By Brenda Barrera
Fredericksburg, VA
May 20, 2012
For the Washington Running Report
There was much to celebrate at this year’s fifth anniversary of the Marine Corps Marathon Historic Half held in Fredericksburg, VA on May 20, 2012. The event has grown every year and had close to 6,000 finishers, compared to 3,800 from the inaugural 2008 event. For starters, it was a commanding victory for hometown favorite Bert Jacoby who came to the starting line with one goal: to win. And that he did in 1:11:33, almost three minutes ahead of defending champion Wyatt Boyd, from Washington, DC, who finished in 1:14:27. Brandon Dick, 25, from Fredericksburg took the final podium spot with his 1:15:36 finish.
What a far cry from Jacoby’s 2011 race experience when he was the very last person to cross the start line and he raised money for charity for each person he passed.
“This time I was focused,” smiled Jacoby. “Time did not matter; it was all about place.” He stayed at the finish area with his mother who used her iPhone and the MCM Runner Tracking options to follow his sister, Anne. She completed the race in 1:35:27.
Next up for the Jacoby is a move to Charlottesville for graduate school at the end of the summer. “I’m looking forward to training with the group out of Ragged Mountain Running.”
Courtney Chapman, 28, is juggling a heavy load at medical school in Norfolk, VA and yet still able to improve her race times. Chapman is best described as a tough competitor with a wide smile that is easy to spot whether she is clipping along at a fast pace or flying up a hill. And fly she did at the famous hospital hill on her way to a 1:21:56 victory. That is a big leap from her 2010 MCM Historic Half race when she posted a 1:31:10 finish.
Arlington’s Katherine Marden, 31, fresh off last weekend’s Ragnar Relay Cape Cod (“I had the longest leg”) finished in 1:26:44. She was followed by Marine Capt. Erin Demchko, 27, from Dumfries, VA who was pleased with her 1:29:02 finish.
“The hill wasn’t as bad as the hype,” said Demchko, “I had a riot and got a PR!”
Top masters division finishers were Lt. Col. Thomas Blackwell, 41, of Vienna, VA in 1:19:58 and Alexandria’s Stefani Watterson, 42, of Alexandria, VA who crossed the line in 1:33:41.
Mike Collotta, 58, (left) from Washington, DC has been running races for more than two decades and still finding interesting events like this one. “I especially liked the historical parts of the course,” said the DC Road Runners member. “The Marines provided extra inspiration.”
Deanna Cabrey, running for Team Fisher House, was pleased with her finish of 1:41:43. “I surpassed my goal of running a 7:45-8:10 pace,” said the 20-year-old college student. Cabrey started supporting the Fisher House when she was just ten and began giving 10% of her allowance to the charity.
Wedding bells will be ringing soon for John Swift and Sarah Longava (right) from Bristow, VA who crossed the finish line together just under two hours. Swift presented her with an engagement ring. And she said, “Yes!”
NBC’s “Biggest Loser” is a reality show about overweight contestants trying to lose weight and also adopt a healthy lifestyle. It has inspired not only contestants and viewers, but also First Lady Michelle Obama.
A highlight for many runners was to share the field with two familiar faces from the hit show. Contestant Lauren Lee, 27, from Poolesville MD, (right) sporting her yellow “Biggest Loser” tank top finished in 2:14:33 and the TV show’s host, Alison Sweeney, wearing bib#1,not only had duties firing the starting pistol but jumped in and ran 2:05:30.
“The show really makes you believe in the human spirit and overcoming whatever your obstacles,” said Sweeney who looked unfazed and fresh after the uphill finish. “I never would have dreamed of doing this [half marathon] before the Biggest Loser,” smiled the host. As with many finishers she was pleased that she had beaten her projected time.
New Course Records Set in Semper Fred 5K
Kenyan Reuben Mwei, 26, living in Lithia Springs, GA is planning on racing the MCM 10K this fall and wanted to check out the “Marine Corps” experience. Not familiar with the course, Mwei picked a good competitor to tuck behind, defending champion Jordan Zwick.
“I was off my goal of 14 minutes,” said Mwei, an Academic All-American at Adams State. He crossed the finish line in 15:27, beating the 2010 course record of 15:59. Arlington’s Zwick, 25, was anxious to stretch out his legs having driven 11 hours from Rochester, NY the night prior. He finished with an impressive 15:36. Stephen Harrison, 23, from Fredericksburg was third in 16:19.
Reigning women’s champion Molly Roohi should probably listen to her coach, or maybe not. The advice for this day was not to race but Roohi did it anyway. It paid off as she clocked 19:03, setting a new course record (old course record 19:37 from 2009) and knocking 38 seconds off her 2011 time. Masters standouts Michelle Dolby, 44, from Fredericksburg finished next in 20:57 and Alexandria’s Kristin McCann, 40, took third place in 21:49.
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
By Brenda Barrera
Williamsburg, VA
May 19, 2012
For the Washington Running Report
“Yup, I’m 40,” the message on overall champion Kevin Castille’s shirt said it all. It was an impressive day for the 40 and older crowd at the Run for the Dream 8K in Williamsburg VA which also served as the USA Track & Field Masters 8K Championships. A total of 1,536 runners completed the 8K race on the rolling course on the historical Colonial Williamsburg and College of Williams & Mary. And 143 national-class runners competed in the separately scored Masters Championship division.
Having just turned 40 this past March, Castille is having an exceptional year. The Louisiana-native now residing in Kentucky is tearing up the roads and also the track. He captured the masters crown at the Carlsbad 5000 (14:57), set a U.S. Masters 10K record at the Stanford University Invitational (28:57) and set a new course record at today’s race with his 24:19 finish.
“The conditions were ideal,” said Castille who led the whole race and had set a goal to run faster than 24:00. “But it’s hard to get into a groove when the course has a lot of turns like this.” Alexandria’s Chris Juarez, 41, was second in 25:16 followed by Mark Andrews, 41, from Rochester, NY. Ray Pugsley, 43, from Potomac Falls, VA and racing for the Baltimore Washington Athletic Club took the fourth spot in the Masters competition in 26:02.
