By James Moreland
Broadlands, VA
March 10, 2012
For the Washington Running Report
In its 20th year this popular 5 mile race upgraded yet again. First, they certified the course (over the years the race has started from a quite a few different sides of the course). The race has already been famous for its prolific random awards. This year the race expanded to five year age groups to make the age challenge even more fair. The food has always been fun with dozens of doughnuts and coffee to go along with the healthier apples and bananas. This year there were scores of commemorative cupcakes with eatable logos. Comparing the different types for taste was an enviable task.
Last year David Nightingale battled Karl Dusen for the title winning in 23:56. Dusen’s 24:03 was solidly ahead of third place Gurmessa Megressa’s 24:25. Last year the event was a week after the mammoth St. Patrick’s Day 8K, which had been won by Demesse Tefera. Tefera started but dropped last year. This year Tefera battled New York’s Teklu Deneke, pulling away in the final sixty meter down hill charge to finish in 24:55. Dusen finished third this year in 25:53, all alone with fourth place Charlie Ban arriving nearly two minutes later. The certified course was about 250 feet longer than last year but that hardly explains the slower times. The sunny day was cool with a more than just pleasant breeze. The top reason may be that tomorrow will be national class competition at the massive (7500 person) St. Patrick’s Day 8K. Tefera will be there to defend his title.
On the women’s side which has now become the larger of the two sexes in most races, the course saw seven runners more than a minute faster than last year’s champion. Runner-up and former Runner Rankings champion Hirut Mandefro could not keep pace with Askale Merachi, a new face in town. Mandefro ran a very nice 29:02 but she was closely shadowed by two new faces, Anna Gosselin, 23, in 29:10 and Maura Carroll, 22, in 29:13. Merachi turned the final corner in seventh overall at 28:28. If the course had been a few meters longer she would have finished her rundown of sixth place man Bryan Young 28:26.
Peggy Yetman, 43 of Leesburg, VA was testing the waters again in her first race since surgery in December. Everyone in the field was amazed by her excellent 29:16, staying with the lead pack the whole way. She will tell you she was delighted with the race .She will thinking, “Another month of recovery and I could have one it all.” One of her first races after she arrived from Texas was right here just five seconds short of the title in 29:01. Mandana Mortazavi, 48, (in photo) was the second master in 35:47.
After the race, there were lots of folks to thank for the race’s continuous success and checks for Children’s National Medical Center. The race won a special award to get an additional $75,000 to add to the already massive $106,000 they had gathered from the proceeds of the event.
Awards
FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Age City Time
===== ===== ======================= === ===================== =====
1 4 Askale Merachi 24 Washington DC 28:28
2 536 Hirut Mandefro 26 Washington DC 29:02
3 617 Anna Gosselin 23 Vienna VA 29:10
MALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Age City Time
===== ===== ======================= === ===================== =====
1 5 Teklu Deneke 32 New York NY 24:55
2 3 Demesse Tefera 29 Washington DC 25:00
3 615 Karl Dusen 29 Mt Airy MD 25:53
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 14
1 556 Logan Cunningham 14 Ashburn VA 39:32
2 123 Campbell Brown 13 Herndon VA 44:21
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 14
1 482 Jonathan Kerr 13 Ashburn VA 39:10
2 381 Andrew Bouras 13 Ashburn VA 39:29
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 15 - 19
1 289 Melissa Saunders 19 Potomac Falls VA 32:04
2 26 Amelia Jones 17 Baltimore MD 33:16
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 15 - 19
1 481 Alex Kerr 18 Ashburn VA 30:13
2 329 Steven Hurwitt 19 Ashburn VA 30:23
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 613 Maura Carroll 22 Washington DC 29:12
2 270 Elisabeth Flores 21 Sterling VA 35:34
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 107 John Baldwin 20 Reston VA 31:09
2 630 Jim Bradshaw Jr 20 Springfield VA 35:04
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 616 Susan Hendrick 26 Washington DC 30:01
2 299 Jessie Yester 27 Richmond VA 30:31
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 614 Charlie Ban 27 Falls Church VA 27:48
2 407 Nyandusi Omurwa 28 Kingston PA 28:02
