Winter couldn't last forever, and when the weather warmed up the running really came to life. Sixty races were included in the spring ranking period, even though it only lasted two months. The performances were exceptionally strong, and the large number of qualifiers has resulted in the qualifying standards again being tightened. Qualifiers ranged from 13-year-old prodigy Aurora Scott, to 85-year-old Hedy Marque. What's more, there were many very competitive races, in which the top racers competed head-to-head. Washington area running continues to get better and better.

Women's Spring 2003 Rankings

Men's Spring 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, D.C., 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 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 (for example, in the winter 2003 ratings there were no qualifiers in the women's 70-74 division, so results were reported for 70+). 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 ranked in a rating period by meeting the following criteria:

- Reside in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia
- Better the time standard in two rated races

The rankings are established using a completely objective rating 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 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 rankings, top priority will go to runners who qualify in two ranking 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.

Summer 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*		48:13*
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 ranking periods for the remainder of the year are:

- Summer: May 19-September 1 (reported November-December '03) - Fall: September 2-November 16 (reported January-February '04)

Happy racing and good luck!

Races Included in the Spring 2003 Ranking Period:

Race Name                   	Location
5K by the Bay              	Newport News, VA
Azalea 8K                  	Virginia Beach, VA
Azalea Classic 5K         	University Park, MD
Billy Korrow 5K           	Baltimore, MD
Buckroe Beach Blast 8K     	Hampton, VA
Capitol Hill Classic 10K	Washington, DC
C & P Brain Tumor Society 5K    Washington, DC
Charlottesville 10-Mile 	Charlottesville, VA
Charlottesville 5K, Half & Marathon  Charlottesville, VA
Cherry Pit 10-Miler       	Annapolis, MD
Clyde's 10K                	Columbia, MD
CU Cherry Blossom 10-Mile	Washington, DC
Elizabeth River Run 10K	        Norfolk, VA
Ford's Colony 8K          	Williamsburg, VA
Fort Eustis 10K           	Fort Eustis, VA
Frederick Marathon          	Frederick, MD
Garrett's 5K               	Frederick, MD
G W Parkway 10-Mile & 5K	Alexandria, VA
Germantown 5-Miler         	Germantown, MD
Hills of Cabin John 5K     	Potomac, MD
Linwood Holton H.S. 5K     	Richmond, VA
MACPA 1040 5K             	Baltimore, MD
Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K	Baltimore, MD
Mantua Raccoon 5K            	Fairfax, VA
Mark's Azalea Run 5K      	Bethesda, MD
Martha Jefferson 8K       	Charlottesville, VA
Maryland Day Run for Hospice 5K  Leonardtown, MD
May Day 5K                 	Alexandria, VA
NSHS Scholarship 5K         	Fredericksburg, VA
O'Doul's Shamrock 5K       	Baltimore, MD
Oriole Advocates 5K       	Baltimore, MD
Pantherlon 5K              	Alexandria, VA
Patriot Cup Corp Challenge 8K	Fairfax, VA
Piece of Cake 10K          	Gaithersburg, MD
Pike's Peek 10K          	Rockville, MD
Plaza America Family 5K 	Reston, VA
Running Crab 1/2 Marathon & 5K	Hampton, VA
Preakness 5K & 10K        	Baltimore, MD
Queen's Lake 5K           	Williamsburg, VA
Reach Out and Run 5K       	Towson, MD
Reston 10-Miler           	Reston, VA
Run for Shelter 5K         	Richmond, VA
Run vs. Row 10K           	Alexandria, VA
Sallie Mae 10K            	Washington, DC
Semper Fit 5K             	Quantico, VA
Shamrock 5K               	Manassas, VA
Shamrock Hill 5K           	Roanoke, VA
Shamrock  8K & Marathon 	Virginia Beach, VA
St. Patrick's Day 10K     	Washington, DC
John Robbins 8K           	Fredericksburg, VA
Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K	Richmond, VA
Victim's Fund 5K           	Baltimore, MD
Westfield 5K              	Chantilly, MD
YMCA Mother's Day 5K       	Arlington, VA