Brenda Barrera

Jacoby and Chapman Win Marine Corps Historic Half

Published May 20, 2012 at 4:41PM | Updated September 16, 2013 at 11:31AM

There was much to celebrate at this year’s fifth anniversary of the Marine Corps Marathon Historic Half held in Fredericksburg, VA on May 20, 2012. The event has grown every year and had close to 6,000 finishers, compared to 3,800 from the inaugural 2008 event. For starters, it was a commanding victory for hometown favorite Bert Jacoby who came to the starting line with one goal: to win. And that he did in 1:11:33, almost three minutes ahead of defending champion Wyatt Boyd, from Washington, DC, who finished in 1:14:27. Brandon Dick, 25, from Fredericksburg took the final podium spot with his 1:15:36 finish.

What a far cry from Jacoby’s 2011 race experience when he was the very last person to cross the start line and he raised money for charity for each person he passed.

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Megerssa and Rice Win 33rd annual NCB Capitol Classic 10K

By Brenda Barrera

Published May 20, 2012 at 4:37PM | Updated September 16, 2013 at 11:36AM

What is a classic race? It is an event that is judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding and the NCB Capital Hill Classic 10K is just that – a quality event with a long tradition that dates back 33 years with proceeds benefiting the Capitol Hill Cluster, a public school with three campuses.

Ideal weather conditions greeted runners on Sunday as the number of participants increased from last year with 2,149 runners finishing the 10K.

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Castille and Kimbrough Take Crowns at USA Track & Field Masters 8K Championship in Williamsburg

By Brenda Barrera

Published May 19, 2012 at 4:49PM | Updated September 16, 2013 at 11:36AM

“Yup, I’m 40,” the message on overall champion Kevin Castille’s shirt said it all. It was an impressive day for the 40 and older crowd at the Run for the Dream 8K in Williamsburg VA which also served as the USA Track & Field Masters 8K Championships. A total of 1,536 runners completed the 8K race on the rolling course on the historical Colonial Williamsburg and College of Williams & Mary. And 143 national-class runners competed in the separately scored Masters Championship division.

Having just turned 40 this past March, Castille is having an exceptional year. The Louisiana-native now residing in Kentucky is tearing up the roads and also the track. He captured the masters crown at the Carlsbad 5000 (14:57), set a U.S. Masters 10K record at the Stanford University Invitational (28:57) and set a new course record at today’s race with his 24:19 finish.

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Plenty of Passion for All at the Virginia is for Lovers 14K

By Brenda Barrera

Published February 12, 2012 at 1:14PM | Updated September 17, 2013 at 2:31PM

To say love was in the air was no exaggeration for Saturday’s Virginia is for Lovers 14K, an unusual race distance and one of the popular J&A Racing events held in Virginia Beach, VA. It was a morning filled with a lot of red attire, pink hearts with glitter, and wedding vows were exchanged on the race course at, where else, Lovers’ Lane.

It came as no surprise to see top locals and last year’s champions defend their titles. Ryan Carroll, 29, from Portsmouth led from start to win in 46:22 and Virginia Beach’s Renee High, 30, handily won in 52:00. While both ran slower times than last year, each was just coming off January breakout performances where Carroll notched a 1:08:36 PR at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and High won the Walt Disney Marathon in 2:48:35.

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More than 1,000 Runners Finish Inaugural Norfolk Freedom Half Marathon

By Brenda Barrera

Published November 13, 2011 at 2:44PM | Updated September 17, 2013 at 2:25PM

The Norfolk city banner flags were flapping with a breeze coming out of the southwest as 1,202 runners took off for the inaugural Freedom Half Marathon in ideal conditions on Sunday. Navy Lt. j.g. Erik Bates, 25, from Virginia Beach, VA won in 1:21:05 and Jennifer Quarles, 39, from Merrimac, VA was the first woman in 1:29:00.

It took less than a mile for Bates and Frank Sprtel, 39, from Silver Spring MD to separate from the field. Bates made a decisive move at mile 6 when Sprtel grabbed a drink from the aid station. That is when he threw in a surge and the race was in his command as he pulled away for the win.

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New Course Records and Great Conditions for Racing in Richmond

By Brenda Barrera

Published November 12, 2011 at 2:50PM | Updated September 17, 2013 at 2:23PM

It is not always the case, but sometimes everything just comes together perfectly on race day. Like ideal weather in the 40s on a historic course along lush fall scenery with a competitive field that pushes you to your best. That was the case for the many runners at this year’s SunTrust Richmond Marathon, McDonald’s Half Marathon and HCA Virginia 8K that set a record with 17,073 runners.

SunTrust Richmond Marathon

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Ware and Dengera Claim Victories at 2011 Marine Corps Marathon

By Brenda Barrera

Published October 30, 2011 at 3:33PM | Updated September 18, 2013 at 2:34PM

Charles Ware wins it all in a near Olympic-class 2:19:16.

What a weekend with so many elements of drama. A rare fall storm hit the mid-Atlantic on Saturday bringing not only rain, but hail, sleet, slush, and snow. On Sunday, however, the skies cleared in time for the 36^th Marine Corps Marathon where Army 1^st Lt. Charles “Chad” Ware from Wheeling, IL won in an impressive 2:19:16 and Tezata Dengera, from Ellicott City, MD by way of Turkey, claimed the women’s title in 2:45:28.

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Barus and Miyauchi Win Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon

By Brenda Barrera

Published September 4, 2011 at 4:10PM | Updated September 18, 2013 at 5:17PM

Yoko Miyauchi wins in 1:11:49, three seconds off the state record.

Labor Day weekend may signal the ‘official’ end of summer; but for the 11,219 runners who toed the start line at today’s Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon, it was the start of a festive race featuring live bands at every mile and a fun-filled weekend of activities that included a post-race party on the beach and free pass to the American Music Festival. Two new champions were crowned: Benson Barus, 31, from Kenya won the overall title in 1:02:22 and Japan’s Yoko Miyauchi, 28, led the women’s field in 1:11:49.

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Plenty to Celebrate at the Coast Guard Day 5K

By Brenda Barrera

Published August 6, 2011 at 4:25PM | Updated September 18, 2013 at 5:17PM

It was a birthday celebration of sorts. On August 4, 1790, Congress authorized the creation of a maritime service to enforce customs laws, signed off by President George Washington. That was 221 years ago and the Revenue Cutter Service—better known today as the U.S. Coast Guard—is celebrating their birthday. On August 6, 2011 the Coast Guard Day 5K held at the Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown, VA celebrated its 23^rd running with a record number of finishers, 308.

Two teenagers, Jack Little and Taylor Falvey, took top honors.

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Wardian and Tuptova Earn Marathon Titles at Nation’s Capital

By Brenda Barrera

Published March 26, 2011 at 11:56AM | Updated September 25, 2013 at 1:50PM

Long lines of racers get underway.

Under clear skies, chilly race temperatures in the 30s, and the backdrop of the RFK Stadium, more than 13,000 runners finished this year’s SunTrust National Marathon, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield National Half Marathon, and United Way National Team Relay in the Nation’s Capital, setting an all-time record number of participants.

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