The women’s masters competition was almost a repeat of last year. Chris Kimbrough, 42, from Austin, TX and the 2011 USATF Club Cross Country National Masters Champion defended her 8K Masters title. She took the crown in 28:08 but as with 2011 was challenged by former William & Mary All-American Sonja Friend-Uhl who now resides in Brentwood, TN. Friend-Uhl finished in 28:19. The margin was closer than last year when they finished 1-2 in 28:18 and 28:56, respectively.
“I felt pretty good for the first 3 miles and didn’t pass Sonya until 3 1/2 miles,” said Kimbrough who received extra motivation from her uncle who drove up from Suffolk to cheer his niece.
Susannah Kvasnicka from Great Falls, VA has been on hiatus the past few years due to injuries but it is hard to sit on the sidelines when you turn 40. Kvasnicka said she is excited to get back into racing shape and kicked off her return with an overall win at Cassidy Turley Race for Hope 5K on May 6 and in today’s contest she took the third spot with her 29:35 finish.
Charlottesville’s Thomas Adam, racing for the Ragged Mountain Racing Team, finished fourth overall with his 25:55. The youngster in the talented field at just 25-years old, is not going to be competing in the masters category for awhile but he drew inspiration from competing with the older crowd.
“I liked seeing more experienced runners still competing and still enjoying the sport,” said Adam.
Among the finishers was Andy Scales, 45, who completed the 8K in a kilt. He admitted last year at this time he was sitting on his couch and weighed 330 pounds. The accountant and volunteer fireman decided it was time for a change and adopt a new lifestyle which included walking in the evening.
“It took me a month before I could even run a mile,” said the Saluda resident who now weighs 285.
Actor Joe Mantegna, in town as the guest host for Colonial Williamsburg’s special “A Salute to the Nation” made an appearance at the awards presentation. Afterward, several of the participants mentioned they were eager to get off their feet as they would be returning to the starting line again for Sunday’s half marathon, part of the Patriot’s Challenge.
By Brenda Barrera
Virginia Beach, VA
February 11, 2012
For the Washington Running Report
To say love was in the air was no exaggeration for Saturday’s Virginia is for Lovers 14K, an unusual race distance and one of the popular J&A Racing events held in Virginia Beach, VA. It was a morning filled with a lot of red attire, pink hearts with glitter, and wedding vows were exchanged on the race course at, where else, Lovers’ Lane.
It came as no surprise to see top locals and last year’s champions defend their titles. Ryan Carroll, 29, from Portsmouth led from start to win in 46:22 and Virginia Beach’s Renee High, 30, handily won in 52:00. While both ran slower times than last year, each was just coming off January breakout performances where Carroll notched a 1:08:36 PR at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and High won the Walt Disney Marathon in 2:48:35.
“The conditions were perfect today,” said Carroll, noting the forecast had called for rainy conditions but thankfully it remained dry. He is coached by race director Jerry Frostick and used the race as a training run in preparation for the upcoming Anthem Shamrock Half Marathon in March.
Jesse Contario, 28, from Arlington, VA (left) ran most of the race by himself. The William & Mary alumni finished about a minute back in 47:44, good enough for second place. Victor Flemming, 32, from Smithfield, VA took third in 48:50.
Steve Speirs, 45, from Virginia Beach handily won the masters competition in 49:48, besting Greg Cauller, 52, from York, PA, who ran 51:50.
In the women’s competition, High (below) ran unchallenged but the next few places were up for grabs as Norfolk’s Courtney Chapman, 28, with her braided ponytail flying back and forth and a huge grin on her face, slowly picked off the leaders to claim second place in 53:33. Mollie Turner, 31, from Chesapeake, VA crossed the finish line nine seconds later in 53:42.
Gina McGee’s lucky number was five. The talented 47-year-old masters division runner from Virginia Beach ran 55:55 and placed fifth overall among the women. Norfolk’s Dolores Ware, 41, took the next masters place in 56:14.
Race Notes
* David Ullrich, of Galesville, MD and Nina Stickles from Hampton, VA made a “planned” detour near mile 4 in Lover’s Lane and got hitched. They stopped for the ceremony and then continued the race together, crossing the finish line in 1:47:31; faster than a 12:30 pace if you are calculating.
* Colonel Mark Cooter, 48, from nearby Langley Air Force base finished in 1:05:10 and had a special note on his race bib for his wife, Angelina: “I ‘heart’ you! Hurry Home!” Well, we know his wife, Major Angelina Maguinness, knows how to hurry, she is a fast runner and won the companion race in Kabul, Afghanistan.
* Chad Simpson (below) got a lot of “love” along the course. It is understandable as he ran in an Elvis outfit and was carrying a guitar. He cruised across the finish line in 1:05:58 and, when asked what was on his iPod play list, rattled off several Elvis tunes and shared his discovery of a new Elvis song he just recently heard, Guitar Man.
* Sporting matching Valentine’s Day-themed gauze skirts was a trio of international runners: Laila Tolderlund from Denmark was joined by Fenella McAlister from Scotland, and Geirhild Snilda Engen from Norway. All three live in Virginia Beach and are part of the NATO family.
* The relay division offered an opportunity for North Bethesda’s Janine Garner and her daughter Gabi to compete as Team Garner. Their finish time was 1:19:12 and just ahead of them, Ron Garner completed the course in 1:13:53.
* At the post-race party, Bryan Deal, 34, from Mechanicsville, VA, who ran 57:43, joined ProK racing teammate Tyler Van Rensselaer, 35, who recently moved to Pisgah Forest, NC and finished in 53:22. “We’re doing all of the J&A race series,” said Deal. “We’re blown away by all of the schwag.”
In all, 2,981 runners finished the Virginia is for Lovers 14K, an increase from 2011, and more than 300 participants ran the 1.4 mile race, benefitting LIVESTRONG, the official race charity.
Editor’s Note: More race coverage will be in the upcoming March/April issue of Washington Running Report: The Runner’s Source for DC, MD, & VA.
By Brenda Barrera
Norfolk, VA
November 13, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
The Norfolk city banner flags were flapping with a breeze coming out of the southwest as 1,202 runners took off for the inaugural Freedom Half Marathon in ideal conditions on Sunday. Navy Lt. j.g. Erik Bates, 25, from Virginia Beach, VA won in 1:21:05 and Jennifer Quarles, 39, from Merrimac, VA was the first woman in 1:29:00.
