Photo above: Christina Wells (30) of Woodbridge, VA, 12th in the Open division, was the eighth woman at the Veterans Day 10K.

Open Women
The Open division is the hardest one to rank. Big races draw super talents but they only run one or two races. Sometimes they seem to disappear. The Moreland Racing Factor (MRF) is mostly designed to make races that are close in time more objective. Head-to-head is very important, even most important. Still, with so many races it is nearly impossible to have a straight objective standard. Some runners only run the big, prestigious races. Some only run the lightning fast courses. There are a lot of apple and oranges comparisons. After each of the top ten runners, we will give a MRF number. The highest number is NOT always the top ranked runner.

Runners' MRF scores are reported in parentheses next to their names.

This period's champion, Samia Akbar (106), stands out with three big races. The first week of the period she roamed the rolling hills of the Fair Lakes 8K unchallenged to a 28:14 win (10K = 35:51). She disappeared until November, returning to torch second place Marina Bychkova (68) 34:05 to 35:10 at the lightning fast Veterans Day 10K. The next weekend, the second through fourth runners all ran in Richmond. Bychkova won the marathon in 2:42:40 (10K = 34:46). Number three Elvira Kolpakova (89) was second in 2:43:33 (10K = 34:58). Fourth place Anna Pichrtova (49) won her age group at the nTelos 8K in 27:28 (10K = 34:52).

After Veterans Day and nTelos, the biggest champion meeting ground was the Thomas G. Labrecque Classic 4 Mile. Akbar was second overall in 21:41 (10K = 34:43). Elena Orlova (40) was fifth in that race in 22:34 (10K = 36:14) just ahead of Mary Kate Bailey (66) in 22:38 (10K = 36:14). However, Orlova earns the fifth spot with her overall win in the PVI Runfest 5K in 16:49 (10K = 35:01).

Now it gets dicey. Sixth sense says go with Aurora Scott (48) and her three swift 5Ks. Her best race was 16:55 (10K = 35:13). The next four places are very close with eighth place a real leaner. The famous Great Allegany 15K is a super fast course that is positively downhill for the first 10K. Generally speaking, one can expect to triple their best 5K to determine their finishing time. Vicky Cauller (78) was second overall in 53:47 (10K = 34:58). So, one third of her time would be 17:56 (10K=35:52). The month before she was the winner in a tough field St. Joseph Medical Center 5K in 17:40 (10K = 36:47).

Seventh place goes to maybe the best American runner in the area. Nearly every time she laces up her shoes she gets to break the tape. Susannah Kvasnicka (49) joins a small group of elite runners who have won the biggest race in the area, the Marine Corps Marathon. Her time of 2:47:10 (10K = 35:44) is one of the best times run at the race. It comes on the heels of another sub-2:48:00 marathon effort the month before. Almost as an afterthought, she won the TLC King of the Road in 17:48 (10K = 37:04) the last weekend of the period.

Mary Kate Bailey gets the ninth spot with her Veterans Day 10K age group win in 35:49. Tenth place goes to Johanna Allen (87) of Woodbridge, VA. She was the overall winner in the Marine Corps 8K, the Blue Gray HM, and the Partridge 5K. Her best effort was the Riverbank 12K in 43:25 (10K = 35:44).

Photo below: Colleen Post (26) of Centreville, VA was third overall at the Fair Lakes 8K.

