Open Women
An amazing 27 runners qualified for ranking in the women's Open division, with Naoko Ishibe (Photo left) of Silver Spring, Maryland taking the top spot. She ran two races and won them both. The most competitive race was the Outback Steakhouse 8K, where Ishibe won (28:02), defeating second-ranked Megan McLaughlin (29:04) and fifth-ranked Alisa Harvey (28:58), as well as top ten placers Denise Knickman and Susannah Kvasnicka.

Danielle Russell of Arlington, Virginia takes the third spot, with four qualifiers and a best time of 17:28 in Alexandria's Red Ribbon 5K. Caroline Tynan of Sterling, Virginia ran even faster than that (17:02 at Carabba's 5k) but did not compete against the strongest competition. Four masters division runners qualified for the Open list, including Gretchen Triantos, Laura Freix, Debi Bernardes, and Sherry Volk; and five sub-masters division runners qualified: Danielle Russell, Alisa Harvey, Patty Fulton, Helen Beven, and Julie Thienel.

Photo left: Sharon Donovan (28) of Arlington, VA placed 9th among open women
Photo below: Springfield's Shannon Banks is 20th in the open division

 Pl	Name              	Age	Hometown
  1	Naoko Ishibe      	34	Silver Spring, MD
  2	Megan McLaughlin	23	Alexandria, VA
  3	Danielle Russell	38	Arlington, VA
  4	Caroline Tynan    	30	Sterling, VA
  5	Alisa Harvey      	37	Manassas, VA
  6	Denise Knickman 	34	Baltimore, MD
  7	Hilary Cairns     	32	Washington, DC
  8	Marjan Huizing    	34	Gaithersburg, MD
  9	Sharon Donovan    	28	Arlington, VA
 10	Susannah Kvasnicka	30	Great Falls, VA
 11	Heather Hanscom  	25	Alexandria, VA
 12	Jenny Ledford     	23	Quantico, VA
 13	Patty Fulton      	37	Silver Spring, MD
 14	Margaret Hanson  	22	Rockville, MD
 15	Christy Underdonk	34	Kensington, MD
 16	Gretchen Triantos	45	Rockville, MD
 17	Laura Freix       	41	Centreville, VA
 18	Helen Beven       	36	Kensington, MD
 19	Lisa Thomas          	27	Alexandria, VA
 20	Shannon Banks     	21	Springfield, VA
 21	Julie Thienel     	39	Columbia, MD
 22	Diane Hevehan    	31	Alexandria, VA
 23	Debi Bernardes    	44	King George, VA
 24	Sherry Esposito 	24	Elkridge, MD
 25	Emily Fertig    	18	Alexandria, VA
 26	Jennifer Dietz     	17	Springfield, VA
 27	Sherry Volk       	41	Williamsburg, VA

Women 35 - 39
Danielle Russell (photo left) of Arlington, Virginia wins the age group in a close battle with Alisa Harvey of Manassas, Virginia. A very slight edge goes to Russell because of her win over seventh- ranked Suzanne Edgar at the Red Ribbon 5K, while Harvey did not race against any of the top contenders. Russell's best performance was an outstanding 17:28 at the Red Ribbon 5K, and Harvey ran a 28:58 at the Outback 8K. Third place goes to Patty Fulton of Silver Spring, Maryland, whose two qualifiers included a 30:16 at the Country Roads 5-Mile, where she defeated fourth- ranked Helen Beven (32:16) of Kensington, Maryland, who managed four qualifying times. Fifth is Julie Thienel of Columbia, Maryland, whose best performance was a 19:15 at Columbia's Penguin Pace 5K.

 Pl	Name              	Age	Hometown
  1	Danielle Russell	38	Arlington, VA
  2	Alisa Harvey      	37	Manassas, VA
  3	Patty Fulton      	37	Silver Spring, MD
  4	Helen Beven       	36	Kensington, MD
  5	Julie Thienel     	39	Columbia, MD
  6	Bonnie McDonald	        38	Roanoke, VA
  7	Suzanne Edgar     	36	Leonardtown, MD

Women 40 - 44
The first three placers in this category were good enough to also place in the open division. Laura Freix of Centreville, Virginia gets the top spot. Her 19:01 5K at the Virginia Run Turkey Trot 5K beat third-ranked Sherry Volk (19:51) of Williamsburg, Virginia, in the biggest showdown of the season. The second spot goes to Debi Bernardes of King George, Virginia, who recorded a fine 18:45 at the Potter Homes/YMCA 5K, but did not race against any of the top age group competitors. Kendall Tata of Virginia Beach is fourth, with a win over seventh-ranked Cinda O'Dell at Norfolk's Santa Clause Shuffle 5K (19:15). The first Maryland placer is fifth-ranked Pat Wilkerson of Columbia, who managed a 19:39 at Carabba's 5K and wins over eighth-ranked Sarah Buckheit and ninth-ranked Robin Goodwin.

 Pl	Name               	Age	Hometown
  1	Laura Freix       	41	Centreville, VA
  2	Debi Bernardes    	44	King George, VA
  3	Sherry Volk       	41	Williamsburg, VA
  4	Kendall Tata     	40	Virginia Beach, VA
  5	Pat Wilkerson     	44	Columbia, MD
  6	Catherine Gallagher	42	Chevy Chase, MD
  7	Cinda O'Dell      	42	Virginia Beach, VA
  8	Sarah Buckheit    	42	Reston, VA
  9	Robin Goodwin     	44	Timonium, MD
 10	Nancy Walsh        	41	Gaithersburg, MD

Women 45 - 49
Gretchen Triantos of Rockville, Maryland led the category, and was good enough to also place in the open division. Her performances included a 31:09 5-Miler at Alexandria's Thanksgiving Day race, beating third-ranked Betty Blank (33:05). The 2002 champion, Linda Wack of Germantown, Maryland, is runner- up, with her best performance being a 32:28 at the Outback 8K, beating Blank. Third is 2002 runner up Betty Blank of Falls Church, the first Virginia placer, with four qualifying times, including a win over fifth-ranked Jean Lauzon at Fredericksburg's Shamrock 4-Mile. Fourth is Carol Talley of Toano, Virginia, whose three qualifiers include a 20:56 at the Governor's Land 5K. Jean Lauzon of Spotsylvania, Virginia is fifth, with a best of 22:28 at the Potter Homes/YMCA 5K, and a win over ninth-ranked Liza Recto.