It took less than a mile for Bates and Frank Sprtel, 39, from Silver Spring MD to separate from the field. Bates made a decisive move at mile 6 when Sprtel grabbed a drink from the aid station. That is when he threw in a surge and the race was in his command as he pulled away for the win.
It was a sweet victory for the Naval Academy graduate who competes on the All Navy Triathlon team. “I’ve been on a ship so it’s been hard to stay in shape,” said Bates, who serves on the USS Carter Hall.
Sprtel, a history buff, was looking for a November half marathon when he signed up for the race. It was an opportunity to bring the family for a weekend of sightseeing in Norfolk and also nearby Williamsburg.
“I’m interested in historical architecture,” said Sprtel. “This was a good mix with both interests.”
JP Botti, 26, from Norfolk finished in third place with a time of 1:23:37.
In the women’s competition Jennifer Quarles , a member of the Colonial Road Runners, achieved her goal of breaking 1:30:00 by exactly one minute.
Meghann Cook, 28, originally from Massachusetts and recently re-located to Virginia Beach took the runner up spot in 1:31:37. Third place went to a local standout Leisa Villani, 53, also from Virginia Beach who crossed the finish line in 1:32:33.
Jean Phelan, President of the Tidewater Striders, finished the half marathon in 1:59:24 and commented on the event that has a five-year contract with the City of Norfolk. “This really has potential to grow,” she said.
John Amoroso, 34, from Glen Allen, VA and a member of the Richmond Road Runners said he decided to do this race for three reasons: “It benefited a great cause, it was a new race and a flat course.” He finished in 1:54:51.
It was easy to spot Norfolk’s Diana D’Abruzzo who was literally covered in yellow ribbons. Each ribbon had the name of a person who donated to her campaign to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project in honor and memory of fallen Navy SEAL Chris Campbell.
In addition to the half marathon, there was a Two-Person Relay with 28 teams and the Wounded Warrior 5K, which drew 216 finishers.
Chris Phelan (no relation to Jean), 55, from Garland, TX was in town for a reunion with shipmates and recovering from recent knee surgery. The Texas running and triathlon coach decided to enter the race not knowing what to expect. Sometimes racing in a city where you do not know many people or have any specific plans can yield surprising results. Phelan won in 18:18.
Running is an activity for the whole Lovett family from Newport News, VA. On Saturday Jack, 41, ran the HCA Virginia 8K in Richmond taking 2nd in his age group. On Sunday, it was Pamela’s turn to test her speed. Retired after serving 23 years in the Army, she wanted to do this race to support the Wounded Warriors Project. She handily captured the women’s title in 19:50.
The post race festivities at Town Point Park began with an exhibition by the United States Naval Academy Silent Drill Team, a stirring way to close out the morning events and a weekend honoring our Veterans.
By Brenda Barrera
Richmond, VA
November 12, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
It is not always the case, but sometimes everything just comes together perfectly on race day. Like ideal weather in the 40s on a historic course along lush fall scenery with a competitive field that pushes you to your best. That was the case for the many runners at this year’s SunTrust Richmond Marathon, McDonald’s Half Marathon and HCA Virginia 8K that set a record with 17,073 runners.
SunTrust Richmond Marathon
Kennedy Kemei (left) did not let a field that included the defending champion, Mark Chepses, and two-time winner Jynocel Baswetti, intimidate him. No, the 33-year-old Kenyan based in Chapel Hill, NC took command of this year’s SunTrust Richmond Marathon and smashed the course record winning in 2:13:45. Njoroge Maina, 27, from Kenya took the runner-up spot in 2:15:16 and Baswetti, who missed last year’s contest, had to settle for third place in 2:16:00.
Patterson Wilhelm, 24, from Lynchburg, VA was the top American to finish in his inaugural marathon. The William and Mary graduate posted an impressive 2:20:27.
“I was probably too aggressive in mile 13 to 18,” he said and added this was only his second road race. In September he ran the Virginia 10 Miler where he finished 6th overall in 52:48.
Richard “Skeeter” Morris, 23, from Burkeville, VA is heading to New Zealand in a few weeks and will savor his 2:29:47 race. “I wanted to run a sub-2:30,” he said.
Baltimore’s Kris Simms, 39, ran 2:53:39 and at the finish line exclaimed, “I would definitely do this again.”
With no past champions entered in the women’s competition the top spot was up for grabs. Mekides Bekele, 25, from New York (right) ran 2:47:50 to capture the crown. Aimee Phillippi-Taylor, 34, from Spring Grove, PA was aiming for a U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying time of 2:46:00 and finished in 2:49:53 but earned the runner-up spot.
“I realized at mile 16 it wasn’t going to happen [finishing in 2:46:00] so I just wanted to place as high as I could,” said Phillippi-Taylor who won some prize money for her effort. When asked what she was going to do with her earnings, she looked at her husband and they both laughed and said it was already spent—they just bought a house.
Hirut Mandefro, 26, from Ethiopia took third in 2:53:26.
McDonald’s Half Marathon
Kenyan George Towett, 27, defended his title and breezed through the 13.1 course to win again. His time was 1:04:34. Kipyegon Kirui, 31, also from Kenya, finished two minutes later in 1:06:31. Jay Lumpkins, 26, from Lakeland, FL tried to catch Kirui down the final stretch but had to settle for third place with his 1:06:34 finish.
The top Richmond finisher was Piotr Dybas, 24, (left) originally from Poland and who was a top runner for Virginia Commonwealth University. His time of 1:09:11 placed him 11th overall.
Sterling Parker, 46 was impressed with the organization and all of the spectators along the course. “My favorite band was the drummers [University of Richmond Taiko Ensemble,]” said the Glen Allen resident who finished under two hours in 1:58:25.
The women’s competition had a clear winner in Bekelech Bedada, 19, from Ethiopia who set a course record with her 1:13:33 finish. Esther Erb, (below) who grew up in Richmond and now lives in Blowing Rock, NC ran 1:16:50 for second place. Sporting a Green Dragon tattoo on her cheek, the Maggie Walker graduate was cheered on by her parents. Erb would have liked to run faster but said her focus right now is on the upcoming U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials in January. She qualified with a 2:39:47 marathon in Spain.
