By James Moreland
Fairfax, VA
October 30, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
After all these years could this perennial race be doomed to success? Competing against the massive Marine Corps Marathon with its little sister race 10K with nearly seven thousand finishers, the ‘gallop’ keeps roaring along, for equestrians note that of the four gears-–walk, trot, canter, and gallop–gallop is the fastest. With nearly five hundred races in the region between Labor Day and Veterans Day, the Goblin Gallop expanded again to nearly 20% more finishers than last year. Maybe it is because discerning runners and walkers alike see that the race has what it takes.
Tons of free parking close by is a wish come true. As soon as you get out of your car you already hear the Spark Plugscranking out tunes. While the songs are mostly from my generation, they are so lively that people could easily forget the first white Halloween. Naturally, the media made it seem scarier than the scores of hundreds of costumes worn by the participants. Everybody from Fairfax east ducked the near freezing soaking that cut many of Saturday events’ participation in half. Nine inches in western Maryland barely ranked a notice. The question was how are the corners of Fairfax Corner? How are the slopes of Random Hills?
Runners were more than adequately warned and though there were a few slick spots, the morning blossomed into a near perfect fall wonder. With the dominating Tezata Dengara over in Arlington winning the Marine Corps Marathon, Hirut Mandefro (right)had to be considered the favorite. She returned back in the area earlier this year after having been the top ranked runner for much of the last three years. Already this fall she had two solid wins, twice breaking 17:00. She also ran a swift 58:21 at the Virginia Ten Miler. Still, there was a new gunslinger in town and Anna Holt-Gosselin already has a fine reputation with a fall win at the Run! Geek! Run 8K and a smartly done Army Ten Miler in 59:19.
An even newer face on the scene, sub master Kristie Connelly, 36, made them both work hard on the roller coaster ride around the shopping center. Mandefro quietly secured another victory in a very nifty 17:42 on an honest course that is too hilly to be really fast.
Holt-Gosselin (left) was standing tall in second place with WRR summer cover man Bob Briggs, 54, close behind. Briggs, a former Olympic class racewalker as well as a 29:00 10K runner, must prefer the cooler weather as he improved on his 18:18 at the inaugural Let Freedom Run 5K in July (18:18 2nd AG) to win his division in 17:57. He was the second best at the age graded table with 84.9%. Mandefro was fourth (83.6%) among the seven racers better 83%. Connelly took third overall in 18:05 with the seventh best age grade at 83%.
Two other women made that elite status and neither was a surprise. Top ranked master Alisa Harvey was sixth woman overall in 19:05 for an age graded 84.5%. Then there was Dee Nelson, 68. She capped off another excellent win for her 1,400th career race in an excellent 25:35, giving her the top age graded time for the event in 85.3%. Her best 5K of the year was more than two minutes faster.
At the awards ceremony, second place winner Gordon, 78, note, “I can’t stay with Tami.” Few can. Tami Graf has been looking to take down another Virginia State record. She has already raced faster but she has to have a certified course that also reports the race. Her 32:09 is more than two minutes faster than the current 34:26 and the more than generous Virginia has chosen to use net times, Graf’s was 31:50, to enhance the record book.
Former masters ranking champion Andres Wright (left) is back and already starting to produce times that earned him the title. At 44, his 16:56 was third best man at 83.1% but the prize goes to the fastest not the best age graded. He knew second master, Mike Colaiacovo, was the only one close at 17:02. Still wary, he was confident he would win. The third master was Jean Christophe Arcaz. At fifty, he can still hang with the young guys, racing 17:43, a step ahead in the age grading with 83.2%.
After the race Alan Rider, 75, noted that maybe the generous five-year age groups might go one more from 70 to 99 and include a 70 to 74 with the eldest being 75-99. That would have worked for him this year. Next year both Chan Robbins (25:15) and John Gluck (25:45) will have aged up from 74 and be gunning for top dog Skip Grant.
For the top men, Seife Geletu had been third overall in 16:01 last year. For nearly all the race it looked as if he had a chance to take the crown. The final quarter mile features a sharp turn cresting the long hill followed by a steep hundred meter downhill. From there it is two sharp turns to the final straightaway. Ryan Hanson(below) made the break early enough and jetted away to win in 15:43. Though Geletu was only five seconds behind, it was clear he would not be able to catch up.
After the race, most of the cold had gone away. The large crowd in the square ate hot dogs and listened for their number for the dozens of random prizes. The final prize was Redskins tickets. It did take quite a long time to hand out all the prizes that went three deep in five-year age groups. There were also team awards and costume awards. Next year’s event will be their 19th.
Awards Listing (No Duplicate Prizes)
FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Time
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== =====
1 1520 Hirut Mandefro 30 Washington DC 17:42
2 951 Anna Holt-Gosselin 23 Vienna VA 17:55
3 713 Kristie Connelly 36 Alexandria VA 18:05
MALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Time
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== =====
1 1540 Ryan Hanson 24 Bethesda MD 15:43
2 1519 Seife Geletu 29 Washington DC 15:48
3 1262 Jerry Greenlaw 23 Alexandria VA 16:26
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 99
1 4 Alisa Harvey 46 Manassas VA 19:05 19:05 6:09
2 1436 Kim Isler 43 Oakton VA 20:17 20:17 6:32
3 1050 Karen Ashbrook-Barnes 41 Vienna VA 21:26 21:26 6:54
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 99
1 1548 Andres Wright 44 Frederick MD 16:56 16:56 5:27
2 1535 Mike Colaiacovo 42 Ellicott City MD 17:02 17:02 5:29
3 1426 Jean-Christophe Arcaz 50 Rockville MD 17:43 17:43 5:43
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 14
1 784 Morgan Wittrock 13 Vienna VA 21:23 21:23 6:53
2 1037 Emily Lichtenberg 12 South Riding VA 22:59 22:59 7:24
3 1298 Sierra Brooks 14 Clifton VA 23:07 23:07 7:27
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 14
1 1036 Tyler Lichtenberg 14 South Riding VA 17:27 17:27 5:37
2 1459 Nati Digafe 13 Centreville VA 20:36 20:36 6:38
3 1033 Kai Stephens 14 Fairfax VA 20:59 20:59 6:46
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 15 - 19
1 328 Christine Mayuga 15 Oak Hill VA 20:35 20:35 6:38
2 242 Jordan Lilly 19 Centreville VA 23:40 23:32 7:35
3 1538 Natalie Schlosser 18 Winchester VA 24:05 23:58 7:43
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 15 - 19
1 1163 Daniel Anderson 16 Falls Church VA 19:14 19:14 6:12
2 1111 Neil Totten 15 Herndon VA 19:35 19:35 6:19
3 1186 Alex Min 15 Burke VA 21:00 20:48 6:42
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 1215 Jenn Ennis 23 Richmond VA 18:35 18:35 5:59
2 1306 Maura Carroll 22 Washington DC 18:44 18:44 6:02
3 1094 Maria Cheshire 24 Bristow VA 21:44 21:44 7:00
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 11 Sean McLaughlin 24 Centreville VA 19:25 19:25 6:15
2 1029 Brian Amaya 23 Herndon VA 22:03 22:03 7:06
3 402 Timothy Kutz 24 Fairfax VA 25:32 23:37 7:36
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 96 Susan Hein 29 Chantilly VA 23:54 23:34 7:35
2 1319 Krystine Rivera 25 Ashburn VA 24:45 24:45 7:58
3 710 Martha Mishkin 28 Fairfax VA 25:01 25:00 8:03
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 1406 Jason Myers 26 Alexandria VA 16:32 16:32 5:20
2 783 Ryan Werner 27 Washington DC 19:44 19:44 6:21
3 1448 Joshua Pinedo 26 20:24 20:24 6:34
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 1419 Jessica McGuire 31 Arlington VA 21:01 21:01 6:46
2 1255 Taylor Poling 30 Arlington VA 21:18 21:18 6:52
3 1185 Megan Brummer 32 Washington DC 22:09 22:09 7:08
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 1420 Aaron Lyss 30 Washington DC 19:45 19:45 6:22
2 407 Jason Bryan 31 Springfield VA 19:53 19:53 6:24
3 51 James Brennan 32 Alexandria VA 20:29 20:25 6:34
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 150 Melissa Hardt 35 Arlington VA 22:08 21:55 7:04
2 735 Margaret Albaugh 36 Falls Church VA 23:11 22:58 7:24
3 1168 Ann Wessel 37 Vienna VA 25:55 25:20 8:09
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 1271 Keith Freeburn 37 Centreville VA 17:17 17:17 5:34
2 734 Bob Koeppen 35 Alexandria VA 18:13 18:13 5:52
3 1423 Tim Davis 37 Springfield VA 19:52 19:52 6:24
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 1300 Missy Salisbury 42 Lorton VA 24:34 24:34 7:55
2 544 Stephanie Hammond 44 Springfield VA 24:34 24:34 7:55
3 160 Melanie Massiah-White 42 Fairfax VA 24:43 24:43 7:58
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 1432 Rob Meadows 40 Leesburg VA 18:40 18:40 6:01
2 1275 James Lister 42 Falls Church VA 19:17 19:17 6:13
3 1508 Tom Powers 43 Kensington MD 19:22 19:22 6:14
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 1515 Annie Downer 46 Herndon VA 22:28 22:28 7:14
2 1032 Yoko Stephens 46 Fairfax VA 22:54 22:54 7:23
3 698 Angelika Kirkland 45 Oakton VA 24:41 24:26 7:52
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 927 Craig Greene 46 Manassas VA 20:15 20:13 6:31
2 472 Robert Martin 48 Fairfax Station VA 21:03 21:03 6:47
3 282 Tim Martin 47 Manassas VA 21:38 21:38 6:58
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 284 Sushila Nanda 50 Arlington VA 23:22 23:22 7:32
2 401 June Ring 50 Fairfax VA 23:37 23:32 7:35
3 1107 Sarah Buckheit 51 Reston VA 24:25 24:25 7:52
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 1505 Robert Briggs 54 Springfield VA 17:57 17:57 5:47
2 1506 Terry McLaughlin 51 Spotsylvania VA 18:21 18:21 5:55
3 1182 Peter Cini 53 Fairfax VA 21:22 19:55 6:25
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 1546 Heather Sanders 56 McLean VA 23:16 23:16 7:30
2 1247 Merrilee Seidman 57 Alexandria VA 25:51 25:51 8:20
3 377 Pat Warren 55 Kensington MD 26:44 26:44 8:37
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 1248 Paul Bousel 58 Alexandria VA 21:24 21:24 6:54
2 526 Stuart McFarren 55 Arlington VA 22:22 22:22 7:12
3 10 James Moreland 59 Gaithersburg MD 23:36 23:36 7:36
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 1507 Gail Contreras 60 Fairfax VA 33:32 32:50 10:34
2 13 Maureen Babcock 61 Cambridge MA 34:39 33:33 10:48
3 192 Claudia Tuller-Brooke 60 Annandale VA 34:55 34:50 11:13
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 850 Michael Wesbecher 63 Oakton VA 21:41 21:32 6:56
2 253 Gary Robinson 60 Bellaire TX 25:40 25:07 8:05
3 281 Paul Riede 60 Stafford VA 25:37 25:21 8:10
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 1568 Dee Nelson 68 Gaithersburg MD 25:35 25:35 8:14
2 427 Mary Schade 65 Arlington VA 47:24 46:33 14:59
3 491 Joannene Maynard 65 Kingsville MD 48:50 48:08 15:30
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 893 Mike Golash 68 Washington DC 24:06 24:03 7:45
2 189 Richard Wiley 67 Centreville VA 28:42 28:25 9:09
3 1132 James Verdier 69 Alexandria VA 29:54 29:47 9:35
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
1 1422 Tami Graf 75 Lusby MD 32:09 31:50 10:15
2 186 Winnie Gordon 78 Fairfax VA 46:59 46:18 14:54
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
1 1196 Chan Robbins 74 Arlington VA 25:15 25:15 8:08
2 916 John Gluck 74 Alexandria VA 25:45 25:34 8:14
3 9 Alan Rider 75 Reston VA 28:45 28:32 9:11
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 639 Andrey Gochev 26 M Springfield VA 22:46 20:48 6:42
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 242 Jordan Lilly 19 F Centreville VA 23:40 23:32 7:35
By James Moreland
Washington, DC
October 29, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
The plan was for close to ten thousand walkers and runners to descend on Freedom Plaza for the 25th year of the Aids Walk 5K Washington. Many wondered how it would work out with the Occupy folks already there protesting. People wanted to know if the Freedom Plaza would have a clear space for them. There were even some jokes about how often the “occupiers” had a chance to bathe. Still, neither of these groups had any animosity and they made a plan to share with the Occupy Washington people taking the east side closest to the White House.