 Pl	Name              	Age	Hometown
  1	Gretchen Triantos	45	Rockville, MD
  2	Linda Wack        	47	Germantown, MD
  3	Betty Blank     	49	Falls Church, VA
  4	Carol Talley       	48	Toano, VA
  5	Jean Lauzon       	49	Spotsylvania, VA
  6	Katarine Daragan	46	Wheaton, MD
  7	Laura Dewald      	45	Baltimore, MD
  8	Bernadette Flynn        45      Fairfax, VA
  9     Liza Recto      	47	Lexington Park, MD
 10	Betsy Henderson    	49	Roanoke, VA

Women 50 - 54
Six runners qualified in the 50-54 category, with Alice Franks of Rockville, Maryland taking the top spot. She had five qualifying marks, including a 38:44 at Olney's Country Roads 5- Mile, to defeat third-ranked Jane Godfrey (41:10) of Takoma Park, Maryland. The second spot goes to Linell Smith of Baltimore, who had two wins over fifth-ranked Linda Rose of Baltimore, including a 22:15 at Baltimore's Jingle Bell Run 5K. Third-place Godfrey had a best performance of 38:37 at the Outback 8K. Fourth was Peggy Davis of Falls Church, Virginia, who had a 39:31 at the Fall into Winter 8K, beating sixth-ranked Lynn Salvo.

 Pl	Name       	Age	Hometown
  1	Alice Franks	54	Rockville, MD
  2	Linell Smith	50	Baltimore, MD
  3	Jane Godfrey	54	Takoma Park, MD
  4	Peggy Davis	50	Falls Church, VA
  5	Linda Rose	51	Baltimore, MD
  6	Lynn Salvo	53	McLean, VA

Women 55 - 59
Seven runners qualified, and Nancy Crippen of Stafford, Virginia comes out on top. She defeated third-ranked Claudia Crawford, also of Stafford, and fifth-ranked Barbara Davidson of Fredericksburg, Virginia at both the Potter Homes/YMCA 5K (23:02) and the Shamrock 4-Mile (29:56). Priscila Prunella had five qualifiers and takes second place. Her best performance was a 49:29 at the Rockville 10K, and she beat fourth-ranked (and 2002 annual ranker) Dee Nelson of Gaithersburg three times. Crawford places third, with a best performance of 24:16 at the Potter Homes/YMCA 5K. Fourth-ranked Nelson's best performance of 24:17 was recorded at the Virginia Run Turkey Trot 5K, and fifth- ranked Judy Gilbert of Stevensville, Maryland had an outstanding 38:25 at the Outback 8K.

 Pl	Name              	Age	Hometown
  1	Nancy Crippen     	55	Stafford, VA
  2	Priscila Prunella	58	Rockville, MD
  3	Claudia Crawford	55	Stafford, VA
  4	Dee Nelson        	58	Gaithersburg, MD
  5	Judy Gilbert      	59	Stevenson, MD
  6	Barbara Davidson	57	Fredericksburg, VA
  7	Jacqueline Rupp 	55	Lisbon, MD

Women 60 - 64
Sharon Dolan dominated this category. In fact, her performances were strong enough that she would have led the 50-54 or 55-59 categories as well. As an example of her excellence, her 44:55 10K at the Rockville 10K beat third-ranked Janet Newburgh (61:59) of Rockville by more than 17 minutes. Arlowene Garland of Warsaw, Virginia takes the second spot, with three qualifying performances, including a 35:27 at Fredericksburg's Shamrock 4- Mile.

 Pl	Name             	Age	Hometown
  1	Sharon Dolan      	60	Gaithersburg, MD
  2	Arlowene Garland	64	Warsaw, VA
  3	Janet Newburgh    	60	Rockville, MD

Women 65 - 69
This was a close call, with Nancy Patron of Williamsburg, Virginia getting a narrow victory over 2002 champion Tami Graf of Lusby, Maryland. The margin of victory was Patron's win over third-ranked Pat Ewell at the Jamestown H.S. Swamp Run. Graf did not race against either of the other two placers. Patron's best performance was a 26:36 at the Governor's Land 5K. Runner-up Graf had a 5K best of 26:23 at Dundalk's Superbowl 5K, and the third place Pat Ewell of Williamsburg had a 5K best of 33:21 at the Swamp Run.

 Pl	Name       	Age	Hometown
  1	Nancy Patron	66	Williamsburg, VA
  2	Tami Graf	66	Lusby, MD
  3	Pat Ewell	69	Williamsburg, VA

Women 70 & Over
Kay Morrison (photo left), the 2002 75 and over champion, is the only qualifier in the over 70 age groups, and she recorded five qualifying performances, including a 68:01 at the Rockville 10K and a 55:31 at Rockville's Jingle Bell Jog 8K.

 Pl	Name       	Age	Hometown
  1	Kay Morrison	75	Potomac, MD

See the Men's Winter 2003 WRR Runner Rankings