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 233 Erica Cline 33 Leesburg VA 35:59
2 247 Kathryn Hessen 32 Ashburn VA 37:07
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 612 Brian Young 33 Washington DC 28:25
2 635 Ryan Parks 33 Fairfax VA 32:40
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 239 Kathleen West 36 Chantilly VA 37:54
2 181 Sally Stevenson 38 Ashburn VA 38:38
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 601 Gregory Stemberger 35 South Riding VA 28:43
2 602 Brian Szabos 38 South Riding VA 29:33
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 494 Peggy Yetman 43 Leesburg VA 29:15
2 323 Jill Benhart 43 Broadlands VA 40:06
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 467 Andrew O'Brien 41 Centreville VA 30:51
2 550 Atle Nesheim 43 Ashburn VA 32:42
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 604 Mandana Mortazavi 48 Leesburg VA 35:27
2 487 Stephanie Cappiello 48 Ashburn VA 39:27
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 619 Jim Nielsen 46 Ashburn VA 29:11
2 549 Jeff Gilliland 47 Clifton VA 32:34
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 25 Judy Graham 54 Baltimore MD 37:03
2 399 Sarah Buckheit 51 Reston VA 37:59
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 542 Martin Calhoun 50 Herndon VA 30:18
2 24 Nicholas Jones 52 Baltimore MD 32:37
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 40 Elizabeth Baumgarten 55 Stone Ridge VA 38:14
2 497 Carol Beaupre 55 Ashburn VA 45:50
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 129 Kevin Apsley 55 Herndon VA 35:22
2 448 Rob Colburn 56 Ashburn VA 37:01
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 310 Linda Leatherbury 60 Great Falls VA 69:20
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 334 Bill Koetter 63 Ashburn VA 42:36
2 434 Ting Yi Oei 63 Reston VA 43:56
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 254 John Baxter 65 Fairfax VA 41:37
2 219 Donald Burnham 65 Aldie VA 48:42
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
1 362 Chan Robbins 74 Arlington VA 40:20
2 125 James Chapman 71 Herndon VA 41:17
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 390 Dimitri Shanin 35 M Springfield VA 34:16
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 389 Regina Pace 41 F Springfield VA 41:05
By James Moreland
Broadlands, VA
March 19, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
Elite racers get ready to rumble in Jon Hickman photo.
On the cusp of spring more than five hundred runners turned out for a glorious day. Scores of children enjoyed the one mile fun run. This race is famous for its scores of prizes for the young ones as well as the large amounts of money designated for Children’s National Medical Center. This year the check was for $65,000. In today’s race one young lady who you might have thought was more suited for the mile earned the “youngest, fastest award.” Ivy Richerson, just five-year-old ran the full five miles in 52:49.
There were some lone, lean runners ready to go after the cash money for the top three. Regulars Demesse Tefera and former winner Gurmessa Megerssa were, as always, among the favorites. Just last week Tefera had won it all at the St. Patrick’s Day 8K in 24:22 and event record holder (23:36) Megerssa had been fourth in 24:49. Megerssa told us that they had been doing some really challenging track workouts and Tefera had overdone it a bit and had to pull out of the race.
There were three sections in the top eight runners. Megerssa was tucked in behind Karl Dusen and David Nightingale going for the cash. Dusen was one of five runners sporting Georgetown Running logos that all finished in the top eight. The course is a fast, fair course but the first mile is a steady uphill to separate the wheat from the chaff. In the second pack Sam Luff and Ryan Hanson of Rockville were taking on Allen Carr of Washington, DC. Carr has not been seen in the last year or so but it is clear he has been training. With a light breeze it is important not to left runners pull away. Drafting helps. A couple hundred meters back Charlie Ban and Jake green were keeping each other honest. Both broke 27:00, which has been fast enough to win this race in past years. Not today.
In 2009 Abraham Ng’etich set the event record in a blazing 23:43. In all, twenty runners have broken 25:00 on this fast, runner friendly course. In the final mile Nightingale (in photo) with the longer legs pulled away to win with 23:56; a tie for the second fastest time for the event. Julius Gwako won a photo finish in that identical time with Michel Khbotov in 2003 on the old course. Megressa loped in shortly afterward in 24:25.