Then we got the news that maybe all of the house in the region would be white as well when panicked news media started a stampede to the grocery stores with word of a possible foot of snow. Regulars in town know there is always enough rhetoric to keep the temperature high enough to prevent snow. Besides, regular runners always prefer snow to rain. Rain soaks and snow blows off. Just before race time, the skies were still dark with clouds and the rain was coming down pretty good leaving puddles all up and the route but it was nothing that would stop experienced runners.
Of course with this event 80% of the participants were walking and probably close to half of the runners were racing for their first time. This would explain why there were only 659 finishers out of nearly 1,500 signed up for the run. I will admit I considered sleeping in but that was only because I like to sleep. I even had a chance to run a mile through the city past the monuments from my parking spot and I was looking forward to a flat, fast course. The Marine Corp Marathon is coming tomorrow. How well the city remembers back in 1994 when Oprah Winfrey showed amazing versatility and took on the marathon that morning that was just as wet and barely warmer. Hopefully tomorrow we will get the sunshine we were promised.
The 5K course was modified from the regular one as the city is already changing somewhere along the route. It still starts with a sprint down Pennsylvania Avenue towards the Capitol but this time it could not decide where it wanted to go. The out and back course ducked down side streets not once, not twice, but three times, coming and going. Thus the race was always bouncing back and forth onto Pennsylvania Avenue.
The walk would start with a lot more fanfare at 9:15 as the last of the 5K runners were finishing. The event does not collect age or sex for the runners so the results will just show order of finish. Speaking with Brian Beary (left) at the start, I pointed down the road and said, “This is the hilly part of the course.” He was dressed as if it were a couple weeks earlier and quickly pulled away from the crowd.
Going up and back on streets gives one a chance to see the competition and he seemed surprised that no one was really up there with him. Coming out of the second cul de sac Matthew Van Orden of Vineland, NJ began closing the gap but he would have to settle for the second spot in 18:37.
Meanwhile, the third runner was one of the region’s elite racers, Susan Hendrick (right). She was coming off a solid 1:04:23 at the Army 10 Mile, though it was well off her excellent 1:01:41 last year. Last fall she was fourth overall at the Veterans Day 10K in 36:42. This year’s race is in just two weeks and ends the Fall Runner Ranking season. With all the turns and the weather she was thinking place not time and she captured the third spot overall in 19:05, much closer to second than fourth place.
Noah Himberger was next besting the second woman Corrie Gethard by a half stride in 19:50. The third woman, Katie Schettig, was eighth overall. She had been eighth at the 2010 Veterans Day 10K as well.
For those looking to race again at Freedom Plaza when the weather is sure to be improved, there is no need to wait till spring for the St. Patrick’s Day 8k. In December, the 11th, the Jingle All The Way is downsizing to an 8K and moving to Freedom Plaza. However, the downsizing is only the distance as the race had grown so large that it no longer fit in its first home, West Potomac Park.
Top ten finishers
1 1425 Brian Beary Washington DC 18:21 18:20 5:54
2 845 Matthew Van Orden Vineland NJ 18:37 18:35 5:59
3 1180 Susan Hendrick Washington DC 19:05 19:04 6:09
4 356 Noah Himberger Washington DC 19:50 19:49 6:23
5 1389 Corrie Gethard College Park MD 19:51 19:49 6:23
6 1441 Taylor Williamson Silver Spring MD 20:07 20:03 6:28
7 1036 Daniel Arboleda Arlington VA 20:12 20:06 6:28
8 728 Katie Schettig Washington DC 20:08 20:06 6:29
9 1461 Tom Howard Arlington VA 20:13 20:09 6:30
10 282 Matt Giorgis Arlington VA 20:16 20:12 6:30
By James Moreland
Silver Spring, MD
October 23, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
The police cadets had a large squad fast pacing the course.
Last year the first section of the new Inter County Connector (MD200) opened on the west end in Rockville. More than 500 hundred runners took the opportunity for a toll free jaunt. This year no one was going for a PR because last year’s course is now open for business. This year’s course was the course moved east to Silver Spring. Participants entered onto the nearly finished section at New Hampshire and drove halfway along towards the next exit at Route 29. Next year look for the race in a new spot for section three.
The event started on a perfect autumn morning with clear skies that just peeked over forty degrees at 9:00 a.m. when the scores of cyclists began. Their journey was a ten mile out and back and was not timed. The 5K got started about 25 minutes later, after a few speeches and of course the National Anthem. Runners were told to stay off the shoulders which were not yet finished. One of the runners smiled and said, “I like the thought of running in the fast lane.”
One of the speakers was Mark Worley with the Special Olympics. The race raised nearly $20, 000 for that cause. Worley of Columbia, MD had a very nice race finishing third overall in 20:21. That was one step ahead of the top woman Robin Stanley.
The race did not draw any of the region’s elite racers. Most of the runners were drawn by the chance to race on the deserted highway. There were quite a large amount of families racing together. One of the fastest was led by 11-year-old Samuel Pasti who was in the top ten overall until the final quarter mile, finishing in an excellent 22:52. The young lad had a huge edge racing back up the hill from the turnaround. However, the final half mile is all downhill and that favored those with longer legs.
Race winner Craig Steigerwalt bolted out early. Actually, quite a few of the younger runners did but the first 1000 meters are all uphill and many bit off more than they could chew. As the top runners finally headed downhill at the mile Steigerwalt slowed and turned around more than once, seemingly surprised that he had no competition. He cruised home in 19:25. Runner-up Danny Weiss was the top teen in 20:06 but he was sure to be hearing footsteps urging him faster.
There were no awards for the masters runners but the second and third women were in there mid forties. Jennifer Weeks, 46, just missed a Ranked Runner qualifying time with a solid 23:28. Leisha Self, 49, was next in 24:12. Each division has a qualifying time to become a Ranked Runner. Bob Chase, 66, was the only man with such a time, finishing as the second fastest master in a very credible 22:47. Jeanette Novak, 67, added a 35:52 to make her second qualifier for the fall season, making her a Ranked Runneras well.
After the race and refreshments were finished, it was time to exit. We were directed east to Route 29. Too bad the southbound lanes were still closed.
Award Winners
Pl Name Bib City Age G Gun Chip Pace 1 Robin Stanley 166 Derwood MD 30 F 20:22 20:22 6:34/M 2 Jennifer Weeks 139 Baltimore MD 46 F 23:25 23:28 7:34/M 3 Leisha Self 283 Potomac MD 49 F 24:12 24:12 7:48/M 1 Craig Steigerwalt 68 Elkridge MD 27 M 19:25 19:27 6:16/M 2 Danny Weiss 282 Potomac MD 17 M 20:06 20:06 6:29/M 3 Mark Worley 75 Columbia MD 25 M 20:21 20:21 6:34/M
By James Moreland
Washington, DC
October 16, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
The 6th annual Boo! Run for Life 10K run and 2 Mile walk moved east about a mile and a half to East Potomac Park to accommodate the large crowd of people attending opening ceremonies for the the new Martin Luther King Memorial just north of the traditional course in West Potomac Park. Most of the course was the same, starting on the channel side and racing around the point to where mile one would have been and then returning home.
With all the elite runners at the Army 10 Mile last week and the Baltimore Running Festival Saturday, it was great to see more than 500 runners and scores of walkers to celebrate the near perfect autumn morning. One runner tried to find fault with, “Did you notice the breeze on the river side.” Maybe it was three mph instead of the dead calm on the channel side. Pancake flat, this course was made for records and the event scored eight of them.
Three women’s records were soft and certain to go down though Hilary Cairns’ event record 37:20 would be untouchable. Lindsay Larose, 29, had an easy time winning in 39:09 to get a fourth. For nearly four miles Mary Davison, 38, held off Cindy Conant, 50, of Kensington, MD. But Conant has been busting up not just her division but winning races outright and she powered her way past to take the runner-up spot 40:09 to 40:25, while shaving more than 14 minutes off the record. Gay Petrey, 47, form South Carolina, one of seven states represented in the first 14 runners, knocked almost five minutes off her division’s record with 45:50.
Naomi Stanford, 61, does not race often but when she does she nearly always wins. More than one rankings winner from her division has expressed awe at her racing. Her only race in the spring winning the National Half Marathon in 1:41:25 was the top race of the season. Today she was a mile ahead of the former record in an excellent 46:37.
For the men Derik Thomas, 45, was stalking the top two runners racing along the river side by side at the four mile mark. Richard Andrews and Brian McMahon were racing side by side. Somewhere past the parking lot were the Awakening used to reside Andrews put on a move to win in 34:29. McMahon held on to the runner-up spot in 35:07 with Thomas nearly imposing his will in a record setting 35:19. Former record holder Kevin D’Amanda will soon be fifty but his very nice 38:31 would still be well off the masters record set by then 51-year-old Henry Wigglesworth in 34:48.
Even with a late start Steve San Miguel, 19, notched a new record 38:31 to take both 2009 and the 2010 top teens who had tied for the record. After Thomas the top master was 67-year-old Jim Noone. Noone made it look easy taking down Lou Shapiro’s event record by 21 seconds in a swift 43:19. Not far behind him Donald Hensel, 67, had set the 60-64 record three years ago in 44:01. Michael Wesbecher may have known that because he bolted across the finish line in 44:00 to reset the score.