Veterans Day 10K, 34:05


Pl	Name            	Age	Hometown
 1	Akbar, Samia**      	23	Herndon, VA
 2	Bychkova, Marina**	29	Gaithersburg, MD
 3	Kolpakova, Elvira*	33	Germantown, MD
 4	Pichrtova, Anna**	32	Richmond, VA
 5	Orlova, Elena*       	35	Derwood, MD
 6	Scott, Aurora***	15	Portsmouth, VA
 7	Kvasnicka, Susannah**	33	Great Falls, VA
 8	Cauller, Vicki**	33	York, PA
 9	Bailey, Mary Kate*	31	Arlington, VA
10	Allen, Johanna****	24	Woodbridge, VA
11	Turner, Laura*     	25	Washington, DC
12	Wells, Christina	30	Woodbridge, VA
13	Smith, Casey*    	26	Arlington, VA
14	Harvey, Alisa** 	39	Manassas, VA
15	Kiley, Genivieve	31	Arlington, VA
16	Santilli, Beth***	25	Pikesville, MD
17	Stick, Sherry ****	27	Sykesville, MD
18	Ackerly, Maureen***	37	Mechanicsville, VA
19	Cromer, Dawn*      	25	Charlottesville, VA
20	Spalding, Sarah 	24	Washington, DC
21	Knickman, Denise**	37	Baltimore, MD
22	Grinstead, Milligan**	25	Charlottesville, VA
23	Stackhouse, Britton	26	Arlington, VA
24	Goulet, Lindsay 	27	Arlington, VA
25	Van Eron, Kristin*	34	Timonium, MD
26	Kelly, Michelle*	25	APG, MD
27	Whaley, Briana**	27	Richmond, VA
28	Fallon-Wallace, Barb*	31	Alexandria, VA
29	Cairns, Hilary      	35	Washington, DC
30	Burns, Megan*    	41	Virginia Beach, VA
31	Brand, Shelly** 	27	Virginia Beach, VA
32	DiPietro, Lee*   	47	Baltimore, MD
33	Quarles, Jennifer***	33	Williamsburg, VA
34	Fulton, Patty** 	39	Silver Spring, MD
35	Liever, Kathleen*	27	Kingstowne, VA
36	Ettensohn, Kristen**	22	Bethesda, MD
37	Tanner, Melissa 	24	Bethesda, MD
38	Humphrey, Robyn*	41	Ellicott City, MD
39	Hall, Maureen*     	40	Lavale, MD
40	Grillo, Monica* 	41	Arlington, VA
41	Kenty, Daniela      	26	Charlottesville, VA
42	Sawvell, Linda**	40	Newport News, VA
43	Post, Colleen   	26	Centreville, VA
44	Knight, Marie        	27	Arlington, VA
45	Anderson, Tammy 	32	Hagerstown, MD
46	Conant, Cindy    	43	Kensington, MD
47	Hoffman, Michele	33	Baltimore, MD
48	Hurd, Lynn        	24	Williamsburg, VA
49	McEntee, Meredith	17	Falls Church, VA
50	Nathan, Rebecca*	40	Arlington, VA
51	Phillips, Catherine*	30	Lynchburg, VA
52	Plyler, Valerie 	46	Yorktown, VA
53	Sacker, Katie*        	15	Ellicott City, MD
54	Trew-Bruhn, Linda	37	Springfield, VA
55	Underdonk, Christy**	36	Potomac, MD

19 & Younger Women
Aurora Scott ran three 5Ks, one for each month of the period. In September, she torched the hometown crowd at the Holiday House 5K in 17:15. A month later she dipped below 17:00 at the YMCA in Norfolk and the last weekend of the ranking period she rang a 16:55 victory at the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis. That is a 35:13 10K equivalent.

Katie Sacker of Ellicott City, MD is the other youth that qualified for the Open division though not in the rarefied air with "great" Scott. She won her division at the Police Pace in 19:19 to take the second spot. Her second race was the abundantly hilly Burleigh Manor 5K in 19:49. A lot of the new young runners are earning their spurs at the weekly Sunday afternoon races held by the Howard County Striders. Six of these 30 top young racers are 12 and under.

Brittany Rooks of Baltimore, MD is just eleven. She swipes the third spot with a United Way 5K in 19:24. In early October, this daring young waif trampled the NCR Trail HM in 1:33:18, briefly retaining the title of fastest of the year. The fourth position goes to the 19-year-old lass who took it away two weeks later, running the Buck Mountain HM in 1:32:30. Steady as she goes, she moved up to an Open division time at the Richmond Marathon-3:09:22. Meredith McEntee ran the Herndon Turkey Trot in 19:25 to make these spots as close as can be.

Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis 5K, 16:55, 10K = 35:13


Pl	Name                  	Age	Hometown
 1	Scott, Aurora***	15	Portsmouth, VA
 2	Sacker, Katie** 	15	Ellicott City. MD
 3	Rooks, Brittney     	11	Baltimore, MD
 4	Wallace, Tyler      	19	Richmond, VA
 5	McEntee, Meredith	18	Falls Church, VA
 6	Webb, Emily         	16	Gloucester, VA
 7	Stasakova, Erika	15	Bel Air, MD
 8	Gardner, Aisling*	19	College Park, MD
 9	Schubel, Leah       	14	Fredericksburg, VA
10	Wilhelm, Brittany	15	Stafford, VA
11	Smith, Denise*      	16	Landover, MD
12	Romano, Tarah** 	14	Brandywine, MD
13	Puffett, Nicole 	11	Upper Marlboro, MD
14	Redd, Alaina*       	12	Richmond, VA
15	Crawford, Megan 	15	Petersburg, VA
16	Peterson, Heidi 	11	Williamsburg, VA
17	Dickerson, Karen	19	Springfield, VA
18	Regan, Kylie*    	13	Smithfield, VA
19	Crowell, Madalyn*	15	Chatham, VA
20	Bost, Latoshia     	17	Upper Marlboro, MD
21	Mayer-Marks, Saleika	12	Takoma Park, MD
22	Smith, Amy**      	15	Bassett, VA
23	Culbert, Annalisa	15	Fairfax, VA
24	Gilday, Grace    	14	Kensington, MD
25	Eastby, Karin   	16	Farmville, VA
26	Elko, Elizabeth 	18	Charlottesville, VA
27	Capps, Dana       	19	Fredericksburg, VA
28	Falin, Jen        	16	Williamsburg, VA
29	Hodgkinson, Amanda**	12	Columbia, MD
30	Moss, Maria       	15	Frederick, MD

Women 35 - 39
We spoke too soon that Alisa Harvey would not have another shot at her crown in the sub masters division. She had one last qualifying race at the Fair Lakes 8K, finishing second overall in 29:37. Pick any one of her "now 40" times and toss it in. All are faster and all help her earn the runner-up spot. The new Champion is easily Elena Orlova. She met Harvey at the PVI 5K, winning by a minute, 16:49 to 17:48. At the Thomas G. Labrecque Classic 4 Mile in November it was closer, 22:34 to 22:47, but the placing was the same.

Coming off a string of races in early October, including the fastest half marathon of the period, Denise Knickman ran a seventh overall 2:57:09 at the Baltimore Marathon. That was good for fourth. Maureen Ackerly had a great 8K at the King's Charter in September at 30:30. Along with that, in October she blasted a Family Fitness 10K in 38:48. In November, she rode home in a season's best 29:28 at the nTelos 8K to take third place.

With Cathy Puglsey and Laura Nelson joining Harvey in the masters ranks, a few more slots opened up. Patty Fulton with two overall wins, including an 18:40 at the Race for Cooperative Development, took over the fifth spot in the lineup. Christy Underdonk's win at the Candy Cane 5K in 19:12 throws her hat into the ring.

PVI Runfest 5K, 16:49, 10K = 35:01


Pl	Name                 	Age	Hometown
 1	Orlova, Elena** 	35	Derwood, MD
 2	Harvey, Alisa*      	39	Manassas, VA
 3	Ackerly, Maureen***	36	Mechanicsville, VA
 4	Knickman, Denise*****	37	Baltimore, MD
 5	Fulton, Patty***	39	Silver Spring, MD
 6	Underdonk, Christy**	36	Potomac, MD
 7	Trew-Bruhn, Linda**	37	Springfield, VA
 8	Cottone, Elizabeth*	39	Charlottesville, VA
 9	Prillaman, Christy**	39	Newport News, VA
10	Cochran, Mary Beth*	37	Bel Air, MD
11	Dumbrell, Jeanette**	36	Bailey Crossroads, VA
12	Takakusaki, Yuko**	37	Arlington, VA
13	Dukes, Julie**        	36	Pasadena, MD
14	Hammond, Stephaine**	37	Springfield, VA
15	Feliciano, Tacy 	37	Columbia, MD
16	Garcia, Ana      	37	Fairfax, VA
17	Traub, Jean     	35	Alexandria, VA
18	Gonnella, Anne* 	35	Westminster, MD
19	Wu-Shepherd, Christine** 37	Annapolis, MD

Women 40 - 44
Photo: Arlington's Rebecca Nathan is seventh among women 40- 44.

Step back for Harvey, Harvey, Harvey, and Harvey. That is how many times she ran faster than any other masters runner. Indeed, two of those races were overall wins and one was a third overall. Her best race was seventh overall at the Thomas G. Labrecque Classic 4 Mile where they doled out large chunks of cash. Her 22:47 is the fastest 4-mile time of the year. Van Metre, in 29:22, was the tops. PVI 5K in 17:48 was briefly the tops until she broke it. (That was in the upcoming period).

