Open Women
The foreign-born presence was very evident in the Spring period. Leading the category is the youngest qualifier in any division of the runner rankings, 20-year-old Tatyana Petrova of Gaithersburg, Maryland and Russia. Petrova's most decisive performance was a 16:31 at the Plaza America 5K, defeating third- ranked Elena Orlova (16:37), also of Gaithersburg and Russia, and 2003 champion and fourth-ranked Atalelech Ketema (16:49) of Washington, DC and Ethiopia.

The second-ranked woman is Victoria Klimina of Gaithersburg and Russia, who ran 33:34 at the Sallie Mae 10K, to beat Ketema (34:09). Fifth is Naoko Ishibe of Silver Spring, Maryland, who earned the spot by running 57:47 at the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, to beat sixth-ranked and Winter champion Anna Pichrtova (58:38) of Waynesboro, Virginia. The oldest women's Open qualifier is 45- year-old Lee DiPietro of Ruxton, Maryland.

 Pl	Name              	Age	Hometown
  1	Tatyana Petrova 	20	Gaithersburg, MD
  2	Victoria Klimina	28	Gaithersburg, MD
  3	Elena Orlova      	34	Gaithersburg, MD
  4	Atalelech Ketema	21	Washington, DC
  5	Naoko Ishibe      	35	Silver Spring, MD
  6	Anna Pichrtova    	30	Waynesboro, VA
  7	Heather Hanscom 	26	Arlington, VA
  8	Emily Richard   	27	Washington, DC 
  9	Casey Smith       	24	Arlington, VA
 10	Sharon Lemberger	30	Washington, DC
 11	Lee DiPietro     	45	Ruxton, MD
 12	Mary Kate Bailey	29	Fredericksburg, VA
 13	Lisa Thomas      	28	Alexandria, VA
 14	Maria Spinnler   	42	Hagerstown, MD
 15	Ann Reed         	30	Columbia, MD
 16	Marjan Huizing    	36	Gaithersburg, MD
 17	Hilary Cairns    	33	Washington, DC
 18	Sherry Stick     	25	Sykesville, MD
 19	Sharon Donovan    	29	Washington, DC

Women 35 - 39
Twelve runners qualifed in the 35-39 age group, with the top two also qualifying in the Open division. Naoko Ishibe of Silver Spring, Maryland, takes the top spot, edging Winter champion Marjan Huizing of Gaithersburg, Maryland.

The best race was the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, where Naoko Ishibe (57:47) beat third-ranked Helen Beven (1:02:59) of Kensington, Maryland, fourth-ranked Elizabeth Feldman (1:04:06) of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and fifth-ranked Kristin DiDomenico (1:07:31) of Potomac Falls, Virginia. Ishibe also ran a 27:11 at the Shamrock 8K and a 16:35 at Baltimore's Shamrock 5K.

Marjan Huizing (37:42) beat Beven (38:41) at Gaithersburg's Piece of Cake 10K to earn the second spot.

Photo below: Reston's Kim McLaughlin is ranked 8th among women 35-39

 Pl	Name             	Age	Hometown
  1	Naoko Ishibe     	35	Silver Spring, MD
  2	Marjan Huizing    	35	Gaithersburg, MD
  3	Helen Beven      	36	Kensington, MD
  4	Elizabeth Feldman	36	Chevy Chase, MD
  5	Kristin DiDomenico	37	Potomac Falls, VA
  6	Denise Knickman 	35	Baltimore, MD
  7	Vicki Lang        	35	Columbia, MD
  8	Kim McLaughlin    	38	Reston, VA
  9	Monica Grillo     	39	Arlington, VA
 10	Maria Kozloski    	38	Washington, DC
 11	Linda Sawvell    	38	Newport News, VA
 12	Maureen Hall     	39	La Vale, MD

Women 40 - 44
The 40-44 division was very competitive, with 23 runners qualifying. The 2003 champion, Maria Spinnler (photo above) of Hagerstown, Maryland, battled for the top spot with Winter champion Laura Freix of Centreville, Virginia.

In the end, Maria Spinnler prevails, based on a 38:05 at the Sallie Mae 10K, to beat Freix (39:14) and third-ranked Leslie Minnix- Wolfe (40:19) of Herndon, Virginia. Spinnler's best times included a 29:04 at the Shamrock 8K, and a 17:59 at Baltimore's Shamrock 5K.

Fourth is Donna Karasic (photo below) of Baltimore, whose best performance was a 19:13 at the Preakness 5K. Fifth is Jill Hargis of Annapolis, Maryland, who recorded a 39:29 at the Governor's Bay Bridge 10K.

