By James Moreland
Leesburg, VA
August 14, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
As Michael Wardian was finishing his preparations he had a big grin on his face. He noted that he had just won a 10K but the race was “almost too short.” This year would be his fifth time racing the 20K and he had won the last three years. There were three other submasters in the elite field. Frenchman Philippe Rolly who back in 1999 had won the St. Patrick’s Day 10K in 30:27, well ahead of Wardian’s 30:55 PR. Rolly had dappled in Wardian’s forté winning a fifty miler in 2008 in just over seven hours. Wardian had won the JFK 50 Miler in 2007 in 5:50:34.
Italian Edi Turco loves to run. He told us at the DCRRC Landon Cross Country Saturday night that he looks for a race every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Like Michael he runs fifty plus races a year. Often onlookers wonder if these guys would not be faster with fewer races. Perhaps Wardian might improve on his 14:55 PR, which does seem a little out of touch with his new marathon PR of 2:17:49 set this year. And of course he always maintains, “I love to toe the line.”
Third in that group of mega runners is Karsten Brown of Front Royal. About ten years ago, he was just getting started and trying to quit his clove cigarettes. Now he runs a hundred miles a week and will race close to a thousand miles this year. After falling in one 50K in July he bounced back on August 6 to run fifth overall at the Dahlgren Heritage Rail Trail 50K. The next day he took on the Dog Days Cross Country 8K. Still, more than 75 races already this year and a really busy week of racing, he was not feeling to optimistic about a victory.
Tall and slender with his cap on backwards Wardian stayed right with the 10K leaders as the masses roared down Harrison Street. The next three miles plus are all up hill and the wheat, which was a little soggy from the morning’s rain, would soon get separated from the chaff. Jared Abuya, 34, of Gainesville, VA had the best of the race coming up the final hill alone in a 1:05:50 for the second fastest time ever on the course. Aaron Church set the record in 2006 with 1:04:29. The next runner was Wilson Komen of Washington, DC. The lanky Komen has run sub thirty for a 10K and been ranked number one in the Washington Running Report Running Rankings. Though he loves to run, lately he had not been racing as much. His 1:06:19, the third fastest time for the event, proved he still has his stuff. Wardian floated in next in 1:08:10. It will probably mean he will have to go and find another long race to run. He has scheduled the North Face Endurance Challenge Kansas City 50K on August 27.
The next two runners ran close together and almost did not seem aware they were in a battle. Neither surged, and Matt Logan bested Oberst Enzian by five seconds in 1:10:36 to round out the top five. The top master was hard charging Derik Thomas who always seems to finish near the top. At 45, his 6:02 pace on a very muggy day was marvelous. As Rolly crested the hill in 1:13:45 he did not seem to be aware that Edi Turco was coming up behind him in 1:13:57. But the savvy racers always know where their competition is. Brown rolled in just behind Thomas in 1:15:17 and at least at that point it looked as if he might be considering a day off. By Tuesday we expect to see him back out running the Paul Thurston 4.5 miler at Burke Lake.
For the women, Elena Orlova eschewed the 20K in favor of the 10K. That would have been a battle royale. Orlova had set the submaster record in 2009 in 1:17:34 while finishing second overall, followed by Meghan Ridgley. Last year on the short course (12 miles), Orlova won it all at an identical pace with Lisa Thomas of Vienna, VA less than a minute behind. This year Thomas was being pushed ever so close to the record. Ridgley was again third overall with a very nice 1:19:21. The battle for the gold was not decided until the final meters as Lindsay Wilkins, also of Vienna, clung on tenaciously. Thomas touched down in 1:17:40 with Wilkins five seconds behind. Erin Swain out dueled Sarah Bard for the fourth spot 1:20:35 to 1:20:47.
The 20K event is in its 8th year. This year the two races combined for the second largest crowd behind the perfect weather 2008 event which produced 137 ranked runner times, which is 10% of the field. Normally the course is very hot and the bright sun can whittle down the runners. This year the weekend was wet. The early morning rain cooled the air but left it drenched. There were no new records set in the 10K. In the 20K there were two. Grandmaster DeeDee Loughran, 53, finished ninth overall knocking 35 seconds off her record set in 2008. Right behind her Lanie Smith, 19, of Reston, VA (left) set the new teen standard with 1:26:55 and that was with a 30 second late start.
The 10K race is similar to the fabled Greasey Gooney 10k, the first 5K plus is a winding uphill that gets steeper as you go. When you turn around all but the final hundred meters is downhill ride to the finish. Even the four mile marker was eager to get to the finish line. It ended up about a quarter mile closer to the finish line by the time runners caught up with it. While that made for an awful long fourth mile split, mile five was really, really fast. For those hurrying back to the front of the Tuscarora Mill Restaurant at the finish line, there were no worries. The crew that supports the food and drink know their work. For nearly ten years, they have made a science of producing lots of great snacks and plenty of cold drinks. One runner looked at all the iced drinks and said, “They all have sugar in them.” Yes!!