From the last period's winner's circle, southern Virginia's Megan Burns is hanging tough. She blitzed the Hampton 10K course in 38:35 for a win and settled for second at the Neptune 8K in 30:29. Maureen Hall had a swift time at her hometown Great Allegany 15K. This downhill ski slope produces some incredible times but you still have to lay your feet down to get to the finish.

Robyn Humphrey gets the third spot over Hall's GAR. Back in September, they met at St. Joseph's 5K in Baltimore and Humphrey prevailed 19:26 to 19:35. It was the third best time for both runners. Humphrey's best time was a 39:24 to 39:28 win over Monica Grillo at the Veterans Day 10K. The following week Grillo was the overall winner at the Vienna Turkey Trot 5K in 18:49, 10K = 39:11, which almost negated her head-to head loss to Humphrey. Hall was the overall winner at the Seaside 10 Mile in 66:01 to add credence to her GAR 15K in 58:46.

Thomas G. Labrecque Classic 4 Miler, 22:47, 10K = 36:39


Pl	Name                 	Age	Hometown
 1	Harvey, Alisa*****	40	Manassas, VA
 2	Burns, Megan**       	41	Virginia Beach, VA
 3	Humphrey, Robyn****	41	Ellicott City, MD
 4	Hall, Maureen***	40	Lavale, MD
 5	Grillo, Monica* 	41	Arlington, VA
 6	Sawvell, Linda***	40	Newport News, VA
 7	Nathan, Rebecca**	40	Arlington, VA
 8	Kline, Sheryl ****	42	Arnold, MD
 9	Conant, Cindy***	44	Kensington, MD
10	Olson, Ruth**     	43	Spotsylvania, VA
11	McAllister, Kathryn*	41	Newport News, VA
12	Santarpia, Gloria****	44	Odenton, MD
13	Beven, Helen**  	40	Kensington, MD
14	Foley, Linda**     	43	Oak Hill, VA
15	Langford, Jane* 	41	Montclair, VA
16	Shannon, Laura****	43	Williamsburg, VA
17	Boyd, Marjorie***	44	Annapolis, MD
18	Ingersoll, Amelia ***	42	Columbia, MD
19	Sullivan, Jennifer**	40	Annapolis, MD
20	Fernandez, Cherie**	40	Midlothian, VA
21	Moore, Kimberly*	41	Richmond, VA
22	Burns, Joann*       	42	Herndon, VA
23	Danilkovitch, Alla	41	Columbia, MD
24	Keating, Patricia*	44	Dayton, MD
25	Kinnecome, Susan	41	Bethesda, MD
26	Hendrix, Kerry**	41	Charlottesville, VA
27	Jones, Kay        	40	Fairfax Station, VA
28	Lussi, Jeanette 	42	Kensington, MD
29	Bevis, Gwendolyn*	44	Washington, DC
30	Nanda, Sushila*6	44	Arlington, VA
31	Krill, Carol*** 	41	Stafford, VA
32	Rall, Tammy      	43	Stafford, VA
33	Hennessa, Annie 	41	Herndon, VA
34	Smith-Harden, Michele*** 42	Norfolk, VA
35	Laffosse, Robin 	42	Burke, VA
36	Mackintosh, Brenda*	40	Springfield, VA
37	Williams, Annie*	43	Richmond, VA
38	Salomonsky, Jessica*	41	Richmond, VA
39	Glueck, Connie* 	41	Williamsburg, VA
40	Haddad, Mona*    	43	Chevy Chase, MD
41	Volk, Sherry*        	44	Williamsburg, VA

Women 45 - 49
Lee DiPietro is building a home on the top of this mountain. After testing the waters with two big 5K races early in the period, she busted a 3:01:26 at the Baltimore Marathon, easily the fastest of the year and ninth overall. Her Komen Race for the Cure 5K was an overall win in 18:10. Her St. Joseph's Medical Center 5K in 18:36 was second overall.

Leisa Ensle earned some extra glory with the fastest 20-mile time of the year at the Stonewall Jackson race in 2:25:29. She earned her runner-up spot at the Yorktown 10 Miler in 67:04. Valerie Plyler flowered into third place with a bouquet of 5Ks, which included an overall win and three more top three finishes. Plyler topped a tough field at the nTelos 8K in 32:21, 10K = 41:04. Having just turned 45, Jill Hargis is a little new to this age group win stuff. Both her races were second overall, including the B&A Trail 10K in 41:12 Debbie Flynn edged a large group of fast women runners milling around fifth place with her Back to School 8K in 33:03.

