News - RunWashington

Where the Hills Have Some Names

Published September 20, 2015 at 11:23PM | Updated June 25, 2018 at 4:49PM

Jack Wavering pulls away from Rohann Asfaw with roughly half a mile to go. Photo: Charlie Ban

Northern Virginia’s two returning Foot Locker finalists kicked off their senior cross country seasons with dominant victories in their Loudoun County backyard at the Oatlands Invitational.

Weini Kelati, whose first race for Heritage High School involved tying her shoelaces twice at this race last year, pulled away from the field early to win by 1:22 in 17:11 — 71 seconds faster than last year, widening the gulf between her and repeat-runner-up Abby Colbert of West Virginia’s Jefferson High School. In the boys race, Loudoun Valley’s Andrew Hunter breezed to an easy win with a strong second half.

Drew Hunter: Homemade Champion

By Dickson Mercer

Published September 20, 2015 at 11:20PM | Updated July 28, 2019 at 7:55PM

Marc and Joan Hunter, the head coaches at South Lakes High School, knew they had a superstar.

They marveled as this kid finished second in the state in cross country. They watched in awe as the freshman — a freshman — went on to win the two mile in the spring.

The Four-State Appalachian Trail Challenge

By Ashley Davidson

Published September 18, 2015 at 6:11PM

Dustin Meeker (left) and Conrad Laskowski at the end of their run.

For many, hiking the Appalachian Trail is a rite of passage. Spanning 2,180 miles from Georgia’s Springer Mountain to Katahdin, Maine, the “A.T.” challenges even the most seasoned athletes with its untamable terrain and unpredictable elements.

Just 64 miles northwest of Washington lies Harpers Ferry, W.V., a small, historic town nestled in the Shenandoah Valley where West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia converge. It’s one of the few towns through which the Appalachian Trail runs directly. Just a few weeks ago, Dustin Meeker, of Baltimore, and Gaithersburg resident Conrad Laskowski descended upon Harpers Ferry for the second time that day, this time to celebrate completing the Appalachian Trail Four-State Challenge — a 42.9-mile trek traveling across the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia.

Tricky trampoline doesn’t deter marathoner McKeithen

By Emily Rabbitt

Published September 14, 2015 at 2:17PM | Updated September 14, 2015 at 4:09PM

In the months leading up to 2015’s Fall marathons, RunWashington will follow several local runners as they prepare for their races. We’ll chart their progress as they train their legs, lungs and minds for the challenges they’ll race on race day. Each week, we’ll catch up with our runners and see how they’re doing. Read more about Amelia McKeithen, who is running the Marine Corps Marathon, here.

Matt Deters’ Plan

By Emily Rabbitt

Published September 14, 2015 at 1:52PM | Updated September 14, 2015 at 4:09PM

In the months leading up to 2015’s Fall marathons, RunWashington will follow several local runners as they prepare for their races. We’ll chart their progress as they train their legs, lungs and minds for the challenges they’ll race on race day. Each week, we’ll catch up with our runners and see how they’re doing. Matt Deters is training for the Philadelphia Marathon. Read more about him here and here.

After a summer colored by training ups and downs, including nagging pains, a lingering bug, and the ongoing battle with Washington weather, Matt Deters, who performs better at cooler temps and lower dew points, is really starting to feel like he’s found his footing.

Parks Half continues to delight

By Charlie Ban

Published September 14, 2015 at 1:43PM | Updated September 20, 2015 at 4:04PM

2015 Parks Half Marathon - Photo by Dan Reichmann, MCRRC

Joanna Robbins had done the Parks Half Marathon a few times, so she went to bed feeling like she was ready to help her friend Aaron Zimmerman run his first half.

[button-red url=”http://www.zippyraceresults.com/search.php?ID=5222″ target=”_self” position=”left”] Results [/button-red]When she woke up at 7:04, though, she knew there was one thing she forgot—the race started at 7. She thought on her feet, once she got out of bed, and high-tailed it to the five mile mark, courtesy of Ben Levy’s tactical navigation.

Rainy Monroe Parker Invite knocks Seyoum’s socks off

By Charlie Ban

Published September 13, 2015 at 9:53PM | Updated June 25, 2018 at 4:49PM

Heather Holt carries a solid lead approaching two miles at the Monroe Parker Invitational. Photo: Charlie Ban

Racing to the front of a cross country race is typically considered reckless, but with the Burke Lake course soaked by heavy rain at the Monroe Parker Invitational, it was a safer bet than usual.

George Marshall sophomore Heather Holt, among others, wanted to get clear of the rest of the pack to cut down on her tripping and slipping hazards.

The House that Stubbs Built

By Jacqueline Feldscher

Published September 9, 2015 at 1:34PM | Updated August 9, 2019 at 3:16PM

Photo: Marleen Van Den Neste

Around the athletic fields, through the woods, up and down rolling hills then a wide-open 50 meter uphill sprint to the finish.

“I can go through every inch of it,” said Mike Stubbs, the former cross country coach at Bullis School in Potomac.

An Untimely Hiatus

By Emily Rabbitt

Published September 8, 2015 at 11:49AM

Meghan Ridgley lives vicariously through the runners she coaches until she can, herself, run again. Photo: Dustin Whitlow/D. Whit Photography

In the months leading up to 2015’s Fall marathons, RunWashington will follow several local runners as they prepare for their races. We’ll chart their progress as they train their legs, lungs and minds for the challenges they’ll race on race day. Each week, we’ll catch up with our runners and see how they’re doing. Meghan Ridgley of Reston, Va., planned to run the Philadelphia Marathon, but has been forced to take the season off. Read the first article about Meghan Ridgley here and the second here.

Meghan Ridgley has a lot more time on her hands now that she’s out with a stress fracture and a torn labrum. Still immersed in running through her work at the Potomac River Runners store and as a coach, she insists that she’s ok being around people who are still able to get out and go running. It was actually harder when her ankle was injured because she technically could still run.

James Christopher Farley Jr. 1943-2015

By Charlie Ban

Published September 2, 2015 at 12:54PM | Updated September 4, 2015 at 6:38PM

Inside the body of a government worker beat the heart of an entrepreneur.

When James Christopher Farley Jr. had paid off his family’s house in Arlington, it just meant he was in a position to mortgage it again when his son, Chris, came to him with a plan to buy Pacers Running Store in Alexandria.