Photo above by Jim Kelly: George Ingham (21) of Williamsburg, VA ended the year winning the Festival of Lights 5K in 16:14. Then in February, he ran a monster 1:11:58 at the 27th Annual Anheuser Busch Colonial Half Marathon.

Open Men
Alexandria Turkey Trot 5M, 23:39, 10K = 29:49

Gurmesa Kumsa looked invincible winning the Alexandria Turkey Trot 5M in 23:39 (10K = 29:49). Four of the runners with sub 32:00 equivalents never bothered to race again in this period. Only ninth place Matt Barresi of Ashton, VA stayed the course after his 25:05 (10K = 31:38) finish. Indeed, Kumsa took some time off from the local races as well. The next big race was the GW Birthday 10K and Kumsa was there. He looked relaxed winning again in 30:55. Still, he had to know that fourth place Stephen Crane of Alexandria, VA was defending his turf with a spiffy 31:04. Michael Wardian ran 31:38, though he made his bones winning the B&A Trail Marathon in 2:25:30 (10K = 31:13). That was after he settled for sixth place at the Colonial HM in 68:57 (10K = 31:17).

Jacob Frey of Oakton, VA was runner-up in Williamsburg in 66:32 (10K = 30:11) to earn the second spot in the elite division. William Christian was just ahead of Wardian with 68:51 (10K = 31:14), but he had already won the Blue & Gray HM in December with 68:07 (10K = 30:54) as well as the East Beach HM in 70:30 (10K = 31:59) the first week of February.

So Kumsa moves on over to the Eastern Shore and races the Tim Kennard 5 Mile in Salisbury, MD to a humdrum minute and one- half victory (10K = 30:36). Sixth place Jeff Powers had already won the Sweetheart 8K in 24:27 (10K = 31:01) and was thinking he wants a piece of the action.

The next big match up comes at the Van Metre 5M. Once again, Kumsa is being goosed from behind by Stephen Crane and Patrick MacAdie of Washington, DC who had been fifth at GW Birthday 10K in 31:38. The time seemed slow for Kumsa, reinforcing rumors of a long course. He ran only 25:04 (10K = 31:37) to win but with two runners dogging him the whole way. This time MacAdie got the better of Crane and sprinted by for runner-up in 25:09 (10K = 31:43) to 25:11 (10K = 31:43). That bolstered MacAdie's claim on eighth place. Dave Berdan of Baltimore, MD won the Kelly's Shamrock 5K in the fastest such race of the period in 15:01 (10K = 31:19) to clinch seventh place.

Jake Klim of North Bethesda, MD matched 15:22 (10K = 32:03) 5Ks with Bert Rodriguez of Arlington, VA. Rodriguez takes the tenth spot in a head-to-head win at the GW Birthday 10K 32:08 to 32:13.

PL	Name                 	Age	Hometown
1	Kumsa, Gurmesa****	27	Waldorf, MD
2	Frey, Jacob      	25	Oakton, VA
3	Christian, William*	23	Norfolk, VA
4	Crane, Stephen**	25	Alexandria, VA
5	Wardian, Michael**	33	Arlington, VA
6	Powers, Jeff**      	23	Richmond, VA
7	Berdan, David **	25	Baltimore, MD
8	MacAdie, Patrick	23	Washington, DC
9	Barresi, Mathew 	24	Ashton, VA
10	Rodriguez, Bert**	26	Arlington, VA
11	Klim, Jake       	26	North Bethesda, MD
12	Reaves, Patrick***	22	College Park, MD
13	Farley, Chris    	30	Arlington, VA
14	Cable, Trevor      	23	Williamsburg, VA
15	Carroll, Ryan***	24	Portsmouth, VA
16	O'Hara, David   	30	Washington, DC
17	Ingham, George* 	21	Williamsburg, VA
18	Piggott, John** 	41	Williamsburg, VA
19	Hawkins, Jaron* 	24	Cumberland, MD
20	Rolly, Philippe 	34	Fairfax, VA
21	Haidat, Mudasar*	21	Alexandria, VA
22	Renjifo, Carlos *	24	Columbia, MD
23	Taylor, Erik    	28	Blacksburg, VA
24	Fahey, Tim          	33	Alexandria, VA
25	Shirk, Kevin**      	26	Winchester, VA
26	Lowe, Matt        	26	Arlington, VA

19 & Younger Men
VAB Turkey Trot 10K, 33:26

Photo at left by Brightroom.com: Neal Darmody (16) of Gaithersburg, MD started the period with a very solid 35:31 at the YMCA Turkey Chase 10K. He ran one qualifying time and received no winter ranking.