Richmond’s Rena Chesser, 29, finished third in 1:19:27. The fact that she was able to compete was a surprise. “I had the flu for ten days and couldn’t run at all,” said Chesser who was hoping to finish in 1:15:00.
The Capital Area Runners had several team members competing. Cristina Burbach who finished in 1:29:36 was pleasantly surprised by the course. “It had nice hills in the middle which was a nice variation,” and she added, “It was also a visually interesting course.”
American record holder for the mile, Alan Webb, was on hand to welcome the participants and had the role of official starter for the half marathon. His wife, Julia, took fourth place in 1:20:17.
HCA Virginia 8K
To say it was a nail biter finish is no exaggeration as the morning’s first race came down to the wire with Donnie Cowart from Charlottesville, VA (left in photo) battling it out with Kenyan Julius Kogo down the homestretch and breaking the tape together. Last year Cowart finished fifth overall and this year he had a different plan.
“I wanted to win this year or at least battle for the win,” said Cowart who ran for VMI.
All went according to plan as the lead pack of ten runners whittled down to four around 3.5 miles. At mile 4 Cowart said he and Kogo separated from the others and tested each other with neither taking a break. When Cowart saw the finish line banner he admits to having a fleeting thought about the prize money which was $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place. That gave him the extra nudge he needed because even though their times show up the same as 22:57, he squeaked ahead of Kogo, 22:56.20 to 22:56.26.
Kenyan Samuel Ndereba, 34, who set the course record in 2006, had to settle for third place with his 23:01 this year.
Ethiopia’s Alemtsehay Misganaws no stranger to this course having won the half marathon in 2008 and 2009. Afterward, Misganaw said she took off after the second mile and no one gave chase. She won in 26:17 to add the HCA Virginia 8K title to her résumé VCU. Lilia Marlita, 23, from Kenya finished next in 26:26 and hometown favorite Nicol Traynor, 22, was very pleased with her third place finish.
“My coach originally told me to go 27:30 and then we changed that to 27:00,” said Traynor who completes for the Richmond Spiders. Apparently her training is going well because she surpassed that goal finishing in 26:35.
Next year’s SunTrust Richmond Marathon is scheduled for November 10, 2012. A special $55 marathon entry fee and $45 half marathon entry fee is available through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, November 17.
By Brenda Barrera
Washington, DC
October 30, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
Charles Ware wins it all in a near Olympic-class 2:19:16.
What a weekend with so many elements of drama. A rare fall storm hit the mid-Atlantic on Saturday bringing not only rain, but hail, sleet, slush, and snow. On Sunday, however, the skies cleared in time for the 36th Marine Corps Marathon where Army 1st Lt. Charles “Chad” Ware from Wheeling, IL won in an impressive 2:19:16 and Tezata Dengera, from Ellicott City, MD by way of Turkey, claimed the women’s title in 2:45:28.
With early morning temperatures hovering in the mid 30s and a slight breeze kicking up, there was nary a trace of the storm from the prior day except for a few slick spots on the roads and muddy fields as 20,895 runners completed ‘The People’s Marathon’ under bright sunshine and blue skies.
“Cold weather is a good thing for me,” smiled Ware, 27, as he soaked in his victory after giving thanks by looking upward, giving the number one sign and breaking the finish line tape.
A head taller than most of the lead runners, the lanky Midwesterner was easy to spot during the race. “I felt good through the early hills,” he said, then lost a little ground at mile 13 before he made his move at mile 19 to take the lead for the rest of the race.
When asked, Ware claimed he was not aiming for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials standard time of 2:19:00, but he knew it was within his grasp.
“If I kept on 5:18s [per mile], I knew I could get it,” he acknowledged. By the last couple of miles, however, he slowed a bit, narrowly missing the qualifying standard by 16 seconds.
Brushing off that topic, Ware emphasized the honor to run for the All-Army Team. “It’s a privilege to be able to represent the Army and wear the Army singlet,” he said. An Army Reservist, he will be going on active duty this January.
While most of Ware’s competition was either dropped or dropped out, stalwart Michael Wardian, who gives his all whether the distance is a 5K, 42K, or 100K, was trying to reel in the leader.
“I saw him at Crystal City and thought that wasn’t too far,” remarked Wardian who thought he might be able to catch Ware but was not able to do so. The Arlington running icon took the runner-up spot three minutes later in 2:23:46. Representing the Coast Guard, Patrick Fernandez, 24, from Alexandria finished next in 2:26:37.
Finishing in the top ten was Adam Condit, (left) a familiar runner on the local scene who recently moved to Cedar Rapids, IA. Condit ran the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon two weeks ago finishing in 2:27:20. At this race he ran 2:29:28 to clinch 5th place.
The women’s competition as not decided until after the 35K mark where the trio of Tezata Dengera (217), Emily Shertzer (146), and Getachew Shiferaw(3) all went through in 2:16:44 battling for top honors. It was after that mark when Dengera and Shertzer pulled away from Shiferaw, making it a two-woman race to the finish. Dengera prevailed to cross the finish line 27 seconds ahead of her competition, 2:45:28 to 2:45:55.
In photo race winner Dengera (217) races in a tight pack through Georgetown early in the race.
Two weeks ago Dengera ran the Under Armour Baltimore Marathon finishing 7th among the women in 2:37:52. So it is understandable that, while her time was a bit slower, capturing the victory was certainly sweet.
Shertzer, 31, from Jonestown, PA and representing the Air Force, made her marathon début this past May at the National Guard/Lincoln Marathon. On Sunday, she crushed her May début time (2:54:20) with her 2:45:55 runner-up finish and also qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials. Shiferaw, 27, from Ellicott City, MD (ETH) took the final podium spot with her 2:47:30.
Arlington’s Lindsay Wilkins, 33, cracked the top 10 with her 6th place finish in 2:53:28 after running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon two weeks ago where she posted a 2:50:41.
Top wheelchair finishers in the rim category were Jacqui Kapinowski, 48, from Point Pleasant NJ in 2:05:46 and David Swope, 45, New Windsor MD in 2:12:12. The wheelchair crank field boasted almost 100 competitors. Leading the way in this division were Scot Seiss, 44, from Ricky Ridge, MD who crossed the finish 1:28:41 and Erica Davis, 30, from Carlsbad, CA who was the first woman in 2:13:52.
