Note: The runner rankings by Roland Rust conclude with the 'Best of 2004'. Please direct any inquiries regarding runner rankings to James Moreland.

The year-end rankings provide an opportunity to look back at the entire year, across all four ranking periods, and determine who the top runners were. Because a full year is used to determine the rankings, the annual rankings present the most accurate picture of whom the top runners were in the year just concluded. The 2004 year-end rankings include 357 rated races in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia (up thirty percent from 2003). To be ranked, a runner must have been ranked in two ranking periods (with the exception of a few age groups, where one-time qualifiers were needed to fill out the list).

The youngest qualifier was 21-year-old Atalelech Ketema of Washington, DC, and the oldest was 86-year-old Hedy Marque of Alexandria, VA. Runners who have led their divisions in four or more consecutive years are Patrick Griffith (55-59) of Alexandria, VA, Lee DiPietro (W 45-49) of Ruxton, MD, Sharon Dolan (W 60-64) of Gaithersburg, MD, and Kay Morrison (W 75-79) of Potomac, MD. Chuck Moeser (50-54) of Sterling, VA is a three- time repeat winner. Two-time repeaters are Nianxiang Xie (75-79) of Rockville, MD, Walt Washburn (80-84) of Vienna, VA, Atalelech Ketema (W Open) of Washington, DC, Maria Spinnler (W 40-44) of Hagerstown, MD, Alice Franks (W 50-54) of Rockville, MD, Pat Ewell (W 70-74) of Williamsburg, VA, and Hedy Marque (W 80+) of Alexandria, VA.

Men's Best of 2004 Rankings

Women's Best of 2004 Rankings

The goal of the runner rankings is to rank the best runners of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and 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.

Schedule for WRR Runner Rankings
Winter Runner Rankings, November 16, 2004 to March 11, 2005 - reported May-June '05

Spring Runner Rankings, March 12, 2005 to May 22, 2005 - reported July-August '05

Summer Runner Rankings, May 23, 2005 to September 5, 2005 - reported November-December '05

Fall Runner Rankings, September 6, 2005 to November 20, 2005 - reported January-February '06

Best of 2005 - reported March-April '06

How to Get Ranked
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
- 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 included, 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 ranked 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 ranked according to gun time, and age groups will be ranked according to chip time, if chip timing is in effect.

Runners may be ranked in a ranking period by meeting the following criteria:

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

The rankings are established using a completely objective ranking procedure. The rankings 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 on an analysis of head-to-head competitive results against the other top placers, with time playing an important, but secondary, role.

To qualify for the end-of-year rankings, top priority will go to runners who qualify in two ranking periods. These rankings 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 an important, but 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.

Qualifying Standards for the 10K

Age Group 	   Men		   Women
Open		   34:20	   41:15
19 & Under	   38:20	   46:05
35-39		   36:40	   44:10
40-44		   38:20	   46:05
45-49		   39:45	   48:45
50-54		   42:00	   51:45
55-59		   43:55	   54:30
60-64		   49:45	   62:05
65-69		   52:50	   75:00
70-74		   56:20	   89:40
75-79		 1:35:00	 1:45:00
80 & up 	 1:40:00	 1:50:00