The teen division is always changing. Runners go away to school or run for their school but not on the road, and of course some will soon turn twenty and move to the tougher Open division. William Garland of Virginia Beach, VA touched down with the two top times to bookend the division. First, he was third overall at the VAB Turkey Trot 10K in 33:26. Then in March, he ran the Angel Flight 5K in 16:25 (10K = 34:15). Patrick Quinn of Washington, DC had a similar run. He ran Potter Homes 5K in 16:29 (10K = 34:23). In March, he mounted his attack at the John Robbins 8K in 27:40 (10K = 35:06).

Third place Josh Collins of Annapolis, MD ran the Super Bowl 5K in 16:41 (10K = 34:48). Then he tempted fate with a longer one, running the B&A Trail HM in 77:45 (10K = 35:17). Fourth place Geophery Mills of Chesapeake, VA and Charlie Celesia of Virginia Beach, VA never met. Between the two of them, they won all three TS Tune-up Series 10Ks. Mills ran 35:04 in February. In the two January races, Celesia ran 35:10 and 35:25.

Pl	Name                  	Age	Hometown
1	Garland, William**	19	Virginia Beach, VA
2	Quinn, Patrick* 	18	Washington, DC
3	Collins, Joshua*	19	Annapolis, MD
4	Mills, Geophery****	18	Chesapeake, VA
5	Celesia, Charlie**	17	Virginia Beach, VA
6	Sierakowski, Adam*	18	Perry Hall, MD
7	Aaron, Robert** 	19	Virginia Beach, VA
8	Budiansky, Andrew**	16	Leesburg, VA
9	Dewitt, Daniel**	19	Frostburg, MD
10	Werner, Christopher**	16	Chesapeake, VA
11	Mills, Christopher**	17	Baltimore, MD
12	Robinson, Ian*    	17	Roanoke, VA
13	Beaudwin, Jason*	18	Annapolis, MD
14	Gounley, Thomas****	16	Newport News, VA
15	Schiavone, Clint**	18	Stephens City, VA
16	Joson, Josh**    	17	Gaithersburg, MD
17	Hutton, Adam*     	19	Chesapeake, VA
18	Bryant, Jonathan*	19	Madison Heights, VA
19	Jaskot, Daniel* 	18	Richmond, VA
20	Whitlock, Jordan**	19	Lynchburg, VA
21	Wilson, Graham**	13	Newport News, VA
22	Billaud, Keran**	17	Dublin, VA
23	Evans, James*     	19	Evington, VA
24	Navia, Alexander	19	Annapolis, MD
25	Silver, Blake    	18	Poquoson, VA
26	O'Reilly, Seumas	13	Berryville, VA
27	Bugos, Zachary**	17	Poquoson, VA
28	Demaree, Grant**	14	Marriottsville, MD
29	Hoyt, Thomas*   	16	Rockville, MD
30	Ulmer, Grant**  	13	Chesapeake, VA
31	Everett, Patrick	18	Carney, MD
32	Vanderhoven, Ian	15	Yorktown, VA
33	Rouse, Nathan** 	16	Charlottesville, VA
34	Kilgore, Andrew*	16	Virginia Beach, VA
35	Donaghy, Henry  	19	Annapolis, MD

35 - 39 Men
Alexandria Turkey Trot 5M, 24:41, 10K = 31:08

Alexey Khokhlov outlasted Edmund Burke by three seconds at the Alexandria Turkey Trot 5M and neither was heard from again. Up steps Andres Wright of Frederick, MD and he wins the YMCA Turkey Chase 10K in 33:28. Then he turned 40 and was ready to make some front page news. He ran the Rotary Resolution 10K in 35:25 for second overall, behind Mark Stickley by 50 meters. Stickley was runner-up in the 40-44 division and also a threat to win it all.

Mike Colaiacovo of Baltimore, MD won over fifth place Tom Banchy of Catonsville, MD at the Celtic Solstice 5M in 27:06 (10K = 34:10) to 27:34 (10K = 34:46). Third place Edwin Martinez had a great day at the GW Birthday 10K, beating four other ranked runners. He ran 34:43. Matt Boyd was sixth with 34:47. Pavel Frelich was seventh with 35:15. Gene Inserto was tenth in 35:30 and former division champion Max Lockwood was eleventh in 35:30.

Amidst all this, John Hessian of Richmond, VA ran a sparkling 53:35 (10K = 34:44) at the Frostbite 15K to earn the fourth spot. Eighth place John Lomogda ran two cross-country races with very fast times. His 6K was in 20:40 (10K = 35:27).