Most runners did not recognize a participant without his trademark wide-rim black glasses, but TV host and comedian Drew Carey, 53, finished his first marathon in 4:37:11. Carey finished 555th among the 1,170 competitors in the 50-54 age group.
Also among the marathon finishers . . .
Chas Bellew, 27, from Washington, DC who ran at Princeton decided to enter this race in 2010 and posted a 3:00:53 finish. He improved this year, bringing his time down quite a bit to 2:38:53.
Wearing bib #101, two-time Marine Corps Marathon champion Darrell General (1995, 1997), who is 45, ran a 2:48:06, placing third in his age group and 72nd overall. “My legs never loosened up,” he said afterward.
Kaitlin Koplin, 27, (left) from Washington, DC tried hard to break 3 hours but had a hard time warming up. She had to settle for 3:00:13. “I was still cold even at mile 8,” she said.
Speaking of cold, Maria Kozloski, 46, (right) from Bethesda, MD was all smiles at the finish but laughed as she recalled the chills earlier in the morning, “My teeth couldn’t stop chattering at the start.” Kozloski’s 3:08:54 was good enough for a second place in her age division. She has now completed 20 marathons.
Caroline Bauer, 28, from Columbia, MD credits the group runs with the Howard County Striders for helping her finish in 3:17:35.
Among the many runners who raced in a costume was Sean Kelly, 25, from Annapolis MD. Here is a clue to his race day outfit: What is black and white and waddles? Yup, he donned a penguin suit and finished the race in 4:20:31. Kelly said the comments along the route included: “Go Penguin!” “Great, now I’m getting beat by a penguin!” and “Go Happy Feet!”
Araceli Uranga, 40, from Vienna, VA was dressed in pink from head to toe, including a tutu and even ran with a wand. Her time was 3:50:25.
At the runner finish area, Matt Stevenson, 40, from Arlington was happy to get off his feet and rested with his back against a fence, soaking up a little sun after finishing his 6th Marine Corps Marathon in 4:34:29.
The MCM 10K had 6,867 finishers and a new course record. Reuben Mwei, 25, from Acworth, GA handily won in 30:37, smashing the former record of 32:52 (Wyatt Boyd, 2009). Brian Dumm, 28, from Colorado Springs, CO finished next in 32:52 followed by the top local, Luke Belford, 29, from Nottingham, MD who finished the race in 33:13.
In the women’s 10K competition, Navy Lt. Amanda Rice, 27, from North Bethesda, MD, cruised to a 36:30 win. Rice said in an E-mail that being a member of the Armed Forces made the experience even more rewarding. Showing her competitive side, Rice admitted to adjusting her game plan mid-race from not only winning the women’s title, but seeing how many men she could beat. Her overall place was 14th and she beat 2,708 men. Jennifer Perrottet, 31, from San Marcos, CA took the runner-up spot in 39:22 and was followed by the top local Christine Rehwald, 32, from Arlington who crossed the line under 40 minutes with her 39:54 finish.
By Brenda Barrera
Virginia Beach, VA
September 4, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
Yoko Miyauchi wins in 1:11:49, three seconds off the state record.
Labor Day weekend may signal the ‘official’ end of summer; but for the 11,219 runners who toed the start line at today’s Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon, it was the start of a festive race featuring live bands at every mile and a fun-filled weekend of activities that included a post-race party on the beach and free pass to the American Music Festival. Two new champions were crowned: Benson Barus, 31, from Kenya won the overall title in 1:02:22 and Japan’s Yoko Miyauchi, 28, led the women’s field in 1:11:49.
Barus is certainly having a good year, going back to May when he won the Prague Marathon in 2:07:07. Under cloudy skies with low humidity, he led a men’s field that included countryman Solomon Busendich, 27, who finished 13 seconds behind him in 1:02:35. It looked as if American Ryan Hall was going to take the third place but he got edged out by one second at the finish line by Kenyan Samuel Ndereba and had to settle for fourth place. They finished 1:03:01 and 1:03:02, respectively(in photo).
“Hats off to the guys,” said Hall who was certainly a crowd favorite. The top U.S. contender did not seem disappointed but admitted although he tried, he could not hold off Busendich those last 30 yards. Next up for Hall is the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October. Fredericksburg native Tim Young, 24, running for the Brooks-Hanson Distance Team, took 11th place in 1:07:23, well off the PR he set in February at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Mardi Gras Half Marathon (1:04:21).
The top Mid-Atlantic finisher was Andrew Budiansky, 21, (who grew up in Leesburg) from Williamsburg, VA, who finished in 1:12:18.
Russian Vyscheslav Shabunin, 41, dominated the men’s masters competition. He not only ran 1:04:49, but also cracked the top 10 with his 9th place finish. Gideon Mutisya, 42, from West Hartford, CT was next in 1:12:09 followed by top local favorite John Piggott, 46, who did not have to travel far (Williamsburg, VA) to take the next spot in 1:16:33 and win his age group.
Tony Nogueira, 43, of Glen Ridge, NJ won the men’s wheelchair division in 48:24. The top local wheelchair racer was Shannon Franks, 34, of College Park, MD (1:05:59).
Japanese runners took eight of the top 10 places, dominating the women’s elite field. Miyauchi did not take the lead under after the 10 mile mark; but once she did, she held onto it to win the top spot. Kenyan Jane Kibii set a PR with her 1:12:04 second place finish and Olympian Yurika Nakamura, 25, from Japan was right behind her in 1:12:10. Nuta Olaru, 44, the 2004 Rock ‘n’ Roll Champion from Romania, was the top masters in 1:14:05 and finished 9th among the women. The top American was a teenager–at just 14 years of age, Alana Hadley, from Charlotte, NC finished in 11th place with a remarkable time of 1:17:14.
The top Mid-Atlantic runner in the women’s competition was Alexandria’s Lisa Thomas, racing for the Pacers.
“We had a nice pack for seven miles,” said Thomas who picked up the pace the second half and started to pick off runners on her way to a 1:19:02 finish. Afterward she and teammate Lyndsay Wilkins noted the efficiency of the race start. “We were impressed it went off so smoothly, there weren’t any delays,” she said.
Another top regional finisher was Elyse Shimada, 23, who ran 1:23:09. Shamada just moved from California to Washington, DC last month and started law school.