OVERALL MALE (GUN TIME)
Place Num Name Lname Age City Gun T Net T Pace
===== ===== =================== === ===================== ===== ===== =====
1 537 Richard Andrews 25 Washington DC 34:29 34:29 5:33
2 704 Brian McMahon 29 Washington DC 35:07 35:06 5:39
3 347 Derik Thomas 45 Alexandria VA 35:19 35:18 5:41
OVERALL FEMALE (GUN TIME)
Place Num Name Lname Age City Gun T Net T Pace
===== ===== =================== === ===================== ===== ===== =====
1 581 Lindsay Larose 29 Arlington VA 39:09 39:07 6:18
2 432 Cindy Conant 50 Kensington MD 40:09 40:08 6:28
3 691 Mary Davison 38 Bristow VA 40:25 40:24 6:31
MALE AGE GROUP: 01 - 19 (NET TIME)
1 406 Steve San Miguel 19 Falls Church VA 37:31
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 01 - 19 (NET TIME)
1 449 Jenna Rieling 19 Aberdeen NJ 42:41
MALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 24 (NET TIME)
1 436 James Bolognani 21 Washington DC 36:27
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 24 (NET TIME)
1 660 Maureen McCarthy 20 Washington DC 41:06
MALE AGE GROUP: 25 - 29 (NET TIME)
1 375 Matt Deters 26 Washington DC 36:52
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 25 - 29 (NET TIME)
1 420 Vanessa Taylor 25 Spencerport NY 42:48
MALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 34 (NET TIME)
1 473 Brian Young 33 Washington DC 35:57
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 34 (NET TIME)
1 114 Sam Zinnerman 31 Forestville MD 44:03
MALE AGE GROUP: 35 - 39 (NET TIME)
1 814 Richard Rapine 39 Alexandria VA 36:31
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 35 - 39 (NET TIME)
1 330 Alissa Huntoon 38 Washington DC 51:16
MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 44 (NET TIME)
1 429 Charles Manahan 44 Vienna VA 42:07
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 44 (NET TIME)
1 565 Tracey Walsh-Chocol 41 Alexandria VA 57:09
MALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49 (NET TIME)
1 706 Howard Frost 46 Falls Church VA 38:02
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49 (NET TIME)
1 276 Gay Petrey 47 West Columbia SC 45:42
MALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 54 (NET TIME)
1 829 Matt Hardison 50 Vienna VA 44:17
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 54 (NET TIME)
1 366 Margaret Staeben 50 Arlington VA 54:36
MALE AGE GROUP: 55 - 59 (NET TIME)
1 460 Thomas Hauser 59 Alexandria VA 52:45
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 55 - 59 (NET TIME)
1 10 James Moreland 59 Gaithersburg MD 47:39
MALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 64 (NET TIME)
1 542 Michael Wesbecher 63 Oakton VA 43:57
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 64 (NET TIME)
1 541 Naomi Stanford 61 Washington DC 46:28
MALE AGE GROUP: 65 - 69 (NET TIME)
1 326 Jim Noone 67 Fairfax VA 43:17
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 65 - 69 (NET TIME)
MALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 99 (NET TIME)
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 99 (NET TIME)
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 436 James Bolognani 21 M Washington DC 36:39 36:27
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 441 Sarah Rosenstein 22 F Washington DC 45:28 45:22
By James Moreland
Reston, VA
October 8, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
Running is a sport for the young and even more so the young at heart. Running in races has increased every year in the last decade. With the economic down turn in the last few years, runners are coming out in even greater numbers. The annual Great Pumpkin 5K was blessed with a picture perfect autumn day and brought out big time racing numbers. Waiting for the race to start, one runner asked another if she was going to race with her. “Oh no, I don’t really run. I just came out for the fun.” The reply was, “Well next year, I will run with you.” The oldest runner of the race was Larry Dickerson, 80. He was wearing a bright yellow pair of running shoes that enviously caught the eye of one of the youngsters. Dickerson always near the top of the rankings, smiled and said, “I’ll will them to you.”
Colorful costumes were on display. One runner at the front of the pack was painted like a Halloween skeleton. Further back in the pack a woman was decked out in a full Batman costume. The Oktoberfest celebration at the Reston Town Center was set for the whole weekend with the race as a centerpiece. This year the late summer rains did a number on the pumpkin crop, so we missed out on a giant pumpkin like the half ton monster at the 2009 event. Still, there was lots of smaller pumpkin, often with faces designed on them.
Top ranked Henry Wigglesworth, 54, had scouted the course and found it to his liking. He was looking for another sub 17:00 minute race. A number of the older runners such as Jean Christophe Arcaz, 50, and Steve Robinson, 56, (coming back from a year layoff), were looking for some competition to spur on the fast times on a perfect racing morn. The first two, Wigglesworth (17:15) and Arcaz (17:44), both finished in the top eight overall. Arcaz noted that the top three just disappeared. He knew he would have to work hard to catch Wigglesworth. Wigglesworth noted after the race that he would have preferred Arcaz up on his shoulder pushing him to a faster time. He had been really impressed by Arcaz’s Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile (He had been first in 58:48). “Sub 60:00 is pretty good!” he exclaimed.
Third grandmaster Peter Cini (18:58) speculated that Arcaz was better the longer the race. Both he and Wigglesworth discussed where the best (fastest) 5Ks might be found. Late October offered one of the best choices at the Valvoline Instant Oil Change Goblin Gallop 5k & 1k Fun Run in Fairfax, VA at the end of the month. Robinson was so eager to be back on the circuit that he ran out quickly with the top dogs. After the race he was ecstatic. “I was hoping to break 21:00 and I almost broke 20:00,” he said with a wide grin of his new 55-59 event record in 20:05. Amazingly, after Wigglesworth’s 17:15 record, the next two fastest grandmaster age groups were set in the first year (2009) by Jason Page, 64, (19:27) and Bill Joyce, 65, (19:58). The master record was set by open class runner Ray Pugsley in 15:28.
The first year was Steve Magness upset reigning rankings champion Steve Crane by fifty meters in 15:05. The next year the course changed a bit and the top two runners dipped under 15:00 with third place Frank DeVar just missing in 15:03. This year the clear favorite was Abiyot Endale (left). In the spring he upped his game racing three of the fastest 10Ks in the region, finishing in the top three every time. His slaying of the field at the Pike’s Peek 10K in 28:19 gave a strong hint that Gurmessa Megeressa’s event record of 14:51 would soon be history. Today three more age groups would break 15:00 minutes. Looking relaxed, Endale always seems to be toying with the competition, winning easily in 14:25. Second place Girma Desta at thirty-five is still racing in excellent form for a marvelous 44:44. DeVar was again third but this time it was also the third fastest event time in 14:48.
There was cash for the top three overall but for some reason they decided not to pass out age group prizes on race day. Endale (89.5%) led five runners with age graded performances higher than 87%. Dee Nelson, 68, was third overall at 88:1% with her 24:45 finish.
In the women’s race Kayley Byrne, 23, took over early and won in a sparkling 19:05. The next two places were decided later in the race. Runner-up Karina Lubell posted a 19:44 with Tiffany Hevner not far behind in 19:56. Of the first dozen runners these two, at 31, were the only ones older than thirty. Last week at the McLean 5k Jen Norris (right) was fourth overall and top master. (The overall winner was Win Persian, 51,). That course was a similar rolling course with turns but it featured some misty showers that turned torrential for those who lingered on the course. Today Norris plowed ahead for the top masters spot in 22:20. Not far behind her were the top two grandmasters. Sushila Nanda, 50, ran a very credible 22:33 for the event record. She also stopped about every half mile with leg cramps. She started up again as some of the slower runners caught up. After the raced she was thanking them for helping to pace her. “I saw one woman who I thought might be in my age group and I wanted to beat her.” That runner was 55-year-old Elizabeth Baumgarten who just missed catching her in 22:37. That gave her the second highest age graded rating for the women at a national class 79.9%.
Female runners comprised 59% of the field. With all the racing competition of forty races a weekend and the massive Army 10 miler on tap tomorrow, the numbers were less than might have been expected for this wonderful race. Still, there were 1100 timed finishers, plus untimed runners as well. The kids’ race consisted of hundreds of little ones divided by age with four different colors of bibs.
Many volunteers worked long and hard to make this event work. Race morning started at 3:00 a.m. to get everything in place for the runners. At packet pickup whole families came out to help deliver the goods to the racers. On Friday, the Chen family had three young boys about 6 to 11 years old. They quickly took over the jobs with alacrity. Mom was able to just watch most of the time. The youngest made sure everyone got an Anthem bag while the oldest diligently marked off bibs before dispensing with the shirts. They really went to town when they got the chance to stuff the bag with race fliers, the more the merrier. Once a packet of fliers was finished they reached for more, exulting when more were provided. After the pick-up closed for the evening, we surprised them with an early Halloween, a bag of chocolate candies. It is a safe bet they will be back net year.
FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Gun T Net T Pace
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== ===== ===== =====
1 467 Kayley Byrne 23 Oak Hill VA 19:05 19:03 6:08
2 1221 Karina Lubell 31 Washington DC 19:44 19:44 6:22
3 846 Tiffany Hevner 31 Columbia MD 19:56 19:56 6:25
MALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Gun T Net T Pace
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== ===== ===== =====
1 3 Abiyot Endale 26 Bronx NY 14:25 14:25 4:39
2 2 Girma Desta 35 Washington DC 14:44 14:44 4:45
3 1 Joseph Devar 23 Washington DC 14:48 14:47 4:46
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 12
1 1135 Emily Landeryou 12 Reston VA 22:22 22:16 7:10
2 613 Kate Brunotts 11 Ashburn VA 25:22 25:21 8:10
3 1134 Sophia Landeryou 9 Reston VA 25:55 25:47 8:18
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 12
1 669 Ian Whitfield 9 Potomac Falls VA 20:42 20:42 6:40
2 660 Joshua Kay 11 Leesburg VA 23:08 22:46 7:20
3 1217 Owen Walker 12 Reston VA 24:13 24:13 7:48
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 13 - 15
1 1177 Mary Pollin 14 Burke VA 22:07 21:58 7:04
2 1157 Morgan Witcock 13 Herndon VA 22:26 22:26 7:14
3 938 Kacey Hirshfeld 15 Reston VA 24:07 24:03 7:45
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 13 - 15
1 719 Lewis Millholland 15 Falls Church VA 17:50 17:50 5:45
2 1191 Mikey Peterson 14 21:32 21:27 6:54
3 1218 Eli Lifland 13 Fairfax VA 22:30 22:10 7:08
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 16 - 19
1 780 Erin Geraghty 19 Woodbridge VA 20:50 20:50 6:43
2 1210 Gabrielle Merritt 16 Elon NC 21:55 21:55 7:04
3 483 Lisa Bell 18 Vienna VA 24:38 24:35 7:55
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 16 - 19
1 1184 Chris Zapple 19 Falls Church VA 18:02 18:02 5:49
2 1208 Zachary Dailey 16 Great Falls VA 18:20 18:18 5:54
3 1068 John Tiernan 16 Reston VA 20:12 20:02 6:27
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 1183 Natalie Anble 22 Fairfax VA 20:29 20:29 6:36
2 482 Julie Bell 21 Vienna VA 20:53 20:50 6:43
3 504 Amara Lewis 23 Alexandria VA 21:00 20:54 6:44
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 873 James McLaughlin 23 Herndon VA 20:11 20:06 6:29
2 1058 Nate Perry 23 Herndon VA 20:12 20:07 6:29
3 1250 Benjamin Burnheimer 24 Ashburn VA 20:58 20:57 6:45
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 785 Stephanie Manchin 27 Arlington VA 22:10 21:26 6:54
2 763 Melanie Clairy 29 Reston VA 22:14 21:39 6:58
3 841 Jayme Dorsett 25 Reston VA 23:37 23:07 7:27
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 65 Charlie Ban 29 McLean VA 16:15 16:15 5:14
2 939 Andrew Ciarfalia 28 Reston VA 16:55 16:55 5:27
3 424 Sean McLaughlin 25 Centreville VA 17:28 17:28 5:38
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 708 Dana Drever 34 Ashburn VA 23:56 23:23 7:32
2 862 Karen Preston 34 Ashburn VA 24:59 24:35 7:55
3 681 Jessica Sartorius 34 Vienna VA 25:52 25:52 8:20
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 311 Dan Petouvis 33 Fairfax VA 18:10 18:09 5:51
2 684 Titus Mott 34 Reston VA 19:44 19:41 6:20
3 1027 Auberde Merilan 31 Reston VA 20:35 20:30 6:36
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 1067 Paula Knepper 38 Reston VA 23:02 23:00 7:24
2 1003 Tia Roy 36 Ashburn VA 23:34 23:25 7:33
3 692 Holly Khatchadurian 37 Reston VA 24:03 23:55 7:42
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 1196 Joshua Doan 37 Arlington VA 18:37 18:36 5:59
2 748 Glen Case 36 Ashburn VA 18:52 18:51 6:04
3 107 Michael Rohlf 36 Washington DC 19:25 19:25 6:15
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 824 Jen Norris 40 McLean VA 22:20 22:14 7:10
2 1141 Jill Jaggard 43 Great Falls VA 23:42 23:42 7:38
3 184 Terry Short 40 Reston VA 25:04 24:22 7:51
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 1147 Tom Powers 43 Chevy Chase MD 19:11 19:10 6:10
2 1143 Shawn Flaherty 40 Herndon VA 19:54 19:54 6:25
3 1109 Matt Tourville 40 Alexandria VA 21:35 21:35 6:57
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 937 Diana Hirshfeld 45 Reston VA 24:08 24:04 7:45
2 776 Chana Richitt 47 Manassas VA 25:30 24:05 7:46
3 1146 Suzanne Powers 45 Reston VA 25:04 24:43 7:57
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 818 Robert Sichau 47 Alexandria VA 20:15 20:09 6:30
2 1105 Thomas Marks 45 Ashburn VA 20:31 20:31 6:36
3 1046 Robert Barlow 45 Reston VA 21:02 21:02 6:47
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 1043 Sushila Nanda 50 Arlington VA 22:33 22:33 7:16
2 886 Carla Freyvogel 54 McLean VA 23:59 23:58 7:43
3 419 Daniela Micsan 52 Reston VA 26:03 25:59 8:22
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 1004 Henry Wigglesworth 53 Washington DC 17:15 17:15 5:34
2 1170 Jean-Christophe Arcaz 50 Rockville MD 17:44 17:44 5:43
3 1187 Peter Cini 53 Fairfax VA 18:58 18:58 6:07
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 396 Elizabeth Baumgarten 55 Stone Ridge VA 22:37 22:35 7:16
2 990 Cindy Beyer 55 Reston VA 24:59 24:49 7:59
3 553 Peggy Corley 55 Fairmont WV 25:01 25:01 8:04
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 1207 Steve Robinson 56 Oak Hill VA 20:05 20:05 6:28
2 1239 Kenyon Erickson 57 Vienna VA 20:31 20:29 6:36
3 1169 Rod Devan 58 Alexandria VA 20:50 20:47 6:42
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 1055 Catherine Kemper 60 Des Moines IA 28:59 28:53 9:18
2 403 Jane Blong 61 Potomac MD 34:49 34:45 11:11
3 147 Linda Echard 60 Reston VA 36:22 35:40 11:29
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 1059 Jack Kehoe 63 Burke VA 25:08 25:05 8:05
2 550 Ting-Yi Oei 62 Reston VA 27:42 26:25 8:30
3 831 Jack Harvey 60 Centreville VA 26:53 26:45 8:37
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 1220 Dee Nelson 68 Gaithersburg MD 24:45 24:45 7:58
2 1112 Rebecca Brown 67 McLean VA 36:06 34:38 11:09
3 1037 Feryal Barakat 67 Rockville MD 57:45 56:32 18:12
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 509 Fred Kohut 66 Cold Spring NY 32:51 32:11 10:22
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 74
1 1128 Abigail Edwards 71 Reston VA 40:34 39:09 12:36
2 1251 Yuidgard Deitrich 70 Washington DC 43:52 41:43 13:26
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 74
1 676 John Gluck 74 Alexandria VA 25:04 24:58 8:02
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 75 - 79
1 246 An Duong 75 Centreville VA 32:18 30:59 9:59
2 592 Bendy Viragh 77 Washington DC 32:38 32:30 10:28
3 976 Dick Coogan 79 McLean VA 38:27 38:01 12:14
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 80 - 99
1 408 Larry Dickerson 80 Burke VA 28:43 28:36 9:13
By James Moreland
McLean, VA
October1, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
Below, runners charge the final meters to the finish line. Above, the finish arch awaits.
In its fourth year this little race is starting to gain momentum. The first two years the winners of the race barely broke 19:00 on a course that, while never flat, has no hills of consequence. In the second year, hometown legend Ted Poulos measured the field and ran just fast enough to win in 18:42. Take note that Sarah Spalding finished only one second later to keep things interesting. Then in 2010 some very fast runners entered the fray. Michaela Courtney easily set the women’s event record in a sparkling 17:22 that was sixth overall a stride behind Craig Clar. Poulos who has a PR of 15:48 settled for a division win in 18:32. Mark Drath lowered the bar beating runner-up Christopher Pruitt by a 100 meters in 15:44. Finishers nearly doubled to just short of 300 finishers.
Now for 2011 the race was offering a 7-day Wyndham Worldwide Vacation for the overall winners as well as for a random winner. This helped the race to a record 360 finishers on a cool, breezy morning that started to spit rain just moments before the start of the event. Philippe Rolly, 39, who once possessed 29:00 10K speed returned after finishing third last year. He improved to 17:07, which was all alone again in third place. The battle for the top prize came from runners nearly half his age.
Ethan Rissell, 22, has not been on the radar in a year or so but he battled all the way to earn the runner-up spot in 15:23. Andrew Benford, 23, of Richmond showed what a powerful runner he was triumphing in an event record 15:09. One tired runner coming off a slower than normal race mused that nobody would beat 20:00. Back in March on the track Benford had set a PR 13:59.99 to break 14 minutes by the slimmest of margins.
Standing at the starting line there were no women revving up to dart out onto Old Dominion for the nearly mile climb, albeit a mild elevation change. Then at a half mile Win Persina, 51, who usually starts easy, started pushing the pace. Maybe she had noticed that grandmaster women, such as Cindy Conant at the Kensington 8k last week, have been winning it all. Maybe she felt she would like that vacation. Whatever the reason, she pulled away from everyone to win handily in 21:26. Mimi Comer, 13, of McLean was next in 22:14. Fourth place Jen Norris, 40, started back in the pack otherwise she may have caught third place Kristin Novak. The final half mile contains two steep, though short humps but the way Norris tore over them, they might as well have been flat.
The final 200 minutes is a lovely downhill that leads around the final corner with the finish line right away there. The weather was not a problem during the race but it sure was nice to be able to shelter inside the little courtyard a few yards away after the race. And of course there was food and drink.
Maynard Weyers, 75, looked smooth and relaxed as he glided home in 27:36. That was nearly a minute and a half faster than his Run for the Door 5k just two weeks before.
After the race, tags like were torn off bib (like in the olden times) but this time they were deposited in that little green bucket. Everyone would get a chance for the 7-day Wyndham Worldwide Vacation.
Awards
Overall Female Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 Win Persina Washington DC 51 20 21:26 21:26 6:55/M Overall Male Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 Andrew Benford Richmond VA 23 1 15:09 15:09 4:53/M Female 19 and Younger Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 Mimi Comer McLean VA 13 28 22:07 22:14 7:08/M 2 Megumi Chen McLean VA 15 42 23:01 23:01 7:25/M Male 19 and younger Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 Sam Hutton Annandale VA 15 7 20:10 20:15 6:30/M 2 Wesley Fouse Annandale VA 16 8 20:11 20:15 6:31/M Female 20 to 29 Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 Kristin Novak Arlington VA 27 39 22:54 22:55 7:23/M 2 Martha Mishkin Fairfax VA 28 69 24:37 24:47 7:56/M Male 20 to 29 Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 Ethan Rissell Alexandria VA 22 2 15:23 15:23 4:58/M 2 Douglas Hickeg 28 4 17:41 17:41 5:42/M Female 30 to 39 Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 Luise Rodriguez Germantown MD 39 44 23:14 23:18 7:30/M 2 Genta Branstetter McLean VA 39 54 24:12 24:28 7:48/M Male 30 to 39 Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 Philippe Rolly McLean VA 39 3 17:07 17:08 5:31/M 2 Andrew Howley Arlington VA 34 6 19:54 19:55 6:25/M Female 40 to 49 Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 Jen Norris McLean VA 40 40 22:57 23:06 7:24/M 2 Cynthia Hutchings McLean VA 48 52 24:03 24:05 7:45/M Male 40 to 49 Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 David Fouse Annandale VA 45 13 20:43 20:46 6:41/M 2 Kevin Morin McLean VA 49 14 20:58 21:00 6:46/M Female 50 to 59 Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 Pat Leighton Falls Church VA 52 83 25:21 25:30 8:11/M 2 Carla Freyvogel McLean VA 54 89 25:32 25:33 8:14/M Male 50 to 59 Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 John Bacon Arlington VA 55 12 20:35 20:36 6:38/M 2 Robert Salmon McLean VA 50 24 21:46 21:49 7:01/M Female 60 to 69 Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 Gwen Davies McLean VA 67 205 31:56 32:01 10:18/M 2 Sharoos Newton Chantilly VA 65 317 43:23 43:38 14:00/M Male 60 to 69 Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 Tom Noonan McLean VA 63 56 24:16 25:10 7:50/M 2 Les Irby McLean VA 61 74 24:51 25:14 8:01/M Female 70 and Older Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 Ellen O'Brady Woodbridge VA 75 184 30:55 30:55 9:58/M Male 70 and Older Place Name City Age Overall Chip Time Gun Time Pace 1 Maynard Weyers Alexandria VA 75 134 27:34 27:36 8:54/M 2 Bendy Viragh Washington DC 77 239 33:35 33:42 10:50/M
By James Moreland
Arlington, VA
September 25, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
Wounded Warriors led the way at the 8th Navy 5 Mile.