Pl	Name            	Age	Hometown
1	Wright, Andres* 	39	Frederick, MD
2	Colaiacovo, Mike**	37	Baltimore, MD
3	Martinez, Edwin*	35	Alexandria, VA
4	Hessian, John** 	36	Richmond, VA
5	Banchy, Thomas **	39	Catonsville, MD
6	Boyd, Matt****  	36	Fredericksburg, VA
7	Frelich, Pavel  	35	Chevy Chase, MD
8	Lomogda, John** 	37	Norfolk, VA
9	Hillar, Andres**	39	Centreville, VA
10	Inserto, Gene   	35	Woodstock, MD
11	Lockwood, Max*  	36	Washington, DC
12	Yates, Kevin    	35	Olney, MD

40 - 44 Men
Lower Potomac Marathon, 2:33:05, 10K = 32:51

John Piggott of Williamsburg, VA got underway in February. He slowed 17 seconds from last year at the East Beach HM and finished runner-up. Two weeks later he ran the Colonial HM improving nine seconds to again win his age group. The week before that race Mark Stickley of Winchester, VA had won a big one at the GW Birthday 10K in 33:24. Piggott needed a tune-up before his title defense at the Lower Potomac Marathon. There it was, the Fort Eustis 10K, which he won outright in 33:23. With three wins, the division was already his own. He cemented the title winning the marathon again. This time he ran 2:33:05 (10K = 32:51). To runner-up Stickley's credit, his other two races were overall wins on tough courses with no one anywhere near him.

Mark Hoon of Kensington, MD knew there would be other five milers. MCRRC had four. Thus, he ran and won the twice as long version, Turkey Burnoff 10 Mile, in 57:57 (10K = 34:52) to cap off third place. Tom Purcell of Virginia Beach, VA had the fastest 5K of the period, running Creeds in 16:50 (10K = 35:07). Fifth place Carl Clark of New Market, MD ran the tough Celtic Solstice 5M in 28:00 (10K = 35:18) to earn fifth place.

Rodney Timpson of Baltimore, MD was sixth, running the Towson 5K in 17:06 (10K = 35:40). Steve Speirs of Virginia Beach, VA used his eight age group wins and a Turkey Trot 10K win in 35:47 to get lucky seven. Charles Powell of Parkville, MD broke up a 35:49 race deadlock with Jerry Henderson of Bel Air, MD by besting him at the Celtic Solstice by eight seconds in the second best race for both of them.

Pl	Name                	Age	Hometown
1	Piggott, John****	41	Williamsburg, VA
2	Stickley, Mark***	44	Winchester, VA
3	Hoon, Mark***   	41	Kensington, MD
4	Purcell, Tom**  	40	Norfolk, VA
5	Clark, Carl**** 	42	New Market, MD
6	Timpson, Rodney*	41	Baltimore, MD
7	Speirs, Steve*8 	40	Virginia Beach, VA
8	Powell, Charles****	41	Parkville, MD
9	Henderson, Jerry ***	41	Bel Air, MD
10	Poulos, Ted**   	44	McLean, VA
11	Irons, Dale**   	42	Millersville, MD
12	Rippey, Brad*7  	40	Bunker Hill, WV
13	Johnstone, Steve*	42	Virginia Beach, VA
14	Menzies, Steven*****	43	Langley AFB, VA
15	Smith, Gene**   	42	Burke, VA
16	Killeen, Sean*  	41	Richmond, VA
17	Samley, Chris** 	44	Earlysville, VA
18	Kessenich, Wes* 	44	Ruckersville, VA
19	Adams, John**   	44	Norfolk, VA
20	Beam, Will*       	41	Reston, VA
21	Jacobson, Paul**	43	Potomac, MD
22	D'Amanda, Kevin***	44	Bethesda, MD
23	Ito, Masaki**    	41	Falls Church, VA
24	Neff, Mark         	44	Rockville, MD
25	Lane, George     	40	Ashburn, VA
26	Anderson, Matt* 	40	Fairfax, VA
27	Maguire, Steve**	40	Arlington, VA

45 - 49 Men
HCS Metric Marathon, 1:35:05, 10K = 34:13

There are many runners in this growing division who are a threat to win the crown. Last period a former second masters in the world, Andrey Kuznetsov, who had run 2:14:20 at Grandma's Marathon, was relegated to 11th place. Last period's champion, Mark Malander of Oak Hill, VA, was struggling, winning his best race with a 10K time of 35:06. Dave Berardi of Catonsville, MD had already bested that, winning the masters at the Alexandria Turkey Trot 5M in 27:41 (10K = 34:55), nearly a minute slower than last year. Greg Cauller of York, PA would win the masters division at the Celtic Solstice in 27:31 (10K = 34:42).

Berardi reached down and finished third overall at the HCS Metric Marathon in 1:35:05 (10K = 34:13) to win the division. The last day of the period he would run a mere 16:52 (10K = 35:11). Later that same day, Cauller pushed home at the Kelly's Shamrock 5K in 16:28 (10K = 34:21) to get close toward the crown.