Baltimore Lady Classic 5K, 18:01, 10K = 37:31


Pl	Name               	Age	Hometown
 1	DiPietro, Lee***	47	Towson, MD
 2	Ensle, Leisa**      	47	Virginia Beach, VA
 3	Plyler, Valerie*7	46	Yorktown, VA
 4	Hargis, Jill ** 	45	Annapolis, MD
 5	Flynn, Debbie** 	49	Gaithersburg, MD
 6	Goodwin, Robin*****	47	Timonium, MD
 7	Lundeen, Jennifer***	45	Port Republic, MD
 8	Edeburn, Melissa*	45	Washington, DC
 9	Layson, Linda** 	45	Severn, MD
10	Persina, Win*** 	45	Washington, DC
11	Malin, Mary Catherine*	46	McLean, VA
12	Black, Beverly***	45	Frederick, MD
13	Rosasco, Carole**	46	Arnold, MD
14	Moon, Robin**   	46	Yorktown, VA
15	Dugdale, Tracey*	45	Reston, VA
16	Ferris, Nancy*       	49	Goode, VA
17	Roeder, Carole* 	48	Ashburn, VA
18	Parter, D'Ellen****	46	Virginia Beach, VA
19	Riemenschneider, Ruth*** 48	Winchester, VA
20	Roed, Becky**       	46	Springfield, VA
21	Johnson, Julie**	49	Mechanicsville, VA
22	Sheimo, Linda***	48	Fairfax, VA
23	Palmer, Sarah** 	45	Roanoke, VA
24	Washington, Myra****	48	Montgomery Village, MD
25	Housaman, Carol*	45	Woodbridge, VA
26	McGee, Ellen       	49	Severna Park, MD
27	Vogt, Karen        	46	Annapolis, MD
28	Buckheit, Sarah 	45	Reston, VA
29	Recto, Liza        	49	Lexington Park, MD

Women 50 - 54
Photo by Brightroom.com: Alison Suckling (50) of Arnold, MD takes over the top of the division.

Be careful what you wish for. Betty Blank of Falls Church, VA is a threat to win the overall. In fact, she did win a 5-miler in October. At the Cranberry Crawl 5K in November, she stayed with the leader until the turnaround before settling for second overall. She had heard about brand new grand master Alison Suckling and prepared to do battle at the biggest, fastest 10K of the period, the Veterans Day 10K. September 25th Suckling had run the fastest 4-mile of the year at the BWI Airport Run in 26:06, 10K = 41:47. The day before, last period's champion Margaret Starnes had run the year's best 5K in 20:17, 10K = 42:14, at the Run to the Rescue. The title was on the line. At the horn, Blank pulled away and it looked good for the first half. Suckling kept her in sight and in the last mile, as Blank tired, she jetted past for the win and the title in 42:06. Blank came in moments later in 42:20.

With Blank's worst race an overall 5-mile win in 34:55, Starnes dropped to third, as her second race was an uninspired 40:20 5- miler. Suckling had a MRF of 61 to Blank's 55. Dorothy Winn of Norfolk, VA had a big Race for the Cure 5K in 21:02 for fourth. After that, it was a melee. Seven other women beat Winn's second best race. Linda Gulick was next in line with the fastest 8K of the period, winning the nTelos 8K in 34:37.

BWI Airport Run 4 Mile, 26:06, 10K = 41:47


Pl	Name            	Age	Hometown
 1	Suckling, Alison*****	50	Arnold, MD
 2	Blank, Betty*** 	52	Falls Church, VA
 3	Starnes, Margaret**	50	Street, MD
 4	Winn, Dorothy***	50	Norfolk, VA
 5	Gulick, Linda** 	54	Richmond, VA
 6	Astrop, Mary**      	51	Richmond, VA
 7	Smith, Linell** 	53	Baltimore, MD
 8	Rexrode, Jenny*****	51	Fredericksburg, VA
 9	Mowbray, Peggy* 	50	Charlottesville, VA
10	Carvalho, Manuela	51	Washington, DC
11	Murphy, Ellie*    	51	Baltimore, MD
12	Lang, Mary**       	51	Pasadena, MD
13	Shields, Maria *	54	Davidsonville, MD
14	West, Renne**      	50	Bethesda, MD
15	Jones, Sally*** 	50	Bel Air, MD
16	Lauzon, Jean*       	52	Spotsylvania, VA
17	McGrail, Jennifer*	50	Arlington, VA
18	Mackintosh, Claudia**	51	Norfolk, VA
19	Wamsley, Christie*	52	Colonial Heights, VA
20	Bone, Jean*       	52	Richmond, VA
21	Seidman, Merrilee**	50	Alexandria, VA
22	Sexton, Dru**        	53	Roanoke, VA

