Getting Started
Photos below:
Runners get started on the tree-lined neighborhood streets. Behnaz Fardshisheh (#245) of Potomac ran the 8K distance in 43:44.

Accomplished age group runners passed the halfway mark (Dorset and Little Falls) together: Ted Poulos (right), 41 of McLean and Mike Sheehy (#243), 31 of Chevy Chase won the 40-44 and 20-34 top awards. Sheehy finished strong and opened a 44 second gap on Poulos, 28:35 and 29:19 for the 8K.

At 4K, Elizabeth Feldman (#462) and Ann Reed (#382) were close. Feldman, 36 of Chevy Chase, eneregized ahead of Reed, 29 of Columbia, to claim second place with a time of 31:50 to Reed's 32:12.

Star Attractions
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Anthony Belber, girls and boys cross country coach at Georgetown Day School, noted beforehand that there were a "couple of ringers" in the race this year. Belber, age 30 and a Washingtonian, placed third in 27:39 (compared to 27:14 in 2002). His teams have started the season well, so coach is cheerful as ever.

Janet Urbanski, 33 and a Frederick resident, passed the halfway mark comfortably in first place and won (31:31) with a 19 second margin over Feldman.

Matt Cooke, guided by nationally renowned coach Matt Centrowitz, shows his fantastic ability in winning the race 26:23. The 24- year-old resides in Washington, DC.

After the race, former Olympic Trials marathoner Jim Hage (30:32, Kensington, age 45) interviews Matt Cooke with Chad Johnson and David Andrews (orange shirt) listening in.

Finishing Up
Photos below:

Patrick Murphy (#393), age 38 of Washington, nipped Ezra Cohn, 15 of Bethesda, at the finish by one second (38:53).

Dad is fast! 47-year-old David Andrews of Bethesda ran his best Somerset 8K since 1999 (28:43) to finish 6th with a time of 29:29.

Sean Karp, 32 of Washington, and Jennifer Newman, 35 of Silver Spring, enjoyed a finish of 34:50.

Young students and active adults enjoyed a sunny morning run in a friendly setting.

Read the race day report by renowned runner and writer Jim Hage