New to the division, Dai Roberts of Virginia Beach made an immediate impact taking third in the division with a fine TS Tune-up 20K in 1:12:40 (10K = 34:41). Malander finished well ahead of sixth place George Buckheit of Reston, VA at the Red Ribbon 5K 16:53 (10K = 35:13) to 17:35 (10K = 36:41). Both will be 50 soon. Buckheit did much better, finishing second in the ten year age group GW Birthday 10K in 35:18.

Fifth place Brain Daugherty of Annapolis, MD lost to Cauller at the Colonial HM 77:35 (10K = 35:12) to 78:02 (10K = 35:24). Still, Daugherty was coming off another one, the East Beach HM in 77:48 (10K = 35:18) two weeks earlier.

Pl	Name                  	Age	Hometown
1	Berardi, Dave***	46	Baltimore, MD
2	Cauller, Greg***	47	York , PA
3	Roberts, Dai**  	45	Virginia Beach, VA
4	Malander, Mark***	48	Oak Hill, VA
5	Daugherty, Brian****	47	Chesapeake, VA
6	Buckheit, George*	49	Reston, VA
7      Arcaz, Jean-Christophe*** 45	Rockville, MD
8	Haaga, David*** 	45	Rockville, MD
9	Falmagne, Christian****	45	Bethesda, MD
10	Poulos, Ted*7     	45	McLean, VA
11	Kuderna, Doug** 	45	Odenton, MD
12	Mace, Matthew***	46	Arnold, MD
13     Spiekerman, Burkhardt*** 49	Charlottesville, VA
14	McLaughlin, Terry***	46	Spotsylvania, VA
15	Dietz, Steve    	47	Springfield, VA
16	Hattar, Thomas**	45	Davidsonville, MD
17	Coleman, Dennis*	48	Gaithersburg, MD
18	Garbini, Hernan****	45	Waynesboro, VA
19	Stiegmann, Marty*	46	Glen Allen, VA
20	Horan, Marty*     	47	Gaithersburg, MD
21	Wadsworth, Jim* 	49	Washington, DC
22	Morrison, Jack**	47	Hartwood, VA
23	McFadden, Weems 	49	Laurel, MD
24	Wills, Stephen**	45	Washington, DC
25	Meadows, Mike** 	49	Martinsburg, WV
26	Dolan, Kevin    	47	Owings Mill, MD
27	Vanderveer, Gary***	49	Yorktown, VA
28	King, Jack      	48	Richmond, VA
29	Labuschagne, Gerrit*	45	Richmond, VA
30	Chall, John*         	45	Jessup, MD
31	Silliman, Scott 	46	Poolesville, MD
32	Burris, Eric**   	46	Baltimore, MD
33	Stahr, Bill*     	46	The Plains, VA
34	Malloy, Patrick 	47	Phoenix, MD
35	Boyette, Paul** 	46	Chesapeake, VA
36	Smith, Scott      	48	Charlottesville, VA

50 - 54 Men
Fort Eustis 10K, 35:01

Photo by Brightroom.com: While leading the MCRRC track workouts on Wednesdays, Denis McDonald (52) of Woodbine, MD has renewed his racing. In late November, he ran the Northern Central Trail Marathon in 3:00:34.

The division increased by a third and so did Stephen Chantry's hold. He seemed almost miffed that no one else was running sub 17:00 for the 5K. Last year, he started the year with a 16:30 at Sentara Days. This year he slowed to 17:07 (10K 35:42) albeit an overall win.

The last weekend of the period three of his top competitors tried to make his day. Maurice Pointer of Baltimore, MD closed with a superb 17:09 (10K = 35:46) for third place. Then Dan Lawson of Gaithersburg, MD drew away from third overall Peter Darmody (17:24, 10K = 36:18) at the Run Aware 5K to finish runner-up in 16:55 (10K = 35:17). Chantry, who was preparing to defend his 3K and 1M titles at the USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boston, only ran one other race. It was the checkmate, a 35:01 at the Fort Eustis 10K. In Boston he came up a winner, winning the 3K in 9:28.12 and the mile in 4:47:39 as well as an 800M in 2:09.92.

Darmody ran five 5-milers. His slowest, just two days after winning the Turkey Chase 10K in 38:47, was his only win. Lawson took the honors at three of the four MCRRC 5-mile races. Mike Hart of Washington, DC ran well at the Celtic Solstice 5M with 29:30 (10K = 37:12) to Darmody's 30:11 (10K = 38:04). Hart raced the GW Birthday 10K in 36:01 to almost catch Darmody for fourth. Mark Courtney of Grove City, PA ventured over the Northern Central Trail Marathon course in 2:53:19 (10K = 37:12) for sixth place just ahead of James Bates of Hampton, VA who ran his best race at the Colonial HM in 81:43 (10K = 37:05).

