While the Army Ten-Miler maintains an international reputation--it is, after all, the second largest 10 mile race in the world, and largest in the United States, with 24,000 registrants--the event has always kept strong local ties.

Alisa Harvey (41) from Manassas, VA added to that tradition at the 22nd running by taking the lead at seven miles and then winning for a record fourth time in 59 minutes flat.

"This is an incredible event," Harvey said. "Everything today was picture perfect, from the weather to the race organization. There were no mistakes, and my race was perfectly executed, too. I'm so proud to win."

Harvey also won in 1998, '99, and 2003; her best time was 57:47 in 1999.

Army Captain Emily Brzozowski (27), a 2001 West Point graduate now training with the World Class Athletes Program in Colorado Springs, set the pace until ceding first place to Harvey. "When she caught me," Brzozowski said, "I tried to stay with her because I knew her [track] background and I knew I couldn't out kick her." Brzozowski took second in 59:26.

Jared Nyamboki (30, photo) from Kenya won the men's race handily in 48:24. Belay Teka-Kassa (24) from Ethiopia Nyamboki's teammate with Foot Solutions, a specialty footwear franchiser, finished second in 49:37 and Richard Ondimu (25) from Kenya was third in 50:03. Foot Solutions dominated the men's race, taking the top three spots, fifth, and seventh. The team trains together in Windy Hill, GA.

"I was going for the record," said Nyamboki, who has been racing in the United States since May. "But these guys didn't keep the pace so I went slower in the second half." U.S. Olympian Dan Browne set the course record of 47:32 in 2004.

Sandu Rebenciuc (37), who sought political asylum and gained citizenship in the United States after defecting from Romania, was the first American, fourth in 50:18.

Harvey's time set a masters record, bettering Martha Merz's mark of 59:49 set in 2002. Merz (44) recently moved back to Annandale, VA when her husband was redeployed to Washington.

During her seven-year stay in Connecticut, Merz made it a point to race at Army nearly every year. "I love this city," Merz said. "But today, this wasn't my race. At five miles, I was at 30 minutes, and it was 'Look at me!' But that didn't last very long." Merz finished ninth in 1:01:35.

Ryan Mammen (30, photo) of Woodbridge, VA, placed 14th as the top local finisher in 53:16. Darrell General (40) from Hyattsville, the only man to have won three times at Army, finished 42nd in 56:15. "I've got some work to do," said General, who hopes to be the first to qualify for six Olympic trials marathons.

Erin Swain (24), from Clifton, VA, finished third overall among the women in 59:52, just ahead of Johanna Allen (25), from Woodbridge, VA who was fourth in 1:00:03.

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Photo Gallery 2006
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