The age groups are only two deep in ten year age groups so the competition is fierce and usually won by the runners who have just entered an age group. Allen Vaughan, 60, was looking around at the start and felt comfortable about his chances. He started out conservatively, taking the first mile in 7:15. Then he just kept powering away to win in a very nice 35:08.
The grandmaster champion was Kevin Washburn, 53, of Centreville, VA (in photo) in 33:40. Everyone recognizes the Washburn name. Walt Washburn, who turns 89 in October, has been a regular on the racing circuit for scores of years. He owns three American records for 80 and older. Until lately he was an active member of the 50 Plus Club, a club with a goal to race fifty races in a year. Walt had a few setbacks but do not be surprised if he comes back out on the roads again. Mike Cannon, who was second grandmaster in 35:02, is also a 50 Plus club member who ran 66 races in 2010. Not far behind is Myron Kremer, 54, of Winchester, VA who ran 68 races in 2010.
For the women, 49-year-old Linda Foley was one of the pre race favorites. More than once she has been the overall winner and is always ranked near the top of her division. She had a very nice race running mostly alone in 32:41. This year none of the elite open racers were racing here. Foley’s 32:12 only bought her eighth place last year. In 2009 Phebe Ko ran an excellent 27:54 to set the standard for the current course. Naoko Ishibe has the event record racing 27:52 in 2003.
Today Elizabeth Young (in photo) took charge early. She race unchallenged to a nifty 31:28 victory. Amy Franklin, 25, Ashburn, VA was third in 33:31. Just like the men there was a gap and then another pack of three. They flew home in the mid 35:00s. Then the final competitors in the eight pack were Leslie Fajfar and Van Metre veteran Erica Cline just faster than 37:00. Pane, 51, of Clifton, VA was the top grandmaster in 37:26. There no women older than 58 in the event.
Runners delighted to coffee and doughnuts on both sides of the race as well as fresh fruit. No race has more random prizes.
Awards Listing (No Duplicate Prizes)
Age Groups by Net Time
FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Age City Time
===== ===== ======================= === ===================== =====
1 488 Elizabeth Young 31 Washington DC 31:28
2 579 Linda Foley 49 Oak Hill VA 32:41
3 45 Amy Franklin 25 Ashburn VA 33:31
MALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Age City Time
===== ===== ======================= === ===================== =====
1 572 David Nightingale 25 Washington DC 23:56
2 456 Karl Dusen 28 N Bethesda MD 24:03
3 600 Gurmessa Megerssa 31 Washington DC 24:25
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 19
1 100 Amelia Jones 16 Baltimore MD 37:32
2 597 Logan Cunningham 13 Ashburn VA 41:27
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 19
1 262 Sam Coffman 17 Sterling VA 30:35
2 263 Micah Coffman 14 Sterling VA 32:03
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 29
1 517 Autumn Parker 27 Ashburn VA 34:28
2 236 Jorie Devine 29 Leesburg VA 35:16
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 29
1 431 Samuel Luff 24 Rockville MD 25:04
2 382 Ryan Hanson 23 Rockville MD 25:15
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 39
1 445 Diane Lathom 39 Ashburn VA 35:24
2 612 Erica Cline 32 Ashburn VA 36:45
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 39
1 497 Brian Young 32 Washington DC 28:24
2 546 Greg Stemberger 34 South Riding VA 28:37
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 49
1 540 Tonya Stotler 44 Leesburg VA 37:00
2 408 Tamara Yoder 44 Aldie VA 38:04
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 49
1 415 Bryan Tenney 43 Ashburn VA 31:05
2 512 Philip Baetcke 40 Falls Church VA 32:23
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 59
1 477 Pam Sane 51 Clifton VA 37:11
2 443 Nancy Wallace 51 Ashburn VA 37:46
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 59
1 576 Kevin Washburn 51 Centreville VA 33:39
2 323 Michael Cannon 53 Springfield VA 35:00
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 69
1 392 Allen Vaughan 60 Stafford VA 35:07
2 207 John Baxter 64 Fairfax VA 37:22
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
1 14 Chan Robbins 73 Arlington VA 41:15
2 27 Gary Ehlert 70 Vienna VA 52:55
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 353 Daniel Cardile 36 M Derwood MD 36:11
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 520 Jill Galaida 33 F Broadlands VA 40:13