Pl	Name                 	Age	Hometown
1	Chantry, Stephen**	52	Williamsburg, VA
2	Lawson, Dan**** 	50	Gaithersburg, MD
3	Pointer, Maurice****	51	Baltimore, MD
4	Hart, Mike***** 	51	Washington, DC
5	Darmody, Peter*****	51	Gaithersburg, MD
6	Courtney, S Mark**	50	Grove City, PA
7	Bates, James**  	51	Hampton, VA
8	Compton, Norton****	52	Fairfax, VA
9	McDonald, Dave***	50	Norfolk, VA
10	Serra, Paul**   	50	Lusby, MD
11	Bollinger, Dave***	51	Kensington, MD
12	Lerner, Steven****	51	Glen Allen, VA
13	McDonald, Denis 	52	Woodbine, MD
14	Halpin, Bruce** 	50	Ashburn, VA
15	Morgan, Richard*	54	Silver Spring, MD
16	Rust, Roland    	54	Bethesda, MD
17	Divetta, Chris**	50	Chesterfield, VA
18	Burns, Bob*     	54	Columbia, MD
19	Bogart, George* 	52	McLean, VA
20	Mears, Finley   	50	Towson, MD
21	Beatty, Dean*** 	54	Virginia Beach, VA
22	Lemcke, Mike*   	51	Mechanicsville, VA
23	Thornton, Jim** 	52	Seaford, VA
24	Carroll, Brian* 	51	Silver Spring, MD
25      Tom Ruckert*            54      Grantsville, MD
26	Delaplaine, Bruce	51	Bethesda, MD
27	Rodriguez, Roberto*	51	Arlington, VA
28	Abel, Mark**    	52	Earlysville, VA
29	Robinson, Steve *	51	Herndon, VA
30	Clardy, Peter   	50	Rockville, MD
31	Bousel, Paul    	53	Alexandria, VA
32	Olson, Thomas   	50	Vienna, VA
33	Clark, Tom      	52	Burke, VA
34	Arnade, Tim**   	50	Arlington, VA
35	Piersol, Morrie 	54	Richmond, VA
36	Sengebusch, Marc*	53	Baltimore, MD
37	DeKornfeld, Tom*	53	Annapolis, MD
38	Adams, Jim*     	51	Baltimore, MD
39	Iscool, Mark    	50	Richmond, VA
40	Grimsley, Gary  	52	Springfield, VA
41	Richter, Ben*   	50	Washington, DC

55 - 59 Men
Virginia Run Turkey Trot 5K, 18:12, 10K = 37:58

Mick Slonaker of Columbia, MD wanted to repeat as champion. That is not easy to do. By the time he took down last period's runner-up, Tim Morgan of Damascus, MD, at the Celtic Solstice 5M, it was already all over. His 30:55 (10K = 38:59) was solid, as was Morgan's 31:04 (10K = 39:11). In February, he was frantically looking for a second race. He settled on the hometown Swansfield 5M and ran well at 31:31 over the garbled, twisting, hilly course. Neither would crack the top five.

Richard Adams, Jr. of Herndon, VA had aged up and blasted a Virginia Run 5K in 18:12 (10K = 37:58). He topped it off with an Acumen Solutions Jingle All the Way 10K win in 38:11. Even a momentary loss to third place Dan Eddy of Alexandria, VA at the Red Ribbon 5K 18:49 to 18:55 would not dislodge him. He had beaten Eddy's 38:45 at Jingle All the Way.

After peeking to see that Chuck Moeser was not coming back yet, Rick Platt of Williamsburg, VA put up an excellent 38:15 at Toys for Tots 10K in November. In a late March rush he boosted his stock with a Fort Eustis 10K in 38:11 to match Adams. Platt ended the period taking down Dan Eddy's DCRRC JFK 5K time of 18:22 (10K = 38:19), which had been the Best of 2007 with his Swamp Run 5K in 18:20 (10K = 38:15).

Jim Wright of Gaithersburg, MD was just hanging around until that warm day in January. Then he let loose at the DCRRC JFK 20K, matching Eddy's 5K performance with his 80:15 (10K = 38:18) to take fourth place. Eddy had four more age group wins faster than Wright's next best effort. Bill Taylor of Woodbridge, VA proved his win at Army was no fluke, earning fifth place with his GW Birthday 10K win in 38:29.

Larry Washington of Rockville, MD used his speed to dart ahead of Morgan, running the Christmas Caper 5K in 18:42 (10K = 39:00). Paul Ryan of Arlington, VA settled just behind Morgan in a nail biter with his JFK 5K in 18:45 (10K = 39:07).