“I used this as a tune-up for the Chicago Marathon,” said Shimada who noted she is still getting used to the east coast humidity. Lucky for her this was one year where the humidity level was actually lower than usual for this event.
One of the most popular runners in the race was not an elite, nor a speedy local, but a relay team participant who ran in a pair of torn up jeans and cowboy hat. Yes, many runners spotted that flowing mane of blond hair from under the signature cowboy hat and sped up to run with Josh Renager, whom they thought was rock star Bret Michaels (above). The resemblance was pretty remarkable.
What would a Rock ‘n’ Roll race be without Elvis? Jeff Brillhart, 48, from Chesapeake, VA finished in 1:49:59 and this marked his second time running this event in an Elvis costume. “It sure is easier to a run a half marathon than a marathon in this costume,” said Brillhart adding that the black wig was rather hot.
Rose Polyakova, 41, from Silver Spring MD (below women’s times) has run a few of the Rock ‘n’ Roll races this year and thought she was registered for this one but she was not. Luckily, she was able to sign up on Saturday at the Expo and showed up wearing a buccaneer costume for the race. She finished in 2:33:49.
Virginia Beach is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the country so it is not surprising that Katie Farmer (Ashburn, VA) who is getting married this fall would pick this for her bachelorette weekend. “Team Bride” included Farmer, Terese Hereford (Columbia, SC), Sara Bontuccelli (VA), and Caitlin Marshall (Woodbridge, VA).
Next year’s Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon is scheduled for September 2, 2011.
Women
| Place | Name | Age | Hometown | Net Time | Pace | Gun Time |
| 1 | Yoko Miyauchi | 28 | Japan | 1:11:48 | 5:29 | 1:11:49 |
| 2 | Jane Kibil | 26 | Kenya | 1:12:04 | 5:30 | 1:12:04 |
| 3 | Yurika Nakamura | 25 | Japan | 1:12:10 | 5:31 | 1:12:10 |
| 4 | Fumiko Hashimoto | 22 | Japan | 1:12:19 | 5:32 | 1:12:20 |
| 5 | Risa Shigemoto | 24 | Japan | 1:12:34 | 5:33 | 1:12:34 |
| 6 | Hiroko Shoi | 31 | Japan | 1:13:16 | 5:36 | 1:13:16 |
| 7 | Mao Kurodo | 21 | Japan | 1:13:37 | 5:37 | 1:13:37 |
| 8 | Yumi Soto | 34 | Japan | 1:13:40 | 5:38 | 1:13:41 |
| 9 | Nuta Olaru | 41 | Romania | 1:14:05 | 5:40 | 1:14:05 |
| 10 | Korei Omata | 24 | Japan | 1:14:22 | 5:41 | 1:14:22 |
| 11 | Alana Hadley | 14 | Charlotte, NC | 1:17:14 | 5:54 | 1:17:15 |
| 12 | Lyubov Denisova | 39 | Russia | 1:17:40 | 5:56 | 1:17:41 |
| 13 | Leah Thorvilson | 32 | Little Rock, AR | 1:17:56 | 5:57 | 1:17:56 |
| 14 | Lisa Thomas | 35 | Alexandria, VA | 1:19:02 | 6:02 | 1:19:03 |
| 15 | Renee High | 29 | Virginia Beach, VA | 1:19:25 | 6:04 | 1:19:26 |
| 16 | Nicky Archer | 25 | Great Britain | 1:20:04 | 6:07 | 1:20:05 |
| 17 | Lindsay Wilkins | 33 | Arlington, VA | 1:20:42 | 6:10 | 1:20:43 |
| 18 | Elyse Shimada | 23 | Washington, DC | 1:23:09 | 6:21 | 1:23:11 |
| 19 | Kristen Lawrence | 31 | Virginia Beach, VA | 1:23:12 | 6:21 | 1:23:13 |
| 20 | Lydia Carrick | 26 | Greenville, DE | 1:24:05 | 6:25 | 1:24:06 |
| 21 | Amanda Scott | 24 | Boulder, CO | 1:24:31 | 6:27 | 1:24:33 |
| 22 | Catherine Seaton | 32 | Raleigh, NC | 1:24:41 | 6:28 | 1:24:42 |
| 23 | Jillian Pollack | 22 | Winchester, VA | 1:25:21 | 6:31 | 1:25:23 |
| 24 | Courtney Chapman | 27 | Mc Lean, VA | 1:25:49 | 6:33 | 1:25:50 |
| 25 | Fabiana Perlingeiro | 34 | Norfolk, VA | 1:25:54 | 6:34 | 1:26:01 |
Men
| Place | Name | Age | Hometown | Net Time | Pace | Gun Time |
| 1 | Benson Barus | 31 | Kenya | 1:02:21 | 4:46 | 1:02:22 |
| 2 | Solomon Busendich | 27 | Kenya | 1:02:35 | 4:47 | 1:02:35 |
| 3 | Samual Ndercba | 34 | Kenya | 1:03:01 | 4:49 | 1:03:01 |
| 4 | Ryan Hall | 28 | Mammoth Lakes, CA | 1:03:01 | 4:49 | 1:03:02 |
| 5 | Reid Coolsaet | 32 | Canada | 1:03:16 | 4:50 | 1:03:16 |
| 6 | Eric Gillis | 31 | Canada | 1:03:34 | 4:51 | 1:03:34 |
| 7 | Josphat Boit | 27 | Kenya | 1:04:31 | 4:56 | 1:04:32 |
| 8 | Hironori Arai | 31 | Japan | 1:04:32 | 4:56 | 1:04:33 |
| 9 | Vyscheslav Shabunin | 41 | Russia | 1:04:49 | 4:57 | 1:04:50 |
| 10 | Koichi Sakai | 25 | Japan | 1:06:18 | 5:04 | 1:06:19 |
| 11 | Tim Young | 24 | Rochester Hills, MI | 1:07:23 | 5:09 | 1:07:23 |
| 12 | Kazuki Onishi | 24 | Japan | 1:07:34 | 5:10 | 1:07:34 |
| 13 | Brian Lyons | 30 | St. Louis, MO | 1:07:46 | 5:11 | 1:07:47 |
| 14 | Ben Fletcher | 0 | Albuquerque, NM | 1:08:13 | 5:13 | 1:08:14 |
| 15 | Bryce Livingston | 24 | Tucson, AZ | 1:11:17 | 5:27 | 1:11:18 |
| 16 | Chad Carr | 35 | Cambridge, MA | 1:11:22 | 5:27 | 1:11:24 |
| 17 | Christain Hesch | 32 | Hollywood, CA | 1:11:41 | 5:29 | 1:11:42 |
| 18 | Gideon Mutisya | 43 | West Hartford, CT | 1:12:09 | 5:31 | 1:12:09 |
| 19 | Andrew Budiansky | 21 | Williamsburg, VA | 1:12:18 | 5:31 | 1:12:18 |
| 20 | Kyle Carrick | 30 | Greenville, DE | 1:12:18 | 5:31 | 1:12:19 |
| 21 | Luis Gutierrez | 26 | Austin, TX | 1:12:32 | 5:32 | 1:12:32 |
| 22 | Blaine O’Reilly | 22 | Hayes, VA | 1:12:45 | 5:33 | 1:12:46 |
| 23 | Matt Hoerner | 20 | Harrisonburg, VA | 1:13:12 | 5:35 | 1:13:14 |
| 24 | Tim Surface | 32 | Raleigh, NC | 1:13:40 | 5:38 | 1:13:41 |
| 25 | Juan Martinez | 33 | Syracuse, NY | 1:14:36 | 5:42 | 1:14:37 |
Wheelchairs
