Summer brought warmer temperatures and yet more rain. Competition in the summer is usually not quite as fierce, but that did not stop 80 races in the Washington area over the four- month rating period. Many fine performances were recorded. In spite of the recent stiffening of the qualifying standards in many age groups, there was no lack of qualifiers. In fact the summer rankings list, usually not as strong as the spring and fall lists, this year was exceptionally deep with strong performances. That may have been due to the somewhat cooler weather this year. Megan McLaughlin (23) of Alexandria, Virginia, was the youngest qualifier, and 84-year-old Cokey Daman of Virginia Beach was the oldest.

Women's Summer 2003 Rankings


Men's Summer 2003 Rankings

About the Runner Rankings
The goal of the runner rankings is to rank the best runners of Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia, in five-year age groups, for the purpose of stimulating competition in the Washington region. Runners are ranked only according to performances in rated races. To be rated, a race must meet the following criteria:


- Take place in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia
- Full results listed on the Washington Running Report Web site
- 100+ finishers
- Must list age (and preferably also city and state of residence) of all runners
- Standard distance: 5K, 4-mile, 8K, 10K, 12K, 15K, 10-mile, 20K, 1/2 Marathon, 25K, 30K, 20-mile, or Marathon
- Road race or cross-country (not track)


To be rated, a race must meet all of the above criteria. There will be no exceptions. If you place well in a race and want it rated, be sure to ask the race director to e-mail the complete results to the Washington Running Report at office@runwashington.com so the race can be posted on the WRR Web site and counted in the runner rankings.

Runners will be rated by age divisions for both men and women, with the divisions being open, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55- 59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, and 75 and over. As participation warrants, these age divisions will be extended or combined. The open divisions will be rated according to gun time, and age groups will be rated according to chip time, if chip timing is in effect.

Runners may be rated in a rating period by meeting the following criteria:

- Reside in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia
- Better the time standard in two rated races


The ratings are established using a completely objective rating procedure. The ratings are formed by a preliminary sort, followed by an intensive analysis of competitive results. The preliminary sort is based on number of qualifying marks and best times. The final ranking, though, is based more on head-to-head competitive results against the other top placers, with time playing a secondary role. Our general philosophy is that competition is about beating other runners, and we intend to place an increased emphasis on competitive results. Runners who compete against (and beat) other top competitors in their age group will be rewarded with higher rankings. Time will still play a major role in the rankings, but that role will be secondary to competition.

To qualify for the end-of-year ratings, top priority will go to runners who qualify in two rating periods. If there are fewer than ten runners, then a top ten will be filled out with single qualifiers. These ratings are also formed by a preliminary sort, followed by a more involved analysis of competitive results. The preliminary sort is based on seasonal rankings and best times. The final ranking is again based more on head-to-head competitive results against the other top placers, with time playing a secondary role.

Qualifying times are set in each age division for the 10K, and then adjusted for other distances using the WAVA age-graded tables. The qualifying standards will be adjusted periodically.

Autumn 2003 Qualifying Standards for the 10K

Age Group	Men		Women
Open		32:52		37:43
35-39		34:56		41:48
40-44		36:06		43:29
45-49		37:26		47:38*
50-54		40:15		50:24
55-59		43:03		52:53
60-64		47:09		62:05
65-69		52:50		75:00
70-74		58:07		91:45
75+		95:00		99:00
* indicates standards recently changed

The ratings periods for the remainder of the year are:

- Fall -- September 2-November 16 (reported January-February '04)
- Best of 2003 (reported March-April '04)

Happy racing and good luck!