Pl	Name            	Age	Hometown
1	Adams Jr., Richard*	55	Herndon, VA
2	Platt, Rick*6     	56	Williamsburg, VA
3	Eddy, Dan****    	55	Alexandria, VA
4	Wright, Jim**    	57	Gaithersburg, MD
5	Taylor, Bill*      	58	Woodbridge, VA
6	Slonaker, Mick**	56	Columbia, MD
7	Washington, Larry	55	Rockville, MD
8	Morgan, Timothy****	56	Damascus, MD
9	Ryan, Paul***   	55	Arlington, VA
10	Bognar, Steve** 	55	Alexandria, VA
11	Senior, Malcolm**	55	New Market, MD
12	Abrahamson, Dale***	57	Yorktown, VA
13	Alto, Bill***      	55	Newport News, VA
14	Cantley, Dan*      	58	Norfolk, VA
15	Day, Joseph        	56	Yorktown, VA
16	Carlisle, Richard	55	Springfield, VA
17	Stevens, Bobby**	57	Stafford, VA
18	Celesia, Angelo*	58	Virginia Beach, VA
19	Scott, William       	59	Glen Arden, MD
20	Bussiere, David*	57	Virginia Beach, VA
21	Crawford, Dave*****	56	Arlington, VA
22	Holt, Mark        	55	Williamsburg, VA
23	Carbary, James***	55	Clarksville, MD
24	Vaughan, Allen* 	56	Stafford, VA
25	Whisler, Mark*  	56	Salem, VA
26	Senseney, Bill**	57	Charles Town, WV
27	Wind, Jay       	56	Arlington, VA

60 - 64 Men
Acumen Solutions Jingle All the Way 10K, 38:33

Photo by Brightroom.com: James Daley (62) of Alexandria, VA ran a very credible 35:10 at the Alexandria Turkey Trot 5M

Running Times voted Patrick Griffith Runner of the Year for 2006. We already knew that. Going into the Disney Marathon, Griffith has a streak of winning his age group in 126 straight races. He did most of his considerable damage in late 2006. Griffith has moved to Florida, but he came back in February for a nostalgic win. In fact, he plans to return in May to blitz all of his competitors who are relieved he has retired-from his job, though, not racing.

In December, he slowed a barely perceptible three seconds from last year's Gar Williams HM to 1:27:06 (10K = 39:31). This spurred him on to race the Jingle All the Way 10K in 38:33. He finished the year at the Red Ribbon 5K in 18:45 (10K = 39:07).

Short distance speedster Jason Page of Hamilton, VA had a sparse winter, racing only twice. His opening bid at Ashburn Turkey Trot 5K in 19:14 (10K = 40:07) was almost enough. He did not get his second race, an uninspired Prediction Run 4 Mile, until late February. John Kirkpatrick of Annapolis, MD always runs a strong Anniversary Run 15K. This year he was great in 61:46 (10K= 40:02). His second race was a heartbreaker loss by one second to Ronnie Wong of Catonsville, MD at the Valentine's Day 5K in 20:24 (10K = 42:33). Wong had already run three of his five marathons of the period at the time. Wong also won his age group 12 times. This iron man ended the period with two 5K age group wins on the same day. He ran the Outback 5K in 20:11 (10K = 42:06) and later in the day finished with his best race of the period at Kelly's Shamrock 5K in 19:51 (10K = 41:24).

The next three spots are ultra close. Jim Bell of Charlottesville, VA races a 26:55 (10K = 43:02) 4 miler. John Brittain of Alexandria, VA wins the Snowflake 5K in 20:38 (10K = 43:02). Bell breaks the tie with his New Year's 5K in 20:40 (10K = 43:07). Brittain's next best race is the DCRRC JFK 5K in 20:51 (10K = 43:30). Bell won both of his races. Brittain won three of his four. Jim Noone of Fairfax, VA sneaks between them by winning all seven of his races, including besting Brittain at JFK in 20:47 (10K = 43:21).

