27. James Cathro was the top Midshipman in 7:03:34 . . . . Jim Hage, who won the race in 2002 (photo above, by Brightroom), was the top Washington-area finisher and seventh in 6:37:32. Michael Wedemeyer, 29, from Alexandria, was 10th in 6:47:36. Melissa Edeburn, 44, from Washington, was the 11th woman in 8:51:53 . . . . The Reston Runners and the Annapolis Striders are always two of the largest contingents at JFK; 57 Reston runners started this year . . . . Zeke Zucker, 60, set an age-group record of 7:53:10, finishing 49th overall. Helga Brandenburg, 60, from Cologne, Germany, also set a record in 9:36:36.