In its eighth year the race was on pace for a big boost over last year’s 1936 finishers. There were nearly 3,000 racers signed up. After being unmercifully dry in the summer, the last month has been swimmingly wet. One of the volunteers noted before the race, “The dew point and the temperature are the same. I don’t envy you racing today.” We had been promised rain all weekend and both mornings were essentially dry. It was going to be great to race!
Just after the racers lined up behind the ChronoTrack mats, the region’s godfather of running, George Banker, announced the color guard. They marched up in dress whites and we proudly listened to our National Anthem. As in past years there was an early start for our Wounded Warriors. That field was not as large as last year but they were even more enthusiastic. The bell was rung and they were off. Three minutes later the rest of the massive field raced east along the channel for the fast first mile.
The field included many younger runners, perhaps more than most of the other local races. (It should be noted that the oldest age group did change this year from 60-99 to 70-99. If you build them a division they will come.) Also in an increasingly common manner, there were more women than men among the finishers. Enthusiasm got the best of many of the runners. By the time the field wrapped back on itself at 1,000 meters some of the runners were finding their feet as heavy as the moisture in the air.P
In last year’s event Paul Hill, 21, of Annapolis, MD had a wonderful 27:43 to finish second overall behind Omari Daughtridge’s 26:55. This year Hill had plans to run that winning time. He almost made it improving to 26:57, again coming up one place short of victory. It was just the ninth time a runner had broken 27:00. The event record was set in 2008 at 26:22 when the race was run in West Potomac Park. Rest assured that the half mile behemoth of a hill in the fourth mile cost race winner (left) Patrick Fernandez, 24, of Alexandria, VA (26:23) the event record. He does have the course record of course. Chas Ballew was third in a fine 27:51.
For the women, only once has the winner broken 31:00, when Martha Merz raced 30:39 in 2006. The next year Ofelia Perotti, 51, became the oldest winner.
Only one other time has the winner broken 32:00 when Makely Lyon crossed first in 2009 with 31:54. She was runner-up last year in 32:35.
This year she was absent so Christine Rehwald (below right) stepped up and finished the race in front of 1000 women. Her time of 32:12 was one of the top five fastest times, the second best of the new course. The next two racers were spaced out with Anna Bernal arriving second in 32:48, followed by Margaret Smith in 33:22.
The generous masters division went to the top three finishers. John Zimmerman reprised his 2010 win (30:25) with a much improved 29:00. That is even more impressive considering the much better racing weather last year. Last year both second place masters were in their fifties. This year Toby Warden won for the women. Second place Kris Barner, 46, of Rockville, MD is no stranger to masters wins. The day before she was tops at the Kensington 8K. That course’s topography is amazingly like the Navy’s, with a killer decelerator just past 3 miles.
All during the event there was a great band playing for the runners’ enjoyment. It did seem to feature songs from an era favoring us older runners. Yes! There were water stops but Jack and Jill had to go up that hill to get a cup of water. Better still was to hydrate before and hope for the best. After the race, I was asked if maybe I should have worn some clothes with better wicking capability. After catching our breath, George Banker’s loudspeaker asked, “If you are still smiling, then maybe you still have something left.” Just turn and walk away; head over to the refreshments which included bottled water, fresh fruit, and the best muffins a race could have. At least the first three were.
Next year the weather will be cooler and the numbers will probably grow 50%.
The first two finishers go for the tie.
1 2003 Patrick Fernandez 24 Alexandria VA 26:23
2 2603 Paul Hill 21 Annapolis MD 26:57
3 183 Chas Ballew 27 Washington DC 27:51
FEMALE OPEN
1 2585 Christine Rehwald 31 Arlington VA 32:12
2 2820 Anna Bernal 23 Quantico VA 32:48
3 437 Margaret Smith 31 Fort Belvoir VA 33:22
MALE MASTERS
1 1842 John Zimmerman 45 McLean VA 29:00
2 1845 Doug Perry 44 Alexandria VA 31:08
3 2326 Warren Djuric 49 Springfield VA 31:41
FEMALE MASTERS
1 2776 Toby Warden 44 Alexandria VA 36:42
2 2911 Kris Barner 46 Rockville MD 37:22
3 1052 Kimberly Person 46 Arlington VA 37:38
MALE WHEELCHAIR
1 10 Robert MacKey 48 Rockville MD 20:34
2 14 David Neumer 48 Rockville MD 20:34
FEMALE WHEELCHAIR
1 1648 Barbara Bowling 47 Vienna VA 33:36
MALE AGE GROUP: 01 - 14
1 940 Samuel Garner 11 Odenton MD 40:21
2 678 Zachary Sims 12 Owings MD 44:42
3 2208 Alexander Lee 12 Montclair VA 45:44
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 01 - 14
1 2198 Hunter Hullinger 11 Lorton VA 51:45
2 1712 Erykah Skinner 13 Great Mills MD 52:39
3 654 Gail Muggill 13 Arlington VA 53:56
MALE AGE GROUP: 15 - 19
1 2008 Shyheim Council 16 Germantown MD 36:37
2 2926 Dylan Houle 19 Washington DC 37:14
3 719 Michael Grieg 16 Arlington VA 39:19
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 15 - 19
1 2611 Jackie Chimiak 19 Annapolis MD 36:28
2 2612 Margaret Gilroy 19 Annapolis MD 39:05
3 172 Elena Alicea 16 Alexandria VA 42:16
MALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 24
1 2606 Brian Real 21 Annapolis MD 29:15
2 2602 Michael Haydell 21 East Jordan MI 29:30
3 2604 Mathew McIntyre 21 Annapolis MD 30:14
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 24
1 2610 Kimberly Bernardy 21 Highland CA 36:07
2 6 Theresa Funk 23 Rockville MD 37:06
3 2613 Whitney Irby 21 Annapolis MD 37:15
MALE AGE GROUP: 25 - 29
1 2930 Dwayne Rax 29 Washington DC 29:24
2 2901 Nicholas Brown 29 Arlington VA 32:00
3 2103 Brian Klesh 27 Arlington VA 32:47
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 25 - 29
1 577 Jessica Schwartz 25 Arlington VA 35:52
2 2862 Christine Monahan 25 Washington DC 35:59
3 2505 Colleen Mothander 29 Alexandria VA 36:08
MALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 34
1 21 Matthew Aberant 31 Vienna VA 30:42
2 2001 Scott McCann 30 Alexandria VA 30:47
3 2681 Kevin Hanson 31 Anacostia Annex DC 32:08
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 34
1 2871 Emily Reuter 31 Arlington VA 35:27
2 1576 Amanda Urquhart 32 Columbia MD 36:20
3 933 Susan Park 34 Washington DC 37:47
MALE AGE GROUP: 35 - 39
1 1342 Brian Heidt 35 Silver Spring MD 29:59
2 2609 Nathan Nudelman 35 Annapolis MD 30:07
3 2927 Brian Beary 35 Washington DC 30:20
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 35 - 39
1 448 Heather Barackman 36 Arlington VA 36:18
2 2312 Lauren Glaze 35 Baltimore MD 37:14
3 2054 Angel Boord 39 Washington DC 37:30
MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 44
1 2729 Bryan McEnaney 42 Springfield VA 32:09
2 2734 Brett Surbey 43 Fairfax VA 32:17
3 811 Andres Rodriguez 40 Arlington VA 33:45
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 44
1 535 Jen Norris 40 McLean VA 37:39
2 1599 Yuki Riley 42 Bolling Afb DC 38:23
3 1876 Marie Godwin 41 Broadlands VA 41:02
MALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49
1 1945 Kennie Edwards 45 Baltimore MD 32:36
2 1132 James Beckett 48 Fairfax VA 33:48
3 2141 Bob Rote 49 Geneva IL 35:39
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49
1 532 Mary Bowman 46 Silver Spring MD 39:16
2 1424 Mery-Angela Katson 47 San Antonio TX 39:19
3 2918 Denise Coutlakis 47 Arlington VA 40:03
MALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 54
1 2026 Steven Desantis 50 California MD 32:41
2 1844 David Johnson 50 Burke VA 32:43
3 445 Kevin Fitzgerald 53 Washington DC 34:25
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 54
1 2079 Kathie Watson 52 Alexandria VA 39:05
2 65 Donna Hoffmeier 52 Arlington VA 41:48
3 2902 Marcia Hackney 50 Bowie MD 42:42
MALE AGE GROUP: 55 - 59
1 2554 Pete Scala 59 Fairfax VA 36:11
2 1760 Glenn Clemmons 59 Herndon VA 36:58
3 1409 James Riordan 57 Fredericksburg VA 37:44
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 55 - 59
1 61 Ray Nan Berry 55 Arlington VA 41:33
2 767 Ann Crane 57 Falls Church VA 43:43
3 684 Grace Rascati 55 Alexandria VA 43:52
MALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 64
1 814 Robert Taylor 61 Alexandria VA 38:52
2 1170 Mark Franken 60 Germantown MD 39:21
3 2422 David Weddel 61 Woodbridge VA 41:46
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 64
1 1229 Rita Jensen 62 Alexandria VA 51:24
2 2887 Jaine Summers 61 Annandale VA 53:08
3 1387 Susan Sweatt 60 Aldie VA 57:39
MALE AGE GROUP: 65 - 69
1 2906 Michael Golash 68 Washington DC 41:08
2 1979 Chuck Lascano 68 Charlottesville VA 49:49
3 2621 John Potts 65 New Orleans LA 50:43
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 65 - 69
1 228 Stephanie Stoll Dalton 67 Washington DC 60:25
2 338 Patricia Byrne 65 Falls Church VA 71:11
3 615 Rhoda Harpe 67 Alexandria VA 79:48
MALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 99
1 993 Albert Vanocker 73 Waldorf MD 74:48
2 1865 Charles Hurley 71 Burke VA 79:28
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 99
Runners head past the starting line, also the 2K point in the race.
By James Moreland
Kensington, MD
September 24, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
Julie Sapper finishes fourth overall.
Walking down Fawcett Avenue in old town Kensington towards the start of the race, two young kids were talking about the race. One said, “There must be a thousand runners here today,” “No way,” replied the older one. She was wrong and the little boy was right. The event has three parts and three different starts off the circular Carroll Place. At 7:45 a.m. close to five hundred 2 mile walkers and runners headed south around the circle. At 8:30 a.m., the main event 8K bolted from the south side of the Noyes Library toward Connecticut Avenue. They would cross the finish line for the first time at just less than a half mile. Three minutes after they got under way, the 1K fun run charged after them from the north side of the library.
Nearly everyone was in a good mood on the cool but humid morning for the first racing weekend of the fall. There were a couple of the hundreds of young runners that got overwhelmed by the pressure but all the fun runners collected a beaded necklace at the finish. Dry your eyes and keep on running. The rain rumored to be done around ten, missed the event entirely.
