By James Moreland
Washington, DC
November 5, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
Racers charge the final steps of the course on the grass.
The new race begins as a way to announce to the world that there is much more room for women in the political arena. The race director gave us a rundown of the percentage of women in many of the state and national public offices. As with racing these days there are a greater number of women than men and the thinking is that more of them should be in key decision making positions.
The course started on the quadrangle at American University where the playing field is completely level. One runner noticing that said, “This course looks real flat with two loops around here.” A more experienced Washingtonian said, “I already jogged the course and campus is on the side of the hill. We have to run all the way down to the track.”
On the course there were signs all along the way listing the countries of the world as well as .5 kilometer markers for both loops. About five minutes into the race flat turned to downhill as runners barreled around the corner to the track. Naturally the track was flat. Though the weather was windless and sunny with a near perfect racing temperature, there was actually ice on the inside lane of the track.
Leaving the track meant an uphill climb. “The course has a lot of turns but it is gonna be fun, said race winner Henry Wigglesworth, 53, of Washington, DC. Of course winning is fun. There were many walkers also in the event and on the second loop the faster runners caught up with them. Still, there was plenty of room for all.
Of the 346 finishers nearly three quarters of them were women. The top woman, Sally Okine, 20, won easily in 21:24. The top master was fourth overall Traci Siegel and the top grandmaster was Blake Rushin. For the men, Wigglesworth was tops in all three spots.
At right, Dana Arvanites, 23, strides home.
The age group prizes were very nice but perhaps the coolest prize was the random prize from Panera promising weekly loaves of for a year. The prizes were only for the top runner in each division, though we listed second place below as well. Overall went three deep.
After the race there was hot coffee and tea as well as lots of fresh bagels and trays upon trays of pastries.
Nearly everyone has a camera today and Jamie Shenk was there taking photos of his wife Kate (174), seen below finishing with Patsy Ashmore (173).
FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Gun T Net T Pace
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== ===== ===== =====
1 330 Sally Okine 20 Washington DC 21:24 21:02 6:47
2 550 Rachel Clattenburg 27 Washington DC 21:56 21:54 7:03
3 218 Katherine Sancken 24 Washington DC 23:00 22:55 7:23
MALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Gun T Net T Pace
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== ===== ===== =====
1 537 Henry Wigglesworth 53 Washington DC 17:53 17:53 5:46
2 335 Brian Beary 35 Washington DC 18:04 18:04 5:49
3 49 Eric Johnson 23 Washington DC 18:39 18:37 6:00
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 24
1 392 Stefanie Claus 24 Washington DC 23:14 23:05 7:26
2 48 Elise Polentes 18 Washington DC 23:44 23:39 7:37
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 24
1 551 Jay Cox-Chapman 24 Washington DC 19:19 19:18 6:13
2 309 Tommy Hunt 21 Washington DC 19:56 19:56 6:25
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 34
1 373 Fisola Fasehun 25 Washington DC 23:20 22:59 7:24
2 219 Caroline Sancken 26 Washington DC 23:08 23:02 7:25
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 34
1 541 Jason Carson 27 Bowie MD 18:39 18:39 6:01
2 245 Conor Shapiro 26 Washington DC 18:52 18:51 6:04
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 44
1 387 Traci Siegel 40 Washington DC 23:15 22:58 7:24
2 81 Bettina Myers 42 Washington DC 23:42 23:39 7:37
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 44
1 542 Rob Palmer 35 Silver Spring MD 19:22 19:21 6:14
2 24 Steven Kelts 39 Washington DC 20:03 20:01 6:27
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 54
1 279 Blake Rushin 50 Vienna VA 23:25 23:21 7:31
2 69 Madelyn Leeke 46 Washington DC 28:57 28:29 9:10
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 54
1 545 Jimmy Bisese 49 Washington DC 20:20 20:18 6:32
2 555 Allen Haywood 48 Washington DC 22:01 21:59 7:05
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 99
1 282 Laura Bellis 56 Reston VA 24:58 24:54 8:01
2 351 Wendy Lesko 61 Kensington MD 33:03 32:32 10:29
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 99
1 303 James Moreland 59 Gaithersburg MD 23:31 23:31 7:34
2 378 Mike Golash 68 Washington DC 25:04 25:01 8:04
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 296 Brian Tanenbaum 36 M Arlington VA 26:56 26:23 8:30
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 269 Sabrina Izzo 25 F Washington DC 26:18 26:15 8:27