Women 55 - 59
Photo by Brightroom.com: Christy St. Clair of Glen Arm, MD is twelfth in the 55-59 age group.

Move over, Rover, and let Sandie take over. Both top guns, Sandra Adams and Barbara Mathewson, are back. Adams settled the matter the very first weekend with the best time of the period at the Fair Lakes 8K in 34:03. Two weeks later she cements the title with an overall win at the National Capital 5 Mile in 34:34. Mathewson must be coming off an injury. Her Neptune 8K win in 36:45 on the first of October was nothing close to her 2005 crown set in March in 33:52. The first week of November she is back in the swing with a 75:20 at the Yorktown 10 Mile and she winds up the period at the crown maker Governor's Landing 5K in 21:19, 10K = 44:23.

Alice Franks has the next six best races, including a 28:58 season's best at the Thomas G. Labrecque Classic 4 Mile. Her only loss was a second place to Adams at Fair Lakes. Patty O'Brien-Dorner of Yorktown, VA uses the vacuum to clean up two places to fourth. Her best race was the Mulberry Island 5K win in 23:19. Linda Peters of New Kent, VA comes close to the four spot with her nTelos 8K runner-up job in 38:39. Next is Jeanne Kruger-Williams who set the best time of the year at the Mulberry Island HM in 1:50:34.

Fair Lakes 8K, 34:03, 10K = 43:14


Pl	Name                 	Age	Hometown
 1	Adams, Sandra** 	55	Winchester, VA
 2	Mathewson, Barbara***	56	Virginia Beach, VA
 3	Franks, Alice*****	57	Rockville, MD
 4	O'Brien-Dorner, Patty*** 56	Yorktown, VA
 5	Peters, Linda*       	58	New Kent, VA
 6	Kruger-Williams, Jeanne* 58	Norfolk, VA
 7	Brothers, Betty**	58	Virginia Beach, VA
 8	Bonta, Meredith*	59	Crofton, MD
 9	Salvo, Lynn        	56	McLean, VA
10	Poole, Jane***      	58	Falls Church, VA
11	Biasi, Barbara**	58	Yorktown, VA
12	St. Clair, Christy*	56	Glen Arm, MD
13	Derring, BJ*        	56	Virginia Beach, VA
14	Mitchell, Brenda*	55	Williamsburg, VA
15	Himelright, Colleen*	58	Fredericksburg, VA
16	Akers, Donna*     	56	Narrows, VA

Women 60 - 64
Photo by Brightroom.com: Nancy Linck (63) of Alexandria, VA is ranked eighth in her division.

Joan Coven of Williamsburg, VA powers back onto the scene with the three fastest times, all 5Ks. Look out for the trend! The Heritage Humane Society 5K in September was 23:32. Next in October at William and Mary 5K, she ran 23:19, which she followed with a November 19th Governor's Landing in 23:13.

Dethroned queen B.J. King had the next best race and the fastest 10K. Her time at the B&A Trail was 49:47. Her other race was a win at the Run for Kathy in 24:27. Third place Dee Nelson ran a slew of races. She travels to Pennsylvania and the eastern shore for many of her races. Her best race was a 24:00 win at the Seaside 5K in Ocean City on Halloween weekend. She also won at the Race for Mental Health 5K in 23:25, but most runners agreed that the course was closer to three miles.

The big story is the continuing upward climb of 64-year-old Betty Smith of Rockville, MD. Smith is determined to run at Boston. The last week of September, she ran a very credible 3:10:01 at the National Capital 20 Mile. The next week she ran the fastest half marathon of the year in 1:53:58. She stormed the Veterans Day 10K in 50:59 for a win. It looks as if her 4:30:00 qualifying time at Boston is a soon-to-be-done deal.