Many of the runners had run the Run! Geek! Run! 8K last week in West Potomac Park. All of them found the 4th mile hill on East Bexhill that climbed parallel to the Mormon Temple Hill shut out any possibly of matching last week’s time. The race in its 18th year also had many returning runners. Perhaps the most often seen face is women’s winner Cindy Conant, 50, of Kensington, MD. She admitted to knowing the course very well. After all she had run the race every year since at least 2002. She moved up to fifth in 2004 and after that never finished lower than second overall, winning in 2006 as well. This year when she won it all again was her fastest time of any of those years as she dipped under 32 to finish in 31:59. That was 17thrunner overall.
Edi Turco had run the Geek race, finishing solidly in fifth place in 26:55. Today in his 25th race since Memorial Day he battled Gareth Alberto and Steven Moore through most of the flat first three miles. By the time he charged past the starting line at 4.5 miles he knew he had the win. The final 100 meters up Armory Drive he weaved back and forth waving to the crowd. Alberto had a closer battle and charged through in 27:56 just ahead of Moore’s 28:04. Keith Freeburn has not been racing a long time so he did not know that he was supposed to slow down on a hilly course and nearly matched his Geek time with a very solid 28:53.
After Conant finished there was a bit of a wait by the next three women rushed in like a fast conga line, behind each other but weaving up and back in an effort to change places. Trish Stone, 36, held the runner-up spot and ahead of Sandra Bonilla, 35, by three seconds 32:47 to 32:50. Fourth place Julie Sapper, 39, of Rockville was tops in her division.
While eight of the top nine women were from Kensington or Rockville, many runners came from as far away as Richmond (70-74 age group winner Mary Kate Berglund confessed that she has family in Kensington) and Fayetteville, PA, home of 79-year-old Bob Archibald. The oldest finisher in the race was Eileen Hobsongarcia, 81, who was joined by a contingency also from San Pedro, CA.
There race awards go three deep in ten year age groups but first there was a top master. Jean Christophe Arcaz had been at the race for the last six years. Often he finished just close enough to touch the shoulder of Ted Poulos just ahead of him. Always both of them finished faster than 29:00. This year Arcaz, now 50, gutted out the final yards to hold off Dan‘imal’ Murphy (left) 29:43 to 29:58 to win fifth overall and the top master award. Last year he had been fifth in 28:54 with Poulos tops in 28:51 and Murphy winning second age group in 29:26.
The top women master after Conant’s overall victory was Kris Barner, 46 of Rockville in 36:44. After that there were some amazing age group times. The grandmaster women were all just 50, led by Sushila Nanda. Nanda has 14 age group victories since Memorial Day. For the men Roland Rust, 59, is taking his last few races in the fifties very serious, putting all the younger grandmasters away with a marvelous 31:09. Alice Franks put away the 60-69 women by more than a mile in 40:43. She gave us a pretty smile and said humbly something like, ‘The times aren’t very fast but after all we are just running for fun.’
Fourth place Keith Freeburn proudly noted that his mother Susan finished third in her division. Skip Grant, 76 of Washington, DC ran an amazing 40:53 to top his division.
Before, during, and after the races Poison Ivy was the band playing music in the adjoining park.
Awards Listing (No Duplicate Prizes)
FEMALE
Place Num Name Ag City Time
===== ===== =================== == ===================== =======
1 114 Cindy Conant 50 Kensington MD 31:59
2 487 Trish Stone 36 Kensington MD 32:47
3 61 Sandra Bonilla 35 Kensington MD 32:50
MALE
Place Num Name Ag City Time
===== ===== =================== == ===================== =======
1 517 Edi Turco 38 Arlington VA 27:41
2 13 Gareth Alberto 32 Annandale VA 27:56
3 348 Steven Moore 33 Kensington MD 28:04
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 99
1 42 Kris Barner 46 Rockville MD 36:44
MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 99
1 24 Jean-Christophe Arc 50 Rockville MD 29:43
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 12
1 757 Adriana Rosas 11 Silver Spring MD 38:33
2 253 London Kazor 2 Kensington MD 44:52
3 80 Jordan Bryon 12 Alexandria VA 49:44
4 133 Maddie Deye 12 Kensington MD 53:50
MALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 12
1 134 Brian Diamond 12 Bethesda MD 43:07
2 83 Andrew Burklow 12 Kensington MD 45:35
3 476 Kemper Stearns 11 Kensington MD 46:50
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 13 - 19
1 496 Taylor Swift 17 Rockville MD 33:33
2 92 Sarah Caggiano 13 Bethesda MD 36:58
3 265 Charlotte Kirwan 17 Bethesda MD 38:25
MALE AGE GROUP: 13 - 19
1 236 Mark Jacobson 15 Rockville MD 31:32
2 266 Lewis Kirwan 13 Bethesda MD 33:29
3 100 Kasey Carroll 13 Bethesda MD 34:41
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 29
1 169 Miranda Forte 26 Gaithersburg MD 35:54
2 567 Chelsea Gibson 22 Bethesda MD 37:04
3 37 Briana Balsam 27 Gaithersburg MD 38:02
MALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 29
1 637 Micheal Fizdale 23 Bowie MD 31:44
2 151 Alex Emery 23 Rockville MD 32:11
3 331 Chris McGrath 23 Burtonsville MD 32:21
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 39
1 739 Julie Sapper 39 Rockville MD 32:53
2 127 Anne Delp 36 Kensington MD 35:36
3 257 Ellen Kennedy 39 Kensington MD 36:40
MALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 39
1 173 Keith Freeburn 37 Centreville VA 28:53
2 754 Marco Rosas Galicia 36 Silver Spring MD 30:01
3 610 Daniel Shanley 37 Chevy Chase MD 31:45
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 49
1 170 Lisa Fox 41 Bethesda MD 37:25
2 11 Ann Adkinson 42 Chevy Chase MD 39:20
3 582 Beth Krupinski 44 Kensington MD 40:47
MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 49
1 352 Dan Murphy 47 Bethesda MD 29:57
2 22 Matt Anderson 45 Fairfax VA 31:06
3 21 Mark Anderson 45 Burtonsville MD 31:11
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 59
1 359 Sushila Nanda 50 Arlington VA 37:07
2 628 Patty Tschideser 50 Chevy Chase MD 39:02
3 627 Babby Landon 50 Chevy Chase MD 40:55
MALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 59
1 431 Roland Rust 59 Bethesda MD 31:09
2 737 Peter Cini 53 Fairfax VA 31:28
3 393 David Pinnick 54 Manassas VA 33:14
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 69
1 171 Alice Franks 63 Rockville MD 40:33
2 111 Vallerie Codrington 60 Lanham MD 48:43
3 174 Susan Freeburn 60 Kensington MD 1:00:13
MALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 69
1 110 Joe Coblentz 61 Silver Spring MD 42:19
2 74 Pim Brouwers 63 Silver Spring MD 45:51
3 303 Alan Madison 62 Gaithersburg MD 46:35
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 79
1 49 Mary Kate Berglund 70 Richmond VA 57:19
2 765 Jamie Wollard 73 Rockville MD 1:11:53
MALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 79
1 619 Skip Grant 76 Chevy Chase MD 40:51
2 498 Nils Borje Tallroth 70 Bethesda MD 48:12
3 25 Bob Archibald 79 Fayetteville PA 48:51
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 80 - 99
1 223 Eileen Hobsongarcia 81 San Pedro CA 1:30:57
MALE AGE GROUP: 80 - 99
1 333 Jack McMahon 80 Silver Spring MD 49:27
Inaugural Race has Room to Grow
By James Moreland
September 27, 2008
Sterling, VA
For the Washington Running Report
With so many races competing for runners, it is hard to draw large crowds. The Wells Fargo Run for the Door 5K started off their first year with a lot of pluses. The race venue had huge parking loot with tons of room for this race to grow ten times as large. The course was coned off well so that even with its many turns, runners could easily stay on course. If you cannot have a fast course, make it real interesting.
Even before the runners lined up to get started, the air was thick with music from the booming music tent. There were fresh bagels and fruit for after the race and bless them, the bottled water was nestled in a bed of ice. After the past few days of chilling rain, runners might have forgotten how warm September really remains. Indeed, the race was a little nervous as the early morning skies contained some thunder and lightning. Fortunately that passed and runners were met with the lightest of drizzle, though the humidity made the air thick.
Ray (#1) and Cathy (#2) Pugsley of Potomac River Running both came out to help the race get started. Usually one of them has to stand on the sidelines. Today both were reasonable bets to finish in the top three and not even a long shot to win it all. Justin Fritzius of Purcellville, VA started on the far side with Pugsley front and center. Fritzius had won three 5Ks out right last summer in less than sixteen minutes. In 2008, he added three more victories in the summer, including the prestigious Annapolis 10 Mile.
The course had runners bolting around the shopping center in a half mile loop before cruising up Ridgetop Circle. The course’s “hills” were really mild and the “ridge top” reached at mile one was by no means daunting. The bear climbing on your back was the humidity as runners hastened down the long hill just after mile one. By this time, Fritzius had built a small cushion over Pugsley but could not shake fellow Purcellville racer Chris Schaeffer. At the tape, the photo makes it look as if Fritzuis is out for a stroll, crossing the line in 16:04, yet Scheaffer (16:07) is close enough to be partially blocked out of the photo.
Meanwhile, Pugsley (16:21) had all he could handle from fourth place David Miller of Leesburg VA, who ran 16:25. The race generously went three deep in ten year age groups and the winners in those divisions were uncontested. Fifth place Gary Grilliot (44) of Reston, VA hammered the masters in a spiffy 17:25. Michael Arrowsmith (149) of Reston, VA glided to glory in 18:51. Richard Adams Jr. (57) of Herndon, VA whiplashed his division bolting out to a forty second lead by the mile and taking it on home in 19:18. With no one competing in the 60-69 division, Maynard Weyers (72) of Alexandria, VA came roaring home to a cheering crowd, emphatically winning in an excellent 24:45.
Julia Rudd (25) of Herndon, VA has run a 5:06 mile this year and was hoping for something in the 17s. That was a tall order in today’s sticky weather. The top five runners (all men) were gone in a flash. She could latch onto to Michael Arrowsmith to help stay on pace, which she did, winning easily in 18:55. Cathy Pugsley started conservatively but by midway it seemed certain she would hold the number two spot, which she did in 19:09. Anita Freres had a great summer including an overall win and a top 5K in 20:09. She usually gets faster as the race wears on but she was not going to catch third place Danielle Russell (44) of Ashburn, VA. Russell, a new face, had an excellent 19:23. Freres, possibly aware that so-to-be-masters Jeanette Dumbrell was on her tail, pulled out her fastest 5K of the year (so far) in 19:56. Dumbrell was close in 20:04 to win her division. In the photo above, Lauren Dalton, just 13, of Sterling, VA gets a nice effort to win in 23:31.
Richards Adams Jr. (57) of Herndon, MD was seventh overall in 19:18. He hurried back to the finish line so he be the first one over to the massage table set up for runners.
