By James Moreland
Washington, DC
June 2, 2012
For the Washington Running Report
The storms were thunderous the night before but the dawn brought a perfect morning. Ten of thousands of runners, walkers, and spectators came out for the serious business of raising money for the Cure. More than $11 million dollars was a proudly ambitious amount that was achieved. Much of the success of the huge event comes from the powerfully optimistic view of the people involved.
With work being done on the mall, the event began in a new spot with the running portion heading north on 15th street in the shadow of the Washington Monument and turning west onto Constitution. A little further along the way the walkers, who made up 80% of the field, waited for their turn onto the course that circled back around before heading south to Independence and back down to the regular finish line at 5th Street.
The event would continue to have a flood of participants flowing down the boulevard for hours after the start. The mood was joyous and hopeful with the color pink standing out as the color of survivors. There were 171 survivors listed among the 5K runners led by Judy Pickett, 48, of Cameron Park, CA and Kathleen Hammett, 40, of Hollywood, MD. Both of their times are elite times for their age group, finishing ninth and tenth overall. In the walk there were hundreds more survivors.
Women have been populating road racing at a greater and greater pace. In the last couple of years they have passed men in total numbers. It was little surprise that today’s event drew women at a two to one rate among the nearly five thousand finishers in the running portion.
There was a little confusion on the correct path from Constitution to Independence. At the finish line Martha Nelson improved by near a minute from last year’s seventh place to win it all in 17:59. Meghan Ridgley was again second but she was a minute slower than last year. Third place Mijiko Phelps was the top master in 19:43. Not far behind her in fifth place was the grandmaster favorite Dee Loughran, 53, in an excellent 19:55. She had the top age graded time with a superb 88.7%. Nelson and Pickett also exceeded the national standard of 80% for the women.
The top two men exceeded the national standard as well. Last year’s winner Wilson Komen improved on his race time to 15:28 but had to settle for the runner-up spot. Thomas Adam of Charlottesville, VA (left) looked calm strolling around the starting mats before the race. But when the race started he bolted away from everyone but Komen. His fine 15:16 was easily enough to be crowned champion.
By Brenda Barrera
Washington, DC
May 20, 2012
For the Washington Running Report
What is a classic race? It is an event that is judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding and the NCB Capital Hill Classic 10K is just that – a quality event with a long tradition that dates back 33 years with proceeds benefiting the Capitol Hill Cluster, a public school with three campuses.
Ideal weather conditions greeted runners on Sunday as the number of participants increased from last year with 2,149 runners finishing the 10K.
The honor roll of winners for this classic May race include: Kean, Wardian, Gramsky, Endale, and Wilson. Well, it took local standout Gurmessa Megerssa, 32, a few tries with runner-up honors in 2009 (30:56) and 2010 (31:31) but for 2012 he was finally able to add his name to the list of talented winners with his 31:37 finish.
Australian Alex Dreyer, 22, a 10,000M specialist out of Eastern Kentucky University, took the second spot in 31:54. Washington DC’s Wilson Komen, 34, won the race last year in 32:23 but had to settle for third this year despite a faster finishing time of 32:05. It should be noted Komen also did the double. He ran the accompanying 3K, winning his age group in 9:35.
If Navy Lt. Amanda Rice is at the starting line, expect a standout performance. The 28-year-old dental resident based in Rockville, MD has been heating up the local competition since she arrived from the west coast. Rice handily won the women’s race in 36:31 and certainly did not hide her enthusiasm. Rice finished almost a minute ahead of DC youngster Sheetaye Beneie, 19, who crossed the line in 37:30. Kaitlin Sheedy, 29, also from Washington, DC took the third spot with her 40:36.
The 3K event is a great introductory distance for newbie runners and attracted close to 500 runners this year. The shorter distance also serves as an opportunity for the swifter to test their leg speed. John Kingstedt, 19, from Huddinge, Sweden won in 8:54 and Tiringo Shiferaw, 27, from Washington DC was the first woman in 10:42.
10K Awards Listing
Age Group Awards Based on Net Times
MALE
Place Name Ag City Time
===== ======================= == ===================== =======
1 Gurmessa Megerssa 32 Washington DC 31:37
2 Alex Dreyer 22 Perth Australia 31:54
3 Wilson Komen 34 Washington DC 32:05
FEMALE
Place Name Ag City Time
===== ======================= == ===================== =======
1 Amanda Rice 28 Rockville MD 36:31
2 Shetaye Beneie 19 Washington DC 37:30
3 Kaitlin Sheedy 29 Washington DC 40:36
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 14
1 Willem Lensink 14 Falls Church VA 44:19
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 14
1 Page Harrison 13 Washington DC 53:22
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 15 - 20
1 Haydn Borghetti-Metz 15 Rogersville TN 36:02
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 15 - 20
1 Rebecca Hinch 19 Leesburg VA 47:45
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 21 - 29
1 Richard Andrews 25 Washington DC 33:28
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 21 - 29
1 Jennifer Leehey 26 Washington DC 41:18
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 39
1 Colin Fishwick 34 Willoughby OH 33:13
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 39
1 Erica Solway 30 Washington DC 41:01
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 49
1 John Zimmerman 45 McLean VA 35:05
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 49
1 Kerry Rodgers 43 Washington DC 42:50
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 59
1 Christopher Ryan 53 Washington DC 37:52
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 59
1 Blake Rushin 50 Vienna VA 48:33
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 69
1 Spider Rossiter 60 Washington DC 40:07
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 69
1 Nancy Avitabile 64 Bethesda MD 51:09
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 79
1 Ralph Bayrer 72 Washington DC 1:02:29
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 79
1 Tami Graf 75 Lusby MD 1:08:15
3K Awards Listing
Age Group Awards Based on Net Times
MALE
Place Name Ag City Time
===== ======================= == ===================== =======
1 John Kingstedt 19 Huddinge 8:54
2 Eshetu Tjlahun 32 Washington DC 8:59
3 Seife Geletu 30 Washington DC 8:59
FEMALE
Place Name Ag City Time
===== ======================= == ===================== =======
1 Tiringo Shiferaw 27 Washington DC 10:42
2 Monica Kingstedt 50 Huddinge 11:44
3 Dionis Gauvin 37 Washington DC 11:58
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 14
1 Adam Schans 13 Washington DC 11:10
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 14
1 Anne Ryan 13 Washington DC 13:18
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 15 - 20
1 Otto Kingstedt 17 Huddinge 9:22
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 15 - 20
1 Laura Montermann 19 Falls Church VA 16:51
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 21 - 29
1 Tripp Southerland 27 Washington DC 9:22
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 21 - 29
1 Kristy Carter 21 Olathe KS 13:55
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 39
1 Wilson Komen 34 Washington DC 9:35
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 39
1 Rachel Smith 32 Silver Spring MD 12:23
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 49
1 Tom Mahr 47 Washington DC 12:32
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 49
1 Elizabeth Festa 45 Washington DC 14:49
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 59
1 Anders Kingstedt 53 Huddinge 13:10
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 59
1 Linda Rotunno 52 Washington DC 14:10
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 69
1 Robert Weiner 65 Accokeek MD 14:49
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 69
1 Sarah Burke 60 Washington DC 19:40
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 79
1 Lance Bush 77 Washington DC 15:38
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 79
1 Carol Kelly 71 Washington DC 28:15