Place Name Sex Age City State Time 1 Tony Nogueira M 43 Glen Ridge NJ 48:24 2 Aaron Pike M 25 CHAMPAIGN IL 51:45 3 Chad Johnson M 36 Charleston IN 54:07 4 Shannon Franks M 34 College Park MD 1:05:59 5 Paul Kelly-Crank M 55 BEAUFORT NC 1:53:32 6 Christopher Levari M 33 CHESAPEAKE VA 3:01:24
By Brenda Barrera
Yorktown, VA
August 6, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
It was a birthday celebration of sorts. On August 4, 1790, Congress authorized the creation of a maritime service to enforce customs laws, signed off by President George Washington. That was 221 years ago and the Revenue Cutter Service—better known today as the U.S. Coast Guard—is celebrating their birthday. On August 6, 2011 the Coast Guard Day 5K held at the Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown, VA celebrated its 23rd running with a record number of finishers, 308.
Two teenagers, Jack Little and Taylor Falvey, took top honors.
A hometown standout, York High School senior Jack Little, 17, defended his title winning in 17:16. Just ten second behind him was Yorktown’s J.R. Cruz, 31 in 17:26. Stephen Chantry, Jr., 18, took third place in 17:33.
Little improved his 2010 time by one second, but said he felt better than last year.
“I’m in much better shape this year. I’m gearing up for cross country season,” said Little who just returned from a UVA cross country training camp. One of his goals for the upcoming school year is to hit 15 minutes for the 5K.
Yorktown marked a midway stop for the Falvey family traveling from York, PA to North Carolina for a holiday. Taylor Falvey, 18, was looking for a local race to test her leg speed before heading off to college this fall. It was a good pick; she easily won the women’s division with her 20:37 finish.
“I was just looking to do a time trial,” said Falvey, who will be competing for Philadelphia University.
She had no idea who was leading the women’s field for the first half of the race.
“It wasn’t until I was passing through the water station and they said I was the first female,” said Falvey who was pleased with her solid time.
Rounding out the top women finishers were Sheila Scotti, 27, from Newport News who took second place in 22:35 followed by 13-year-old Justina Rowe from Yorktown who crossed the finish line in 22:46.
While the younger Chantry was third overall, his namesake and masters record holder father, Stephen Chantry, 56, competing for the Colonial Road Runners took the men’s 55-59 division in 18:06. This past July, the elder Chantry competed in the WMA World Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, CA where he finished 4th in the M55 1500M (4:27:16) and 6th in the M55 800M (2:12:73).
The participants were treated to a historic course along the USCG Training Center on the banks of the York River. The winding course included the scenic Colonial National Historic Park site of the Revolutionary War’s final decisive battle.
Among the finishers (left) were Lacey Roberts and Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer John Roberts of Mechanicsville, VA. Even though his wife beat him, 29:06 to 31:20, he could not stop beaming at the finish line area. “She’s amazing! “ and he quickly added, “She walloped me.” This past year Lacey has lost 86 pounds and today’s race was her first 5K.
For Coast Guard Commander Tim Haws, a Norfolk native, this was a bit of a homecoming. “I just reported here for training from Florida this past Monday,” said Haws who was stationed in Yorktown from 2004 to 2008. He took third place in the 35-39 age group with a time of 21:50. Haws was joined by his wife, Susie, who is expecting their first child this spring. She did a combination of run, walk, and jog, finishing the 5K in 45:08.
In the Coast Guard award category Samuel Mathes, 23, of Yorktown won handily with his 19:06 and Samantha Brabant, 24, of Bartow, FL took the title with her 25:10 finish.
The morning started with a 1 Mile Fun Run. This event marks the sixth stop on the Peninsula Track Club Grand Prix Series.
By Brenda Barrera
Washington, DC
March 26, 2011
For Washington Running Report
Long lines of racers get underway.
Under clear skies, chilly race temperatures in the 30s, and the backdrop of the RFK Stadium, more than 13,000 runners finished this year’s SunTrust National Marathon, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield National Half Marathon, and United Way National Team Relay in the Nation’s Capital, setting an all-time record number of participants.
SunTrust National Marathon
While it may not have been a surprise to local fans that Michael “Mr. National Marathon” Wardian earned his fifth SunTrust National Marathon title in six years, this running icon never takes anything for granted. Coming off a disappointing third place finish at the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon last week, the Arlington runner had a look of determination as he lined up at the start.
“I was not happy with my last race so I took off my watches for this one,” said Wardian who usually wears more than one watch when he races. His strategy of “attacking each mile” paid off with a 2:23:01 victory, but his main goal is to run a 2:19:00 qualifying time for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials.
How is this win compared to his other four at this event? “This was really special,” said Wardian as he held his two boys, Pierce and Grant, in each arm after completing the 26.2-mile race.