Awards
FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Gun T Net T Pace
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== ===== ===== =====
1 3 Julia Rudd 25 Herndon VA 18:55 18:54 6:05
2 2 Cathy Pugsley 39 Sterling VA 19:09 19:09 6:10
3 103 Danielle Russell 44 Ashburn VA 19:23 19:23 6:15
MALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Gun T Net T Pace
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== ===== ===== =====
1 127 Justin Fritzius 24 Purcellville VA 16:04 16:04 5:11
2 132 Chris Sheaffer 24 Purcellville VA 16:07 16:07 5:11
3 1 Ray Pugsley 39 Sterling VA 16:21 16:20 5:16
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 – 19
1 182 Lauren Dalton 13 Sterling VA 23:31 23:31 7:34
2 109 Natalie Nelson 11 Sterling VA 26:55 26:55 8:40
3 139 Kelly Miller 13 Leesburg VA 29:14 29:13 9:25
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 – 19
1 75 Michael Arrowsmith 19 Ashburn VA 18:51 18:50 6:04
2 138 Matt Gambogi 14 Leesburg VA 20:22 20:22 6:34
3 145 Brenden Veler 12 Bristow VA 25:30 25:30 8:13
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 – 29
1 111 India Imbs 23 Ashburn VA 26:01 25:54 8:20
2 65 Beth Nagel 26 Ashburn VA 27:24 27:23 8:49
3 70 Vivian Kim 29 Sterling VA 29:12 29:07 9:22
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 – 29
1 83 David Miller 25 Leesburg VA 16:25 16:25 5:17
2 69 Daniel Huertas 28 Herndon VA 25:15 25:09 8:06
3 22 Lawrence Lee 29 Sterling VA 25:23 25:16 8:08
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 – 39
1 97 Jeanette Dumbrell 39 Falls Church VA 20:04 20:03 6:28
2 106 Diane Lathom 37 Ashburn VA 22:09 22:07 7:08
3 38 Christine Cosgrave 33 Herndon VA 26:38 26:33 8:33
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 – 39
1 110 Robert Van Dyke 34 Ashburn VA 22:01 21:58 7:05
2 56 Il June Lee 30 Vienna VA 23:16 23:10 7:28
3 76 Kevin Powell 34 Sterling VA 23:24 23:16 7:30
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 – 49
1 140 Anita Freres 43 Reston VA 19:56 19:56 6:25
2 116 Michelle Jakab 43 Sterling VA 26:09 25:59 8:22
3 25 Vicki Lewis 48 Woodbridge VA 26:53 26:48 8:38
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 – 49
1 123 Gary Grilliot 44 Reston VA 17:25 17:25 5:37
2 95 Robert Sichau 44 Alexandria VA 19:46 19:44 6:22
3 120 Rob Schlegel 41 Clifton VA 20:20 20:19 6:33
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 – 59
1 178 Leslie Kash 52 Round Hill VA 26:51 26:47 8:38
2 67 Karen Leh 51 Sterling VA 29:03 28:49 9:17
3 68 Cheryl Beebe 51 Sterling VA 32:23 32:21 10:25
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 – 59
1 29 Richard Adams Jr 57 Herndon VA 19:18 19:18 6:13
2 84 Myron Kremer 51 Winchester VA 20:51 20:50 6:43
3 10 James Moreland 56 Gaithersburg MD 21:04 21:04 6:47
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 – 69
1 51 Jean Stewart 65 Washington DC 40:44 40:32 13:03
2 73 Toni Miller 60 Leesburg VA 52:41 52:22 16:52
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 – 99
1 113 Maynard Weyers 72 Alexandria VA 24:45 24:44 7:58
2 144 Terry McCarthy 73 Leesburg VA 28:59 28:55 9:19
3 119 Jim Hufford 74 Reston VA 30:24 30:18 9:45
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME – NET PACE 1 – 99
1 37 John Bratton 44 M Arlington VA 22:59 22:57 7:23
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME – NET PACE 1 – 99
1 66 Leila Lucas 46 F Ashburn VA 28:02 27:59 9:01
Wearing his Potomac River Running shirt, David Miller of Leesburg, VA flies home with a Ranked Runner time of 16:25 for fourth overall.
By James Moreland
Leesburg, VA
August 14, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
As Michael Wardian was finishing his preparations he had a big grin on his face. He noted that he had just won a 10K but the race was “almost too short.” This year would be his fifth time racing the 20K and he had won the last three years. There were three other submasters in the elite field. Frenchman Philippe Rolly who back in 1999 had won the St. Patrick’s Day 10K in 30:27, well ahead of Wardian’s 30:55 PR. Rolly had dappled in Wardian’s forté winning a fifty miler in 2008 in just over seven hours. Wardian had won the JFK 50 Miler in 2007 in 5:50:34.
Italian Edi Turco loves to run. He told us at the DCRRC Landon Cross Country Saturday night that he looks for a race every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Like Michael he runs fifty plus races a year. Often onlookers wonder if these guys would not be faster with fewer races. Perhaps Wardian might improve on his 14:55 PR, which does seem a little out of touch with his new marathon PR of 2:17:49 set this year. And of course he always maintains, “I love to toe the line.”
Third in that group of mega runners is Karsten Brown of Front Royal. About ten years ago, he was just getting started and trying to quit his clove cigarettes. Now he runs a hundred miles a week and will race close to a thousand miles this year. After falling in one 50K in July he bounced back on August 6 to run fifth overall at the Dahlgren Heritage Rail Trail 50K. The next day he took on the Dog Days Cross Country 8K. Still, more than 75 races already this year and a really busy week of racing, he was not feeling to optimistic about a victory.
Tall and slender with his cap on backwards Wardian stayed right with the 10K leaders as the masses roared down Harrison Street. The next three miles plus are all up hill and the wheat, which was a little soggy from the morning’s rain, would soon get separated from the chaff. Jared Abuya, 34, of Gainesville, VA had the best of the race coming up the final hill alone in a 1:05:50 for the second fastest time ever on the course. Aaron Church set the record in 2006 with 1:04:29. The next runner was Wilson Komen of Washington, DC. The lanky Komen has run sub thirty for a 10K and been ranked number one in the Washington Running Report Running Rankings. Though he loves to run, lately he had not been racing as much. His 1:06:19, the third fastest time for the event, proved he still has his stuff. Wardian floated in next in 1:08:10. It will probably mean he will have to go and find another long race to run. He has scheduled the North Face Endurance Challenge Kansas City 50K on August 27.
The next two runners ran close together and almost did not seem aware they were in a battle. Neither surged, and Matt Logan bested Oberst Enzian by five seconds in 1:10:36 to round out the top five. The top master was hard charging Derik Thomas who always seems to finish near the top. At 45, his 6:02 pace on a very muggy day was marvelous. As Rolly crested the hill in 1:13:45 he did not seem to be aware that Edi Turco was coming up behind him in 1:13:57. But the savvy racers always know where their competition is. Brown rolled in just behind Thomas in 1:15:17 and at least at that point it looked as if he might be considering a day off. By Tuesday we expect to see him back out running the Paul Thurston 4.5 miler at Burke Lake.
For the women, Elena Orlova eschewed the 20K in favor of the 10K. That would have been a battle royale. Orlova had set the submaster record in 2009 in 1:17:34 while finishing second overall, followed by Meghan Ridgley. Last year on the short course (12 miles), Orlova won it all at an identical pace with Lisa Thomas of Vienna, VA less than a minute behind. This year Thomas was being pushed ever so close to the record. Ridgley was again third overall with a very nice 1:19:21. The battle for the gold was not decided until the final meters as Lindsay Wilkins, also of Vienna, clung on tenaciously. Thomas touched down in 1:17:40 with Wilkins five seconds behind. Erin Swain out dueled Sarah Bard for the fourth spot 1:20:35 to 1:20:47.
The 20K event is in its 8th year. This year the two races combined for the second largest crowd behind the perfect weather 2008 event which produced 137 ranked runner times, which is 10% of the field. Normally the course is very hot and the bright sun can whittle down the runners. This year the weekend was wet. The early morning rain cooled the air but left it drenched. There were no new records set in the 10K. In the 20K there were two. Grandmaster DeeDee Loughran, 53, finished ninth overall knocking 35 seconds off her record set in 2008. Right behind her Lanie Smith, 19, of Reston, VA (left) set the new teen standard with 1:26:55 and that was with a 30 second late start.
The 10K race is similar to the fabled Greasey Gooney 10k, the first 5K plus is a winding uphill that gets steeper as you go. When you turn around all but the final hundred meters is downhill ride to the finish. Even the four mile marker was eager to get to the finish line. It ended up about a quarter mile closer to the finish line by the time runners caught up with it. While that made for an awful long fourth mile split, mile five was really, really fast. For those hurrying back to the front of the Tuscarora Mill Restaurant at the finish line, there were no worries. The crew that supports the food and drink know their work. For nearly ten years, they have made a science of producing lots of great snacks and plenty of cold drinks. One runner looked at all the iced drinks and said, “They all have sugar in them.” Yes!!
The race always brings out the elite racers and especially the durable ones. Charging down past mile four the race was not yet decided. Lucinda Smith, 29, of Darnestown, MD had a slim lead but Julia Webb easily had Smith in her sights. They were racing with the top men as well, Smith winning in 37:23. That was one spot behind masters winner John Zimmerman’s 37:18. Webb came in soon after as sixteenth overall in 37:33. Speaking of masters, top ranked master and today’s race director Ray Pugsley said of Elena Orlova’s race, “Once you reach, forty everyone is aware of age.” Peggy Yetman, 43, of Leesburg, VA is nearly back to full form and held off Orlova for third place in 38:15. Orlova, 41, finished in 38:24, the same pace she ran the last two years in the 20K. Melissa Rittenhouse, 35, was next among the seven runners who qualified for the open division of the Runner Rankings.
For the men, everyone said that the winner looked like a kid. Joshua Hardin is a junior at William and Mary. Last year he struggled on the hot and hilly Cascades course in 36:47, finishing second among the five teens in the top six. The year before he was Rookie of the Year, breaking 31 minutes twice with a 30:37 10K best as a freshman. Today, he blasted ahead a prerace favorite Seife Geletu to a crushing 32:23 victory. Geletu’s worse race of the summer had been a 16:04 Run through History 5K overall win. He had won his age group at the prestigious Rockville Rotary Twilight 8K in 25:28. His runner-up finish in 33:18 had some runners eyeing their Garmins. Kevin Shirk was third with a solid 33:44. Top teen Patrick Spahn had run the Twilight 8K in 26:47 (34:01 10K equivalent). At Leesburg, he mustered a 35:47 for sixth overall.
Ronnie Wong and Jim Noone both belong to the 50 Plus Club. Wong turns 65 in September and won his division in 44:57. Noone, 67, easily won his division in 45:45. For the even older, jovial Leesburg resident Terry McCarthy, 76, bested mega racer Bob Gurtler, 76. Gurtler projects to again finish with more than fifty 5Ks and 100 races in a year. Of the 11 men older than 70 in the race, Dixon Hemphill, 86, is the oldest by a decade. Hemphill is still the race director for the popular Goblin Gallop 5K, which is run of the Let Freedom Run 5k course in the fall.
