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
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