By Brenda Barrera with contribution from Dickson Mercer
Washington, DC
March 13, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
(Photos by Lea Gallardo and Kathy Freedman)
It is an Irish blessing familiar to many, “May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face . . .”
When Laurence Simms from the Embassy of Ireland welcomed runners to the starting line with this traditional blessing, it had new meaning for race organizers, Capital Running Company. They were blessed with the highest turnout in the 23-year history of the St. Patrick’s Day 8K as more than 5,500 finishers kicked off the spring racing season with this favorite downtown Washington, DC event.
After winning this race two years ago and finishing fourth last year, local star Demesse Tefera (photo) captured his second St. Patrick’s Day 8K title today in 24:22, holding off Oklahoma’s Mark Thompson who took second in 24:28.
The Washington, DC resident by way of Ethiopia said he split from the lead pack after passing the opening mile in 4:50. He felt like the pace was too slow, he said, gapped the lead pack and ran solo the rest of the way. And though his time was well off his 8K personal best of 23:07, Tefera described today’s effort as “good training” for March 26’s National Half Marathon where he hopes to break 1:05:00 in the half marathon.
Jordan McDougal of Culpeper, VA took third in 24:44, five seconds ahead of course record holder Gurmessa Megerssa.
In the women’s competition, the top two finishers from Washington, DC took off from the rest of field battling for top honors. Tezata Dengarsa, 30, (left) bested the defending champion, Maggie Infeld, 24, by half a minute, 28:03 to 28:32. Behind them it was an even closer battle for the next two spots between Muliye Gurmu, 27, from Bronx, NY and Katie O’Regan, 26, from Lebanon, PA.
“She (Gurmu) was on my shoulder for most of the race and then just surged ahead,” said O’Regan, a Cornell standout, now racing for the PA-based Keystone Track Club.
Douglas Woods, 41, of Gaithersburg, MD took top place in the 40-44 age group with his 29:33 finish; a nice 5:55 pace. On the cusp of sixty, Chuck Moeser (below) returned to the racing scene after a long hiatus finishing in 30:18. Afterward, he shared that he thoroughly enjoyed his time exploring skydiving and rock climbing, but now he is looking forward to some road racing.
Jack McMahon earned the title of the oldest competitor. At 80 years old, the Silver Spring, MD runner crossed the line in 45:29, besting his time from last year by 28 seconds. Just goes to show, you truly can get faster as you get older.
Leesburg’s Peggy Yetman, 42, easily won the women’s 40-44 age division with her 31:20 finish. Alisa Harvey, 45, from Manassas finished eighth overall in 30:12. Next up for the Washington Running Report columnist is a track meet in Richmond in a few weeks. Washington, DC’s Jacqueline O’Neil, 79, the oldest women’s competitor, was asked if she felt the luck of the Irish today. She admitted that she’s IBM (Irish By Marriage), but attributed her good health and longevity to supplementing her low running mileage with walking.
New to this year’s event was the Team Competition and 42 Coed Teams competed with creative names like, “The Furious Leprechauns” and “Sham-Rockers.” The TRS Racing Team of Jordan McDougal, Joseph Delclos, Alisa Harvey, and Ellins Thomas, were the overall champions in 28:57. No one could miss the 60+ members of the FBI National Academy Team. Per their captain, Mark Jackson, it was a great way to conclude a 10-week training program.
For many participants, not only was it the first race of the season but their first foray into road racing. Beth Roselius, from Morgantown, WV (in photo below-right) decided to run with and support her sister, Katherine Kelley, 28, from Reston, VA, a newbie. Dressed in matching blue tops and sporting St. Patrick’s Day 8K tattoos on their cheeks, both said they were thrilled to share the experience. “I wasn’t sure if I could make the distance,” said Kelley, “but she [Beth] kept telling me, ‘You can do it!’”
Be sure to check the May/June issue ofWashington Running Report for additional race coverage.