Races Included in the Summer 2003 Ranking Period:

Race Name                	Location
5K Run for Autism         	Henrico, VA
5K Run for Mental Health	Williamsburg, VA
AEP Festival Run 10K/5K 	Roanoke, VA
Annapolis 10-Mile        	Annapolis, MD
Bastille Day 4-Mile       	Washington, DC
Battlefield Half-Marathon	Richmond, VA
Bel Air Town Run 5K       	Bel Air, MD
Belle Haven 8K           	Alexandria, VA
Bon Air Park 5K          	Arlington, VA
Bun Run 5K               	Towson, MD
Burning Tree 5K          	Bethesda, MD
C&O Canal 5-Mile          	Williamsport, MD
Capital Crescent 5K      	Bethesda, MD
Capital One Toucan 10K    	Vienna, VA
Cascades Firechase 10K   	Sterling, VA
Charles Village 5K        	Baltimore, MD
Check It Out Challenge 5K	Baltimore, MD
Chicken Run 5-Mile       	Charlottesville, VA
CHIPS Run for the Children 5K	Chesapeake, VA
Civitans/YMCA Memorial Day 10K	Fredericksburg, VA
Coast Guard Day 5K       	Yorktown, VA
Crofton 10K               	Crofton, MD
Cul du Sac 5K             	Richmond, VA
Cure Autism Now 5K        	Potomac, MD
Damien's Run 5K          	Columbia, MD
Dawson's Father's Day 5-Mile	Annapolis, MD
Dog Days 8K Cross-Country	Annapolis, MD
Dreaded Druid Hills 10K 	Baltimore, MD
Fairview 5K              	Charlottesville, VA
Freedom Run 5K            	Yorktown, VA
Gaithersburg Cross-Country 5K	Gaithersburg, MD
GBMC Father's Day 5K      	Towson, MD
Go Fourth 8K             	Alexandria, VA
Heritage Festival 5-Mile	Fredericksburg, VA
Herndon Festival 10K/5K 	Herndon, VA
Independence Day 5K       	Virginia Beach, VA
Innsbrook 5K              	Richmond, VA
Iron Furnace 5K          	Lonaconing, MD
Jimmy Lears 10-Miler      	Baltimore, MD
Katie DeRosa WDF 5K       	Cumberland, MD
Kentlands/Lakelands 5K    	Gaithersburg, MD
Kiwanis 4th of July 5K    	Charlottesville, VA
Langley 8K Cross-Country	McLean, VA
Laurel 5K                	Laurel, MD
Lawyers Have Heart 10K    	Washington, DC
Leesburg 10K             	Leesburg, VA
Life Bridge Health 5-Mile	Pikesville, MD
Lions Run for Sight 5K    	Norfolk, VA
MC VET 10K/5K            	Baltimore, MD
Mitzvah 5K               	Arlington, VA
Mud Run 8K               	Norfolk, VA
National Race for the Cure	Washington, DC
Oy Vay 10K/5K            	Rockville, MD
Riley's Rumble Half-Marathon	Seneca, MD
Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon	Virginia Beach, VA
Rockville Rotary Twilight 8K	Rockville, MD
Run for Hope 5K          	Richmond, VA
Run for Roses 5K          	Wheaton, MD
SPCA 5K                   	Richmond, VA
SPCA Run for Shelter 5K 	Fredericksburg, VA
St. Agnes Labor Day 5K    	Canton, MD
Stoneleigh Stampede 5K    	Towson, MD
Stratford Hills 10K       	Richmond, VA
Sunrise 5K               	Herndon, VA
Super Day 5K             	Fort Eustis, VA
Take Back the Night 5K    	Olney, MD
Tim Harmon 5K             	Fairfax, VA
Unofficial DC Memorial Day 5K	Washington, DC
Vineyards of Williamsburg 5K	Williamsburg, VA
WaWa Hartwood 10-Mile     	Hartwood, VA
Williamsburg  Run for Life 10K	Newport News, VA
Women's Distance Classic 5K	Baltimore, MD
Women's Distance Festival 5K	Reston, VA
Women's Distance Festival 5K	Columbia, MD
Women's Distance Festival 5K	Virginia Beach, VA
Women's Distance Festival 5K	Annapolis, MD