 Pl	Name             	Age	Hometown
  1	Maria Spinnler    	42	Hagerstown, MD
  2	Laura Freix       	42	Centreville, VA
  3	Leslie Minnix-Wolfe	42	Herndon, VA
  4	Donna Karasic     	40	Baltimore, MD
  5	Jill Hargis      	43	Annapolis, MD
  6	Cathy Friedel     	40	Solomons, MD
  7	Win Persina      	43	Washington, DC
  8	Julie Thienel    	40	Columbia, MD
  9	Gloria Santarpia	42	Odenton, MD
 10	Julie Hayden     	44	Ashburn, VA
 11	Terri Rath       	40	Ashburn, VA
 12	Tracey Dugdale  	43	Reston, VA
 13	Marjorie Boyd    	42	Annapolis, MD
 14	Kendall Tata      	41	Virginia Beach, VA
 15	Carole Rosasco    	44	Arnold, MD
 16	Sheryl Kline     	41	Arnold, MD
 17	Nina Stamer      	43	Staunton, VA
 18	Patricia Zerfas 	42	Kensington, MD
 19	Jennifer Lundeen	44	Port Republic, MD
 20	Lise Willingham 	40	Earlysville, VA
 21	Andrea Wagner     	41	Richmond, VA
 22	Cindy Conant      	42	Kensington, MD
 23	Linda Layson      	43	Odenton, MD

Photo above: Terri Rath of Ashburn is 11th in the 40-44 age group

Women 45 - 49
The 2003 winner, Lee DiPietro of Ruxton, Maryland, wins the Spring rankings period. DiPietro was the oldest qualifier in the Open division, and would have won the 40-44 age group. She faced off twice against second-ranked Patty Shull of Ashburn, Virginia. At the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, DiPietro (1:01:14) beat Shull (1:04:16), and she beat her again (36:38 to 38:26) at the Sallie Mae 10K.

The Shamrock 8K determined the third spot, where Robin Moon (photo) (32:08) of Yorktown, Virginia, beat Dorothy Winn (33:56) of Norfolk, Virginia. Fifth is Carol Talley of Toano, Virginia, whose best effort was a 21:14 at Williamsburg's 5K Run for Children.

 Pl	Name            	Age	Hometown
  1	Lee DiPietro      	45	Ruxton, MD
  2	Patty Shull      	45	Ashburn, VA
  3	Robin Moon       	45	Yorktown, VA
  4	Dorothy Winn      	48	Norfolk, VA
  5	Carol Talley      	49	Toano, VA
  6	Robin Goodwin    	45	Timonium, MD
  7	Carole Roeder    	47	Ashburn, VA
  8	Kathleen Hibbert	49	Woodbine, MD
  9	Claudia Mackintosh	49	Norfolk, VA
 10	Elizabeth Snyderwine	46	Potomac, MD
 11	Linda Ingleson    	46	Williamsburg, VA
 12	Grace Duke        	45	Herndon, VA
 13	Liza Recto       	47	Lexington Park, MD

Women 50 - 54
Virginia runners dominate the category, taking the first five spots. Barbara Mathewson (photo) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, surprises 2003 and Winter winner Betty Blank of Falls Church, Virginia.

Barbara Mathewson (1:33:29) edged Blank (1:33:46) at Hampton's Running Crab Half-Marathon to earn the top spot. Mathewson also recorded an outstanding 33:17 at the Shamrock 8K. Blank's top performance was a 1:09:35 at the George Washington Parkway 10 Mile.

Third is Sandra Adams of Winchester, Virginia, who earned that position by defeating fourth-ranked Karen Marchant twice. Adams (43:24) defeated Marchant (43:58) at the St. Patrick's Day 10K, and again (1:11:15 to 1:16:04) at the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile. Fifth is Linda Gulick of Richmond, Virginia, whose best performance was a 21:41 at Richmond's Henrico 5K.

 Pl	Name             	Age	Hometown
  1	Barbara Mathewson	54	Virginia Beach, VA
  2	Betty Blank       	50	Falls Church, VA
  3	Sandra Adams      	54	Winchester, VA
  4	Karen Marchant     	50	Springfield, VA
  5	Linda Gulick      	52	Richmond, VA
  6	Maria Shields     	53	Davidsonville, MD
  7	Linell Smith     	51	Baltimore, MD
  8	Patty Donohue     	50	Alexandria, VA
  9	Peggy Davis       	52	Falls Church, VA
 10	Mary Lang         	50	Pasadena, MD
 11	Rita Twist        	51	Linthicum Heights, MD
 12	Barbara Lipska    	52	Annandale, VA
 13	Julia Mills      	52	Richmond, VA
 14	Kathy Luby        	54	Baltimore, MD
 15	Patricia Gilley 	51	King William, VA
 16	Anne Del Castillo	51	Bethesda, MD
 17	Marjorie Marque 	52	Alexandria, VA

Women 55 - 59
The 2003 and Winter winner, Alice Franks of Rockville, Maryland, continues her domination of the age group, defeating all of the other top seven runners in head-to-head competition.

The top four runners all faced off at the Cherry Blossom 10- Mile, where Franks (1:15:09) defeated second-ranked Linda Kearney (1:19:02) of Oak Hill, Virginia, third-ranked Jane Godfrey (1:20:26) of Takoma Park, Maryland, and fourth-ranked Christy St. Clair (1:21:53) of Fork, Maryland. Franks (44:49) also defeated Kearney (47:08) and fifth-ranked Mary O'Connell (49:25) of Herndon, Virginia.