Pl	Name             	Age	Hometown
1	Griffith, Patrick*6	62	Alexandria, VA
2	Kirkpatrick, John*	63	Annapolis, MD
3	Page, Jason**       	61	Hamilton, VA
4	Wong, Ronnie*12 	60	Catonsville, MD
5	Bell, Jim**      	61	Charlottesville, VA
6	Noone, Jim*7        	62	Fairfax, VA
7	Brittain, John***	62	Alexandria, VA
8	Shapiro, Lou**   	64	Silver Spring, MD
9	Franklin, Greg**	60	South Hill, VA
10	Haubert, John** 	64	Alexandria, VA
11	Chase, Bob*       	61	Falls Church, VA
12	Daley, James*      	62	Alexandria, VA
13	Golash, Michael*	63	Washington, DC
14	Coleman, Norm*      	62	Chevy Chase, MD
15	Baca, Ted        	61	Arlington, VA
16	Loughran, John*****	62	Sandston, VA
17	Hensel, Donald         	61	Gaithersburg, MD
18	Hawkland, Doug* 	60	Dayton, MD
19	Wingfield, Randy**	61	Winchester, VA
20	Brown, Walter    	63	Gaithersburg, MD
21	Revanna, Krupakar	63	Falls Church, VA
22	Tufts, Craig*          	60	Middleburg, VA
23	Bullock, Jim**   	64	Westminster, MD
24	Hozik, James      	61	Great Falls, VA
25	McEvilly, Eamonn	64	Springfield, VA
26	Berg-Cross, Gary*	63	Potomac, MD
27	Chaconas, Greg* 	61	Washington, DC
28	Mayhew, Ed****  	61	Winchester, VA
29	Long, William   	60	Columbia, MD
30	Kush, Michael   	61	Burke, VA
31	Malloy, Patrick 	60	Ellicott City, MD
32	Bitgood, Jim*   	61	Laurel, MD
33	Trost, Robert   	60	Falls Church, VA
34	Gaddy, Clifford 	60	Kensington, MD
35	Pane, Richard     	63	Herndon, VA
36	Patterson, Mark*	60	Virginia Beach, VA
37	Masterson, Dan    	62	Annapolis, MD
38	Fleming, Mike** 	61	Columbia, MD
39	Turner, Larry** 	63	Seaford, VA
40	Woodward, Lance**	60	Baltimore, MD
41	Coleman, Jim*   	61	Norfolk, VA
42	Rheinheimer, Kurt**	60	Roanoke, VA
43	Tucker, Frederick**	60	Fredericksburg, VA
44	Valenza, Joseph 	60	Upper Marlboro, MD
45	Lascano, Chuck  	64	Charlottesville, VA

65 - 69 Men
AS Anniversary 15K, 1:03:34, 1OK = 41:12

Since entering the division, Lou Shapiro has been a dynamo. He did finish second at the Virginia Run 5K but that race has ten- year age groups and 60-64 national Runner of the Year Patrick Griffith. He also lost two 5 milers to Warren Prunella of Rockville, MD. Prunella is the hardest working runner in the business but he also has more than his share of injuries, which he is often running through. Prunella started the fall with a solid 73:11 (10K = 44:02). In early January, Shapiro easily bested him at the far easier Al Lewis 10 Mile in 72:46 (10K = 43:47) to 76:18 (10K = 45:55). Prunella wisely rested. Shapiro took on another long one the following week. It was a masterful DCRRC 20K in 1:30:07 (10K = 43:01) to upset Skip Mullaney of Charlottesville, VA for the runner-up spot. Then he rested the next two weeks and got stuffed by Prunella at the Shooting Starr 5M 34:44 to 36:09. He would give up another slow one to Prunella but in all he won eight times.

Mullaney's opening bid of four wins was the best effort. His ran the hometown 4 miler in 27:20 (10K = 43:42) in December. Division winner John Elliott of Columbia, MD had already surpassed that with his first race, the Laurel Turkey Trot 5K in 20:54 (10K = 43:36). The following week he lowered the boom with a swift 20:24 (10K = 42:33) at the Metric 5K. Then, as he often does, he put it all out of reach with a fine 63:34 (10K = 41:12) at the Anniversary 15K.

Robert Wright of Hampton, VA outmatched Stephen Forman of Arlington, VA with his 21:12 Sentara 5K. Forman won the Christmas Caper 5K in 21:27.

Pl	Name                 	Age	Hometown
1	Elliot, John*** 	68	Columbia, MD
2	Shapiro, Lou*8   	65	Silver Spring, MD
3	Mullaney, Skip****	67	Charlottesville, VA
4	Prunella, Warren***	65	Rockville, MD
5	Wright, Robert**	65	Hampton, VA
6	Forman, Stephen*	66	Mclean, VA
7	Pitarra, Jack***	66	Baltimore, MD
8	Robbins, Chan****	69	Arlington, VA
9	Merrill, Sammy**	65	Fredericksburg, VA
10	Williams, Mel** 	69	Norfolk, VA
11	Gallagher, Bernie*	66	Fairfax, VA
12	Lougee, Duane***	69	Norfolk. VA
13	Patton, Tom**     	66	Virginia Beach, VA
14	Barber, Sonny*   	65	Falls Church, VA
15	Cavanaugh, Jim    	65	Arlington, VA
16	Delambo, Nick      	65	Baltimore, MD
17	Munday, John*       	66	Chesapeake, VA
18	Quincy, Ken        	69	Vienna, VA
19	Morris, Doug*** 	68	Delaplaine, VA
20	Sollers, Bill***	67	Silver Spring, MD
21	Polinski, Joseph	68	Smithfield, VA
22	Pierce, Dick       	68	Rescue, VA
23	Fitzgerald, Preston	67	Virginia Beach, VA

