"I learned today that I could compete with the Irish on an Irish holiday. I didn't know it was Edmund until mile 2. I got what I was looking for today, and I was pleased with the effort. The wind and cold wasn't uncomfortable coming back, and most of the runners were cheering for Edmund", stated Chris Banks of the Georgetown Running Company, the 2002 winner of the 14th St. Patrick's Day 10K (March 17, 2002) in a time of 30:55.

"Luck of the Irish" dominated the race from 1996-1998, as Edmund Burke (Georgetown Running Company) has been the only person to capture three consecutive wins (30:52, 31:06, 30:50). Philippe Rolly of Team Pacers ended the reign with a 30:27 and a new event record in 1999. Burke finished in third place in 30:37. Last year, Burke attempted to recapture the title but Rolly had other plans and he took first in 30:51 to Burke's second place finish in 31:07.

A record crowd of 4,175 (2,133 males, 2,042 females) runners finished. The race is the season opener in Washington, weather permitting. In 1993 the race was canceled due to a blizzard and it was canceled in 1995. There was a light drizzle along with a mild breeze, the temperature was in the 40s.

The race started at 13th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, and went towards the U.S. Capitol, turned on to 1st Street over to Independence Avenue, onto a few side streets and back to Independence Avenue. At L'Enfant Plaza the course looped around Benjamin Banneker Park. The course continued on a few more side streets and back onto Independence Avenue, after mile four and back to the 1st Street for the finish along Pennsylvania Avenue.

The men's field included Jim Hage of Team Brooks, the only person to hold an open title (1994-31:17) and masters (2001- 32:19 event record), and three-time masters winner Chuck Moeser of Team Pacers (1992-33:45, 1996-33:32, 1997- 32:41).

The female field included Desiree Ficker of Potomac, MD, Patty Fulton of Team Brooks, Sharon Servidio of Team Pacers and Kristin Pierce Barry of Arlington, VA. All were capable of pulling off an upset.

It took less that 200 meters for Banks and Burke along with Araya Haregot of Ethiopia to set the pace. Haregot was last year's winner of the Run vs. Row 10K where he ran under the name of Araya Birhane and had the seventh fastest winning time of 32:43.

The trio went through the first mile in 4:58 with Hargot a step behind. By the second mile it was a two-person race, as Haregot could not sustain the pace. At the 5K (15:38) mark, it was Banks and Burke with Haregot trailing in 16:04.

The female pack included Ficker, Servidio and Barry going through the first mile in 5:38. The pack was together going up to L'Enfant Plaza along with Marjan Huizing of Montgomery Village, MD. Barry was in the lead position. Less than 50 meters back was Casey Smith of Arlington, VA, and Fulton. Smith moved to the area in August after graduating from Roanoke College in Virginia, where she ran Division III, primarily 5K and 10K.

Burke and Banks were back onto Independence Avenue with a three- quarter mile stretch to the fifth mile, flat and fast. The runners on the other side of the street were cheering as they raced. Burke was off to Banks' right side and moments later, Banks surged and Burke could not cover the move and dropped a couple of paces behind. Banks passed mile five in 25:05.

On Pennsylvania Avenue, Banks had opened running to the finish line passing the sixth mile in 30:00 and finished in 30:55, the seventh fastest winning time. Burke took second in 31:06 and Haregot was third in 32:14. Glen Mays of Washington was fourth in 32:20.

"It wasn't quite that easy. I had to pick it up. I was surprised that Edmund didn't go with me. I wasn't concerned about Araya but I knew there was an 'X' factor. This was a tune up for me," said Banks.

"Chris picked it up, and it was windy. I tucked in behind him and he dropped me to a 4:50 last mile. Once I realized I was with Chris, I was going to run hard. I wasn't concerned about third place (Araya). I didn't know it was Chris until mile two. It was a good race and well organized," said Burke.