Governor's Landing 5K, 23:18, 10K = 48:20


Pl	Name              	Age	Hometown
 1	Coven, Joan**** 	64	Williamsburg, VA
 2	King, B J **      	60	Crofton, MD
 3	Nelson, Dee*****	61	Gaithersburg, MD
 4	Smith, Betty*** 	64	Rockville, MD
 5	Myers, Sharon*       	61	Blacksburg, VA
 6	Berge, Melinda*8	60	Annapolis, MD
 7	Hess, Andrea*** 	61	Midlothian, VA
 8	Linck, Nancy*       	63	Alexandria, VA
 9	Stark, Barbara**	61	Suffolk, VA
10	Berglund, Mary Kate**	64	Richmond, VA
11	Hirn, Ann**     	60	Portsmouth, VA
12	Hocheder, Ellen**	63	Mt Airy, MD

Women 65 - 69
Check out this division! The top three runners are all on the verge of entering the next age group. Tami Graf of Lusby, MD had the top seven times of the qualifiers in the division. Twice she went down to southern Virginia. In October, at the William and Mary Homecoming 5K, it was no contest. Graf ran 27:17 to best runner-up Nancy Patron's 29:02 by more than a minute.

Nancy Patron came up with a last weekend 28:37 at the Governor's Landing 5K to eek out a victory over Shirley Wampler. Wampler had won the Reveille 5K in 28:39. Wampler also came north to run a Kensington, MD 5K. Of the top 25 times, only Patron's loss to Graf was not an age group win.

In September, Graf had the best 4-mile of the year in 35:50. Fourth place Arlowene Garland of Warsaw, VA ran the best 12K of the year at the Riverbank in 1:13:29.

Gulf Coast Relief Fund 5K, 26:34, 10K = 55:19


Pl	Name               	Age	Hometown
 1	Graf, Tami*9        	69	Lusby, MD
 2	Patron, Nancy** 	69	Williamsburg, VA
 3	Wampler, Shirley*****	69	Mechanicsville, VA
 4	Garland, Arlowene****	67	Warsaw, VA
 5	Price, Kathy**       	65	Ocean Pines, MD
 6	Ely, Pauline*** 	66	Hampton, VA
 7	Puffett, Nancy* 	67	College Park, MD
 8	Munden, Betty** 	65	Norfolk, VA
 9	Manciagli, Ann* 	69	Williamsburg, VA
10	Wollard, Jamie* 	67	North Bethesda, MD
11	Mottus, Jill*        	67	Baltimore, MD

Women 70 - 74
Pat Ewell of Williamsburg, VA tired of the runner-up spot the last two periods. She started October by setting the Virginia State record at the Mulberry Island Half Marathon in 2:17:58. On November 12, she became the only one in the division to run a qualifying marathon--Richmond. The following week she runs the fastest 5K of the year in 29:14, not far off the state record of 28:43 set by Louise Akers in 1995.

Janet Lakey of Midlothian, VA takes second place at the nTelos 8K in 53:24. Yvone Aasen of Severna Park, MD, one of two runners ready to move to the next age group, was next at the Hog Neck Scamper 5M in 54:05. That course was officially 5.04 miles while the 8K is 4.97 miles.

Governor's Landing 5K, 29:14, 10K = 60:52


Pl	Name               	Age	Hometown
1	Ewell, Pat*          	72	Williamsburg, VA
2	Lakey, Janet*        	72	Midlothian, VA
3	Aasen, Yvonne** 	74	Severna Park, MD
4	Chambers, Jeanette**	70	Arnold, MD
5	O'Neil, Jacqueline**	74	Washington, DC
6	Ibarra, Avelina*	70	Virginia Beach, VA

Women 75 - 79
Martha Trimmer added a 5-mile to her resume. She prefers the 5K but her Zoo Zoom in 63:14 was her fastest race of the period. Five other women had just one race.

Komen Race for the Cure 5K, 31:26, 10K = 65:27


Pl	Name                	Age	Hometown
1	Trimmer, Martha****	76	Grasonville, MD

Women 80 & Over
Louise Akers is always a threat when she comes out to run.

Roanoke Women's Distance 5K, 42:46, 10K = 89:06


Pl	Name            	Age	Hometown
1	Akers, Louise     	81	Christiansburg, VA
2	Grimsley, Mary    	86	Springfield, VA

See the Men's Autumn 2005 WRR Runner Rankings.