70 - 74 Men
Anheuser Busch Colonial Half-Marathon, 1:45:23, 10K = 47:49

The division got a little smaller as a bunch of runners aged up. Richard Williams of Alexandria, VA continues to lay down the hammer. He says, "That Chris Catoe is one tough runner." Going for the gusto, Catoe won six of seven races, running a 20K, HM, 25K, & 30K. His only "loss" was a season opening second place in the 65 & over division of the VAB Turkey Trot in 50:46. With nearly eight hundred finishers they could add a few more age groups. Tom Ray of Kitty Hawk, NC normally runs a ton of races. This period he waited till the end, racing the Jamestown 5K in 24:22 (10K = 50:50). He took the third spot from Catoe with his second race, the penultimate weekend at the Fort Eustis 10K in 49:41.

Maynard Weyers of Alexandria, VA won the division in early December with a Jingle All the Way 10K in 48:40. Then he ended the contest and the year firmly in one of the few head-to- heads. At the Red Ribbon 5K he ousted runner-up Williams 23:21 (10K = 48:42) to 23:50 (10K= 49:43). Williams held off Ray for second with his own two last minute races. At the B&A Trail HM, he ran 1:48:44 (10K = 49:20). Then the final weekend he ran Kelly's Shamrock 5K in 23:45 910K = 49:33). Williams won his division eight times. Duane Lougee is the next big threat for the title.

Pl	Name                 	Age	Hometown
1	Weyers, Maynard**	70	Alexandria, VA
2	Williams, Richard*8	71	Alexandria, VA
3	Ray, Tom**          	73	Kitty Hawk, NC
4	Catoe, Chris*6  	72	Virginia Beach, VA
5	Measham, Tony***	72	Chevy Chase, MD
6	Rider, Alan*     	70	Reston, VA
7	McCarthy, Terry****	70	Leesburg, VA

75 - 79 Men
MCRRC Shooting Starr 5 Mile, 42:33, 10K = 53:39

Photo by Brightroom.com: Keith Olson (75) of Silver Spring, MD, while moving into a new division, nearly caught division champion Jack McMahon at the MCRRC Country Road Run 5M.

Jack McMahon of Rockville, MD is still having his way with the division but not as easily. He has the five fastest times, winning the Shooting Starr 5M over third place Keith Olson 42:33 to 45:58 in January. Then in February, they met again at the Country Road Run 5M in Olney, a mere four miles from McMahon's home. The battle tightened greatly with McMahon eeking out a victory, 46:04 to 46:07.

Larry Dickerson of Burke, VA is back. He ran the elongated Van Metre 5M in 46:12. Dickerson is not as svelte as he was before he took some time off to recover from injuries. Still, in his first effort back on New Year's Eve, he raced the Festival of Lights 5K in 26:34 (10K = 55:25). McMahon ran the Red Ribbon 5K in 25:57 (10K = 53:51). Charles Day of Reston, VA stayed in the mix with his 58:44 Fall into Winter 10K. Looming on the horizon is George Yannakakis, one of the mighty three (with Dickerson and McMahon) battling through the last four or five age groups.

Pl	Name               	Age	Hometown
1	McMahon, Jack*7 	75	Rockville, MD
2	Dickerson, Larry*	75	Burke, VA
3	Olson, Keith      	75	Silver Spring. MD
4	Day, Charles*       	75	Potomac Falls, VA
5	Green, Edward***	75	Washington, DC
6	Freestone, Harry**	79	Charlottesville, VA
7	Zenchoff, Philip**	79	Silver Spring. MD

80 & Up Men
Sentara 5K, 29:45, 10K = 1:02:04

Nagging injuries have slowed some of the regulars, such as Walt Washburn of Vienna, VA and Bill Osburn of Bethesda, MD. Wendell Golden of Annandale, VA spaced out his three races every six weeks with his best effort the Charlottesville 4 Mile in 43:22 (10K = 1:09:21). Former MCRRC Masters Runner of the Year Bill Morrison of Rockville, MD just turned 80 and finishes second, running the Run Aware 5K in 33:46 (10K 1:17:23). The younger Bob Atkins (81) usually beats his SVR compadre, Robie Cone (83).

Pl	Name               	Age	Hometown
1	Golden, Wendell***	81	Charlottesville, VA
2	Morrison, Bill***	80	Rockville, MD
3	Atkins, Bob*6      	81	Winchester, VA
4	Cone, Robie       	83	Berryville, VA

See the Women's Winter 2007 WRR Runner Rankings