With all the food and drink after the race, some runners were hoping for some beer to fill the classy commemorative pint glasses each runner received in their packet. The race course has changed a few times over the years but after 23 years, the race is still a summer classic.
Awards Listing for the 10K (No Duplicate Prizes)
MALE OVERALL
1 477 Joshua Hardin 20 Sterling VA 32:23 V
2 803 Seife Geletu 29 Washington DC 33:18 V
3 785 Kevin Shirk 31 Winchester VA 33:44 V
FEMALE OVERALL
1 105 Lucinda Smith 29 Darnestown MD 37:25 V
2 537 Julia Webb 28 Charlottesville VA 37:33 V
3 536 Peggy Yetman 43 Leesburg VA 38:15 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 14
1 745 Tyler Lichtenberg 14 South Riding VA 40:04 V
2 433 Joe Haberlin 14 Ashburn VA 50:33 V
3 266 James Wroe 14 Ashburn VA 51:19 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 14
1 267 Annie Akagi 10 Leesburg VA 61:55 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 15 - 19
1 697 Patrick Spahn 18 Fairfax Station VA 35:44 V
2 361 Ian Rappaport 19 Vienna VA 37:00 V
3 462 Jarret Cutsail 18 Warrenton VA 38:49 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 15 - 19
1 618 Karissa Love 17 Leesburg VA 48:06 V
2 663 Abbey Cademartori 16 South Riding VA 48:53 V
3 85 Jaclyn Shepherd 18 Leesburg VA 50:07 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 521 Rich Saunders 23 Alexandria VA 34:14 V
2 346 Keith Flanders 24 Silver Spring MD 36:22 V
3 149 Michael Nordlund 24 Arlington VA 37:40 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 109 Jillian Pollack 22 Winchester VA 40:53 V
2 30 Kailey Gotta 22 Steubenville OH 42:21 V
3 733 Erin Landy 21 Burke VA 44:19 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 168 Brennan Feldhausen 26 Baltimore MD 35:58 V
2 750 Andrew Ciarfalia 28 Reston VA 36:44 V
3 780 Timothy Snyder 25 Frederick MD 38:06 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 518 Kelly Swain 26 Vienna VA 40:36 V
2 671 Tamara Shear 25 Washington DC 42:37 V
3 736 Bre Morton 27 Centreville VA 44:03 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 45 Hugh Toland 30 Fairfax VA 34:06 V
2 784 Matthew Lofkin 32 Winchester VA 35:52 V
3 783 Sean Allen 31 New Market MD 36:52 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 636 Andrea Cardy 31 Reston VA 42:02 V
2 644 Meredith Samson 31 Chantilly VA 42:06 V
3 637 Tasha Stryker 31 Arlington VA 42:16 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 659 Keith Freeburn 37 Centreville VA 37:25 V
2 576 Aaron Holley 36 Washington DC 39:17 V
3 273 Giovanni Cordova 35 Reston VA 41:22 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 652 Melissa Rittenhouse 35 Harrisonburg VA 40:09 V
2 299 Tatiana Sheptock 35 South Riding VA 44:45 V
3 718 Cristina Burbach 37 Washington DC 45:23 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 789 John Zimmerman 44 McLean VA 37:17 V
2 289 Craig Chasse 41 Reston VA 38:44 V
3 571 Matteo Mainetti 41 Fairfax VA 38:57 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 575 Elena Orlova 41 Gaithersburg MD 38:23 V
2 459 Kim Isler 43 Oakton VA 41:58 V
3 746 Cheryl Young 42 Reston VA 44:40 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 798 Matt Anderson 45 Fairfax VA 40:08 V
2 540 James Darling 46 Falls Church VA 41:54 V
3 172 Mark Peterson 49 Purcellville VA 45:52 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 737 Kristen Barner 46 Rockville MD 47:49 V
2 626 Marsha Demaree 46 Marriottsville MD 49:30 V
3 710 Judy Swain 46 Purcellville VA 52:07 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 153 Harry Linde 52 Sterling VA 40:50 V
2 283 Rhys Williams 50 Reston VA 43:45 V
3 274 David Lee 53 Arlington VA 45:57 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 207 Nina Van Winkle 51 Vienna VA 51:10 V
2 309 Betty Sutter 53 Reston VA 54:27 V
3 621 Susan Manning 51 Virginia Beach VA 56:28 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 417 Roland Rust 59 Bethesda MD 39:43 V
2 800 James Lee 56 New Market MD 48:24 V
3 557 Dennis Doyle 56 Arlington VA 49:34 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 531 Peggy Davis 59 Vienna VA 52:40 V
2 510 Leslie Kash 55 Round Hill VA 54:00 V
3 680 Carla Bourgeois 58 Montclair VA 60:53 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 678 Ronnie Wong 64 Baltimore MD 44:54 V
2 24 Robert Ring 63 Harrisonburg VA 54:38 V
3 666 Chris Wells 60 Sterling VA 55:32 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 458 Linda Kearney 64 Oak Hill VA 52:35 V
2 410 Freyda Greenberg 62 Falls Church VA 53:06 V
3 530 Laurel Clement 62 Haymarket VA 55:39 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 450 Jim Noone 67 Fairfax VA 45:40 V
2 572 Bob Chase 66 Falls Church VA 47:41 V
3 709 Paul Holley 65 Ashburn VA 62:48 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 342 Pat Welch 66 Vienna VA 60:40 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 74
1 451 Chan Robbins 74 Arlington VA 55:07 V
2 682 Ken Quincy 73 Vienna VA 56:47 V
3 812 Warren Pitts 73 Baltimore MD 59:01 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 74
1 463 Ecris Williams 72 Reston VA 64:21 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 75 - 99
1 814 Terence McCarthy 76 Leesburg VA 64:18 V
2 366 Robert Gurtler 76 The Plains VA 65:51 V
3 272 Dick Coogan 79 McLean VA 80:18 V
Awards Listing for the 20K (No Duplicate Prizes)
MALE OVERALL
1 2518 Jared Abuya 34 Gainesville VA 1:05:50 X
2 2572 Wilson Komen 33 Washington DC 1:06:19 X
3 2652 Michael Wardian 37 Arlington VA 1:08:10 X
FEMALE OVERALL
1 2504 Lisa Thomas 35 Vienna VA 1:17:40 X
2 2505 Lindsay Wilkins 33 Vienna VA 1:17:45 X
3 2118 Meghan Ridgley 32 Ashburn VA 1:19:21 X
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 19
1 2701 Thorpe Lichtenberg 17 South Riding VA X 1:12:25
2 2694 Brady Guertin 15 Ashburn VA X 1:17:17
3 2574 Austin Lushinski 16 Ashburn VA X 1:18:31
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 19
1 2292 Lanie Smith 19 Reston VA X 1:26:25
2 2712 Alexandra Ludtke 18 Purcellville VA X 1:35:25
3 2186 Laura Kinley 19 Jefferson MD X 1:41:26
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 2719 Oberst Enzian 24 Charlottesville VA X 1:10:40
2 2636 Alec Saslow 23 Arlington VA X 1:27:06
3 2656 Christopher Smith 24 Centreville VA X 1:38:28
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 2260 Juhie Kumar 24 Great Falls VA X 1:35:20
2 2454 Victoria Butler 24 Ashburn VA X 1:37:25
3 2634 Liz Cresswell 24 West Chester PA X 1:38:16
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 2739 Matt Logan 25 Washington DC X 1:10:36
2 2216 Mark Buschman 27 Ellicott City MD X 1:12:09
3 2611 Brian Carnes 26 Leesburg VA X 1:16:27
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 2509 Erin Swain 29 Vienna VA X 1:20:33
2 2639 Sarah Bard 27 Leesburg VA X 1:20:45
3 2507 Annie Feldman 29 Vienna VA X 1:25:07
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 2288 Jeremy Lynch 31 Falls Church VA X 1:22:26
2 2334 Tim Soltren 34 Fairfax VA X 1:25:35
3 2654 Matthew Van Auken 31 Alexandria VA X 1:27:53
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 2580 Megan McNew 32 Baltimore MD X 1:25:43
2 2225 Laura Ramos 32 Silver Spring MD X 1:26:41
3 2311 Jessica McGuire 31 Arlington VA X 1:27:36
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 2736 Philippe Rolly 38 McLean VA X 1:13:44
2 2264 Edi Turco 38 Arlington VA X 1:13:56
3 2716 Karsten Brown 37 Front Royal VA X 1:15:15
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 2132 Tenley Ludewig 36 Washington DC X 1:29:03
2 2021 Nancy Eiring 38 Washington DC X 1:30:13
3 2007 Jennifer Zimmerman-Ra 38 Purcellville VA X 1:36:02
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 2062 Kevin Bell 42 Reston VA X 1:19:57
2 2679 Christopher Green 42 Sterling VA X 1:24:17
3 2638 Chris McKee 42 Vienna VA X 1:24:58
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 2018 Tonya Stotler 44 Leesburg VA X 1:33:16
2 2635 Billie Boersma 40 Alexandria VA X 1:35:15
3 2397 Diane Lathom 40 Ashburn VA X 1:39:28
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 2553 Derik Thomas 45 Alexandria VA X 1:14:54
2 2655 Eugene Holmes 46 Arlington VI X 1:20:26
3 2690 Howard Frost 45 Falls Church VA X 1:24:42
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 2479 Mandana Mortazavi 47 Leesburg VA X 1:32:43
2 2005 Amy Perkins 47 Leesburg VA X 1:42:33
3 2297 Anna Bradford 47 Vienna VA X 1:47:26
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 2740 Bob Ferry 51 Vienna VA X 1:20:55
2 2541 Kevin Dix 52 Manassas VA X 1:27:09
3 2585 Elias Tinta 53 Rockville MD X 1:28:53
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 2503 Deedee Loughran 53 Oak Hill VA X 1:25:48
2 2230 Carole Jones 54 Ashburn VA X 1:34:28
3 2304 Ellen Mannion 50 Herndon VA X 1:42:58
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 2686 Bruce Halpin 55 Ashburn VA X 1:24:17
2 2587 Richard Morgan 59 Silver Spring MD X 1:28:31
3 2276 Clyde Rollins 56 Herndon VA X 1:33:15
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 2352 Marcy Foster 57 Reston VA X 1:47:38
2 2561 Maria Nusbaum 59 Reston VA X 2:01:03
3 2178 Marilee Seigfried 59 Purcellville VA X 2:02:28
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 2567 John Bolton 60 Leesburg VA X 1:43:24
2 2565 Richard Kaplar 60 Herndon VA X 1:47:48
3 2598 Robert Lewis 63 Washington DC X 1:48:14
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 2711 Linda Mills 61 Salisbury MD X 1:50:19
2 2023 Mary Fredlake 61 Washington DC X 1:59:52
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 2122 Bill Vislay 65 Bumpass VA X 1:43:16
2 2545 Lou Shapiro 69 Silver Spring MD X 1:45:33
3 2362 Patrick Brown 66 Reston VA X 1:51:59