 Pl	Name              	Age	Hometown
  1	Alice Franks     	55	Rockville, MD
  2	Linda Kearney    	57	Oak Hill, VA
  3	Jane Godfrey     	55	Takoma Park, MD
  4	Christy St. Clair	55	Fork, MD
  5	Mary O'Connell    	55	Herndon, VA
  6	Catherine Van Brocklin	57	Gaithersburg, MD
  7	Jane Poole       	56	Falls Church, VA
  8	Barbara Biasi    	56	Yorktown, VA

Women 60 - 64
The 60-64 category had 14 qualifiers, with Priscila Prunella of Rockville, Maryland winning the division for the first time. She earned the spot by running 47:26 to defeat second-ranked Judith Gilbert (47:40) at the Pike's Peek 10K. Prunella also ran a 1:17:53 at the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, defeating fourth-ranked Dee Nelson (1:20:57) of Gaithersburg, Maryland and fifth-ranked Kathy Lewis (1:24:16) of Oakton, Virginia.

Third is Winter winner Joan Coven of Williamsburg, Virginia, who might have ranked higher had she run against any of the other top 10 competitors. Her best time was a 37:04 at the Shamrock 8K.

 Pl	Name              	Age	Hometown
  1	Priscila Prunella	60	Rockville, MD
  2	Judith Gilbert    	60	Stevenson, MD
  3	Joan Coven      	62	Williamsburg, VA
  4	Dee Nelson       	60	Gaithersburg, MD
  5	Kathy Lewis      	62	Oakton, VA
  6	Nancy Linck      	62	Alexandria, VA
  7	Mary Ann O'Connor	62	Reston, VA
  8	Yolanda Perez    	61	Takoma Park, MD
  9	Mary Kate Berglund	62	Richmond, VA
 10	Brenda Murray    	64	Chevy Chase, MD
 11	Linda Simpson    	62	Annapolis, MD
 12	Jeannette Novak  	60	Damascus, MD
 13	Janet Newburgh   	62	Rockville, MD
 14	Sylvia Boecker    	64	Williamsburg, VA

Women 65 - 69
E.C. Williams of Reston, Virginia upsets 2003 and Winter leader Tami Graf of Lusby, Maryland to take the category. The showdown was Reston's Plaza America 5K, where Williams (27:51) defeated Graf (28:47). Williams also ran 27:34 at Reston's Metro Run & Walk Women's 5K.

Tami Graf's performances included a fine 1:30:16 at the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, beating fifth-ranked Kathleen Guerrieri (1:48:29) of Kensington, Maryland. Third is Jill Mottus of Baltimore, whose best race was a 28:57 at Baltimore's Port to Fort 4-Miler. Fourth is Shirley Wampler of Mechanicsville, Virginia, who recorded a 1:01:02 at Richmond's Ashland Railroad Run 10K.

 Pl	Name              	Age	Hometown
  1	E.C. Williams    	65	Reston, VA
  2	Tami Graf        	67	Lusby, MD
  3	Jill Mottus       	66	Baltimore, MD
  4	Shirley Wampler 	67	Mechanicsville, VA
  5	Kathleen Guerrieri	65	Kensington, MD
  6	Jamie Wollard     	65	Rockville, MD
  7	Pauline Ely      	65	Hampton, VA
  8	Barbara Guerrieri	68	Glen Allen, VA
  9	Ann Manciagli    	68	Williamsburg, VA

Women 70 - 74
Yvonne Aasen of Severna Park, Maryland leads the category, with her best race being a 1:05:40 at the Governor's Bay Bridge 10K.

The best race in the age group was the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, where second-ranked Marjorie Lane (2:00:47) of Reston, Virginia, defeated third-ranked Jacqueline O'Neil (2:02:35) and fourth- ranked Hiroko Hunt (2:04:40) of Reston. Hunt also ran 36:10 at the Metro Run & Walk Women's 5K to beat fifth-ranked Lee Glassco (37:11) of McLean, Virginia.

 Pl	Name             	Age	Hometown
  1	Yvonne Aasen      	72	Severna Park, MD
  2	Marjorie Lane    	70	Reston, VA
  3	Jacqueline O'Neil	72	Washington, DC
  4	Hiroko Hunt       	70	Reston, VA
  5	Lee Glassco       	72	McLean, VA

Women 75 - 79
Martha Trimmer of Baltimore enters the age group on top. She was the only runner to have two qualifying performances. Her best was a 42:50 at Baltimore's 1040 5K. Provisional qualifiers were 2003 and Winter leader Kay Morrison of Potomac, Maryland (74:04 at the Pike's Peek 10K) and Louise Akers of Christiansburg, Virginia (40:19 at the Vinton Baptist Dogwood 5K).

 Pl	Name      	Age	Hometown
  1	Martha Trimmer	75	Baltimore, MD
  2	Kay Morrison	77	Potomac, MD
  3	Louise Akers	79	Christiansburg, VA

Women 80 & Over
The 2003 winner, Hedy Marque of Alexandria, Virginia, was the only qualifier. She ran 1:19:04 at the Sallie Mae 10K and 2:12:49 at the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile.

 Pl	Name      	Age	Hometown
  1	Hedy Marque	86	Alexandria, VA

See the Men's Spring 2004 WRR Runner Rankings