Canadian Greg Wieczorek, 29, finished five minutes later in 2:28:08. Compared to racing in the far north Wieczorek quipped, “This is beach weather!” He stayed at the finish to greet his wife, Maura, 29, who notched a seven minute PR with her 3:06:05 finish. Another familiar runner from the local scene is Wilson Komen. He finished third in 2:31:00, despite missing the marathon split-off and ran with the half marathoners before realizing his mistake and turning back to get on the right course.
In the women’s competition, Russian Nadezhda Tuptova, 35, who is training in Gainesville, FL, won in 2:50:53. Virginia Beach’s Renee High, 29, (photo) took second place in 2:53:05 and Beth Woodward, 35, from Orrville, OH rounded out the top three in 3:01:26.
Chris McDonald, 51, from South Riding, VA was the lone wheelchair competitor. He completed the marathon in 3:08:17.
For Yvette Ju (Rockville, MD) today’s race was extra special. She celebrated her birthday with 2,866 other marathoners, finishing in 4:29:42. It was also Casey Simpson’s (Columbia, MD) birthday and she ran a 1:55:42 half marathon to celebrate her big day. Other half marathon birthday runners included Douglas Edgecomb (Washington, DC) who finished in 1:52:24 and Sam Hadley (Arlington, VA) who ran 2:39:31. Ryan Leirvik (Arlington, VA) also completed the half marathon and wanted to let everyone know it was his big day. He wore a t-shirt that had this on it: “My name is Ryan and today is my birthday!”
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield National Half Marathon
As with the marathon, it was a local finisher who broke the tape first followed by a Canadian. Gurmessa Mergerssa, 31, from Washington, DC (photo) finished just ten seconds ahead of Canadian Adam Hortian, 1:07:16 to 1:07:26. Mergerssa also won the Scope It Out 5K in 14:55 last weekend. Defending champion Mark Fruin, 25, from Bloomington, IN did not run nearly as fast as he did last year and had to settle for third place in 1:08:15.
Christine Ramsey described 2010 as an “off” year. If this race is any indication, 2011 looks to be an “on” year. The 28-year-old from Baltimore won in 1:17:01. Tezeta Dengersa, 30, from Butsonville, MD finished second in 1:17:15. Local ace Maggie Infeld, 24, from Washington, DC was all smiles after today’s race with her 1:18:28 finish.
To see Rachael Holt and Christina Glasener, 16, (photo below) together you might think they were related since they look alike and both finished in 1:42. Holt was beaming as she introduced Glasener, “I’m so proud of her!” But they aren’t related. Holt mentors Glasener in the popular Teens RunDC program, which empowers at-risk youth to envision and work toward achieving their personal goals through mentoring and a distance running program.
Many of the participants in today’s events support various charities like T.J. Senker, 34, from Baltimore who was running in support of Back On My Feet Baltimore, a nonprofit organization that works with the homeless to build confidence, strength, and self-esteem through running. “Volunteering with this group is really rewarding and inspiring,” he said after finishing the half marathon.
In addition to these two events were the Kids RunDC Monumental Mile and the United Way National Team Relay consisting of three participants with two runners completing 5 miles and the final runner finishing the last 3.1 miles. The Excella-Team from Arlington won in 1:26:34 (6:37 pace). In all, 274 teams competed this year.
For additional coverage, be sure to check out the May/June issue ofWashington Running Report: The Runner’s Source for DC, MD & VA.
Marathon
Top Five Men Overall
Place Guntime Name Age Bib# City State
===== ======= ======================= === ===== ===========================
1 2:23:01 Michael Wardian 36 1 Arlington VA
2 2:28:08 Greg Wieczorek 29 8 Halifax NS CAN
3 2:31:00 Wilson Komen 33 5 Washington DC
4 2:31:31 Dustin Whitlow 24 6 Arlington VA
5 2:33:42 Joe Kelly 25 3692 Arlington VA
Record 2:21:17.6 by Patrick Moulton in 2009
Top Three Men Masters
Place Guntime Name Age Bib# City State
===== ======= ======================= === ===== ===========================
1 2:49:10 Steven Peterson 45 2365 Fairfax Station VA
2 2:50:53 Thomas Jensen 47 1558 Oakton VA
3 2:51:16 Sean Reilly 42 4283 Toms River NJ
Top Five Women Overall
Place Guntime Name Age Bib# City State
===== ======= ======================= === ===== ===========================
1 2:50:53 Nadezhda Tuptova 35 20 Gainesville FL
2 2:53:05 Renee High 29 28 Virginia Beach VA
3 3:01:26 Beth Woodward 35 17 Orrville OH
4 3:03:12 Lisa Reichmann 36 16 Gaithersburg MD
5 3:03:39 Amanda West 34 3198 New York NY
Record 2:48:38.1 by Jeannette Seckinger in 2009
Top Three Women Masters
Place Guntime Name Age Bib# City State
===== ======= ======================= === ===== ===========================
1 3:07:57 Karine Falgon 40 62 3100 Montlucon FRA
2 3:10:44 Cheri Fine 46 1069 Atlanta GA
3 3:11:05 Claudette Augert 47 299 Edmonton AB CAN
Half Marathon
Top Five Men Overall
Place Guntime Name Age Bib# City State
===== ======= ======================= === ===== ===========================
1 1:07:16 Gurmessa Mergessa 31 5218 Washington DC
2 1:07:26 Adam Hortian 26 5221 Waterloo ON CAN
3 1:08:15 Mark Fruin 25 5233 Bloomington IN
4 1:08:25 Charlie Hurt 27 5223 Richmond VA
5 1:08:36 Craig Schmidt 27 5257 Sheboygan WI
Record 1:05:02 by Mark Fruin in 2010
Top Five Women Overall
Place Guntime Name Age Bib# City State
===== ======= ======================= === ===== ===========================
1 1:17:01 Christine Ramsey 28 5226 Baltimore MD
2 1:17:15 Tezeta Dengersa 30 5219 Burtonsville MD
3 1:18:28 Maggie Infeld 24 5212 Washington DC
4 1:20:07 Laura Onderko 24 5214 Philadelphia PA
5 1:20:51 Emily McGregor 24 5209 Philadelphia PA
Record 1:15:35.9 by Hirut Mandefro in 2009