"It was clear from the gun that I would not be able to go out with the leaders. I planned to run conservatively through the mile and then try to accelerate. I came through the first mile in 5:15 behind the chase pack of three," said Mays. "At just before three miles, I noticed that third place was falling off the lead pack, so I tried to reel him in. I made good progress, but could not quite finish the job, as my form began to deteriorate over the last mile. The level of competition was very good and everybody up front had someone to race against," added Mays.

A gradual upset was taking shape in the women's race, Smith had been on the move from an earlier sixth place and had taken the lead over by mile four and showed no signs of slowing as Barry was giving chase. Barry was trying to overhaul Smith in the closing mile along Pennsylvania Avenue, but Smith was holding her own to finish in 35:57, the second fastest winning time. Barry took second in 35:59 followed by Huizing in third with 36:04. There have been only three finishers under 36 minutes: Smith, Barry and the event record holder, Susanne Augustauskas (1989-35:42).

"I didn't expect to this well. I like to go out easy and run the second half depending on how I feel. I wasn't concerned about Kristin; I came here to have fun. The competition was good today. At mile five, I took the lead. I had to remember what it is like to push at the end of the race, something I haven't done for a while," said Smith. "At about the fourth mile, I realized there was a whole pack that was coming back to me and that's when I thought I would try to keep pushing and maybe I could catch up. It never really crossed my mind that I could win until the fifth mile. Even after I took the lead, and up until the finish line, I was still thinking I could, and probably would, get out kicked at the very end," added Smith.

"The wind and cold did not bother me, but I tried to stay focused. Right before mile five another woman (Casey) was behind me. She just bounced by me and I tried to stay with her. I kept going back and forth in my mind wondering if I could catch her, but I started to kick to late," said Barry.

Barry, 1996 graduate from Dartmouth, where she ran cross- country, was a first year law student at Georgetown when she placed second in the Georgetown Classic 10K (10/15/97) in 36:28. In her second area race, the Somerset Back To School Classic 8K she was first in 29:37. "I need more strength training and downhill work. It was a little windy, so I was pleased with the time. I have not been able to get out on the track. I came out to see where I was, and this was a great race," said Servidio.

"I gained a little more confidence. I was 1:10 faster than the George Washington Birthday Classic 10K. I ran smart. The competition was fine; it was fun to be behind the lead four to see the lead exchange. Casey passed me before mile four, and she took off. My 5K were about 18:15. I felt strong after mile four," said Fulton.

Hage managed to defend the master title with a 32:48 (5th place) followed by Moeser in 33:35 (8th place) and first in the 50-54 age group. Tim Silva of Washington, DC was third master in 33:46 (9th place).

Win Persina of Washington, DC was the first master in 39:52 (16th place), followed by Linda Wack of Germantown, Md., in 40:05 (17th place). Wack has been the only two-time female master winner (1997-39:06, 1998-38:36). Julie Hayden of Ashburn, Va., was third in 40:13 (19th place).

"My goal was to start off conservatively. The first two miles I ran at 6:15 pace, but going into the third mile I slowed down. I felt relaxed the whole time, except for the last half-mile when I felt tired," said Persina.

"My PR is 37:53, but that was back in the UK, pre-kids in the 80s! I haven't ran a 10K in almost two years, and in this race I ran my fastest time since coming to the US, beating my previous best by 1 minute 7 seconds. As you can imagine, I am very pleased with that, although I am hoping that one day I will go under 40 minutes again," stated Hayden.

"There was another lady sitting on my shoulder for much of the race and she got me in the final mile! In the big mixed races, it's not always easy to pick the other ladies out. It was a great race with a very high standard and I really enjoyed the whole experience," added Hayden.

Bennett Beach of Bethesda, MD finished in 38:26, third in the 50- 54 age group. Beach was the masters winner in 1991 (33:47).

David Webster of Stevensonville, MD finished in 35:22, second in 45-49 age group. Webster was the master's winner in 1994 (33:02).

Sharon Dolan of Gaithersburg, MD finished in 45:09, first in the 60-64 age group. Dolan was the master's winner in 1990 (41:35).

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