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
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
By Brenda Barrera
February 12, 2011
Virginia Beach, VA
For the Washington Running Report
Leaders Ryan Carroll (#13) and David Hryvniak have not yet sorted out who will win.
The sky was clear blue, a slight breeze touched the 35 degree air, and a sea of red and pink clad runners celebrated their passion at the 3rd annual Virginia is for Lovers 14K in Virginia Beach, VA on Saturday.
Medical student David Hryvniak, 26, from Chesapeake, VA ran slightly ahead of Ryan Carroll, 28, from Portsmouth, VA until mile 7 when Carroll put in a few surges and pulled away, winning in 46:00 with Hryvniak following 19 seconds later. Jordan Chang, 23, of Winchester, VA wrapped up third in 49:20.
Virginia Beach’s Renee High, 29, running under the Final Kick colors, handily won in 50:42, finishing eighth overall. Dolores Ware, a top local masters division competitor, finished second in 55:49. Not too far behind was Mary Davison, 38, from Bristow, VA, (left) who completed the unique distance in 56:12.
In addition to the “single” competition the event offers the popular couples team division. Greg Cauller drove down from York, PA and made a stop in Wilmington, DE to get Lynn Knothe. Their combined time of 1:48:31 earned them second place among the 199 teams. Cauller said they enjoy the J&A Racing events in Virginia Beach. “It’s a good place for a weekend getaway,” he recommended. “And there are a lot of good restaurants.”
Team “Greg-n-Lynn” might not have needed Cupid’s assistance, but he was spotted (with bow and white wings) racing with a bib labeled “Cupid’s Shuffle. In case runners had a chocolate craving, they could have a handful of M&Ms at Candy Curve near mile 7.
Many runners showed their valentine spirit by donning outfits with various shapes of hearts, but one participant got extra cheers as he motored around the winding course—in his tuxedo. Not only did Peter Zink (right) run in the formal attire, but he clutched red-stemmed roses in one hand and a heart-shaped box of chocolates in the other. Let’s hope whomever he was presenting the gifts to at the finish said, “Yes!”