Awards Listing
MALE
1 6436 Demesse Tefara 27 M WASHINGTON DC 24:22
2 3907 Mark Thompson 32 M EDMOND OK 24:28
3 4480 Jordan McDougal 23 M CULPEPER VA 24:44
4 11 Gurmessa Megerssa 31 M WASHINGTON DC 24:49
5 12 Demse Mulata 24 M WASHINGTON DC 24:51
6 8 Robert Wade 28 M ARLINGTON VA 25:14
7 1100 Charlie Hurt 27 M RICHMOND VA 25:26
8 3 Adam Condit 27 M ASHBURN VA 25:39
9 6461 Allen Carr 27 M WASHINGTON DC 25:58
10 7 Dave Miller 27 M ARLINGTON VA 26:17
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 01 - 19
1 5510 Michael Wegner 14 M Columbia MD 26:52 26:51 5:24
2 3852 Joseph Delclos 17 M Warrenton VA 29:44 29:41 5:59
3 3916 Ben Naughton 19 M Takoma Park MD 29:47 29:46 6:00
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 20 - 24
1 6189 Scott Allen 23 M Washington DC 26:24 26:24 5:19
2 10 Dustin Whitlow 24 M Arlington VA 26:35 26:34 5:21
3 3837 Chris Daniels 24 M Washington DC 30:03 30:02 6:03
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 25 - 29
1 4184 Jason Fitzgerald 27 M Silver Spring MD 26:26 26:26 5:19
2 6270 Dickson Mercer 29 M Washington DC 26:38 26:37 5:22
3 5355 Garrett Ash 27 M Manchester CT 27:01 27:01 5:27
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 30 - 34
1 5246 Nick Gramsky 33 M Vienna VA 27:03 27:02 5:27
2 3917 Matt Straughn 34 M Glenn Dale MD 27:09 27:09 5:28
3 121 Eddie Valentine 31 M Arlington VA 27:45 27:45 5:35
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 35 - 39
1 5223 David Wertz 35 M Arlington VA 26:47 26:46 5:23
2 395 Ramsey Wilson 38 M Falls Church VA 28:40 28:37 5:46
3 562 Michael Sheehy 38 M Washington DC 28:38 28:37 5:46
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 40 - 44
1 3271 Douglas Woods 41 M Gaithersburg MD 29:23 29:23 5:55
2 596 Kevin Bell 42 M Reston VA 29:30 29:27 5:56
3 6061 Jack Lovett 41 M Newport News VA 29:31 29:30 5:57
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 45 - 49
1 6532 Robert Denmark 45 M Arlington VA 29:23 29:19 5:54
2 1788 Paul Jacobson 47 M Gaithersburg MD 29:39 29:38 5:58
3 2574 Tom Beekhuysen 47 M Herndon VA 30:31 30:30 6:08
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 50 - 54
1 5393 Henry Wigglesworth 53 M Washington DC 28:23 28:22 5:43
2 32 Jean-Christophe Arcaz 50 M Rockville MD 28:36 28:36 5:46
3 6498 Albino Castro 51 M Brookeville MD 31:07 31:06 6:16
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 55 - 59
1 31 Chuck Moeser 59 M Potomac Falls VA 30:18 30:17 6:06
2 6294 Peter Darmody 55 M Gaithersburg MD 30:44 30:43 6:11
3 6236 Tom Ruckert 58 M Grantsville MD 31:48 31:43 6:23
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 60 - 64
1 3944 Richard Adams Jr 60 M Herndon VA 33:45 33:43 6:47
2 4042 Michael Wesbecher 63 M Oakton VA 34:32 34:22 6:55
3 4987 Marc Wolfson 61 M Olney MD 36:18 36:14 7:18
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 65 - 69
1 5432 Jim Noone 66 M Fairfax VA 34:09 34:05 6:52
2 2795 Mike Golash 67 M Washington DC 36:45 36:40 7:23
3 159 John Churchman 68 M Arlington VA 39:45 39:36 7:58
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 70 - 74
1 6591 Malcolm O'Hagan 70 M Chevy Chase MD 41:40 39:20 7:55
2 16 Chan Robbins 73 M Arlington VA 41:14 41:12 8:18
3 1546 Bill Sollers 71 M Silver Spring MD 46:13 44:01 8:52
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 75 - 79
1 4732 Skip Grant 75 M Chevy Chase MD 39:51 39:43 8:00
2 2237 Alan Rider 75 M Reston VA 44:00 43:58 8:51
3 5801 Henry Guyot 76 M Washington DC 44:36 44:26 8:57
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 80 - 99
1 3244 Jack McMahon 80 M Silver Spring MD 45:29 45:20 9:08
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 4411 Greg Young 22 M Ballston Lake NY 33:50 33:35 6:46
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