The race always brings out the elite racers and especially the durable ones. Charging down past mile four the race was not yet decided. Lucinda Smith, 29, of Darnestown, MD had a slim lead but Julia Webb easily had Smith in her sights. They were racing with the top men as well, Smith winning in 37:23. That was one spot behind masters winner John Zimmerman’s 37:18. Webb came in soon after as sixteenth overall in 37:33. Speaking of masters, top ranked master and today’s race director Ray Pugsley said of Elena Orlova’s race, “Once you reach, forty everyone is aware of age.” Peggy Yetman, 43, of Leesburg, VA is nearly back to full form and held off Orlova for third place in 38:15. Orlova, 41, finished in 38:24, the same pace she ran the last two years in the 20K. Melissa Rittenhouse, 35, was next among the seven runners who qualified for the open division of the Runner Rankings.
For the men, everyone said that the winner looked like a kid. Joshua Hardin is a junior at William and Mary. Last year he struggled on the hot and hilly Cascades course in 36:47, finishing second among the five teens in the top six. The year before he was Rookie of the Year, breaking 31 minutes twice with a 30:37 10K best as a freshman. Today, he blasted ahead a prerace favorite Seife Geletu to a crushing 32:23 victory. Geletu’s worse race of the summer had been a 16:04 Run through History 5K overall win. He had won his age group at the prestigious Rockville Rotary Twilight 8K in 25:28. His runner-up finish in 33:18 had some runners eyeing their Garmins. Kevin Shirk was third with a solid 33:44. Top teen Patrick Spahn had run the Twilight 8K in 26:47 (34:01 10K equivalent). At Leesburg, he mustered a 35:47 for sixth overall.
Ronnie Wong and Jim Noone both belong to the 50 Plus Club. Wong turns 65 in September and won his division in 44:57. Noone, 67, easily won his division in 45:45. For the even older, jovial Leesburg resident Terry McCarthy, 76, bested mega racer Bob Gurtler, 76. Gurtler projects to again finish with more than fifty 5Ks and 100 races in a year. Of the 11 men older than 70 in the race, Dixon Hemphill, 86, is the oldest by a decade. Hemphill is still the race director for the popular Goblin Gallop 5K, which is run of the Let Freedom Run 5k course in the fall.
With all the food and drink after the race, some runners were hoping for some beer to fill the classy commemorative pint glasses each runner received in their packet. The race course has changed a few times over the years but after 23 years, the race is still a summer classic.
Awards Listing for the 10K (No Duplicate Prizes)
MALE OVERALL
1 477 Joshua Hardin 20 Sterling VA 32:23 V
2 803 Seife Geletu 29 Washington DC 33:18 V
3 785 Kevin Shirk 31 Winchester VA 33:44 V
FEMALE OVERALL
1 105 Lucinda Smith 29 Darnestown MD 37:25 V
2 537 Julia Webb 28 Charlottesville VA 37:33 V
3 536 Peggy Yetman 43 Leesburg VA 38:15 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 14
1 745 Tyler Lichtenberg 14 South Riding VA 40:04 V
2 433 Joe Haberlin 14 Ashburn VA 50:33 V
3 266 James Wroe 14 Ashburn VA 51:19 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 14
1 267 Annie Akagi 10 Leesburg VA 61:55 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 15 - 19
1 697 Patrick Spahn 18 Fairfax Station VA 35:44 V
2 361 Ian Rappaport 19 Vienna VA 37:00 V
3 462 Jarret Cutsail 18 Warrenton VA 38:49 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 15 - 19
1 618 Karissa Love 17 Leesburg VA 48:06 V
2 663 Abbey Cademartori 16 South Riding VA 48:53 V
3 85 Jaclyn Shepherd 18 Leesburg VA 50:07 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 521 Rich Saunders 23 Alexandria VA 34:14 V
2 346 Keith Flanders 24 Silver Spring MD 36:22 V
3 149 Michael Nordlund 24 Arlington VA 37:40 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 109 Jillian Pollack 22 Winchester VA 40:53 V
2 30 Kailey Gotta 22 Steubenville OH 42:21 V
3 733 Erin Landy 21 Burke VA 44:19 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 168 Brennan Feldhausen 26 Baltimore MD 35:58 V
2 750 Andrew Ciarfalia 28 Reston VA 36:44 V
3 780 Timothy Snyder 25 Frederick MD 38:06 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 518 Kelly Swain 26 Vienna VA 40:36 V
2 671 Tamara Shear 25 Washington DC 42:37 V
3 736 Bre Morton 27 Centreville VA 44:03 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 45 Hugh Toland 30 Fairfax VA 34:06 V
2 784 Matthew Lofkin 32 Winchester VA 35:52 V
3 783 Sean Allen 31 New Market MD 36:52 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 636 Andrea Cardy 31 Reston VA 42:02 V
2 644 Meredith Samson 31 Chantilly VA 42:06 V
3 637 Tasha Stryker 31 Arlington VA 42:16 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 659 Keith Freeburn 37 Centreville VA 37:25 V
2 576 Aaron Holley 36 Washington DC 39:17 V
3 273 Giovanni Cordova 35 Reston VA 41:22 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 652 Melissa Rittenhouse 35 Harrisonburg VA 40:09 V
2 299 Tatiana Sheptock 35 South Riding VA 44:45 V
3 718 Cristina Burbach 37 Washington DC 45:23 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 789 John Zimmerman 44 McLean VA 37:17 V
2 289 Craig Chasse 41 Reston VA 38:44 V
3 571 Matteo Mainetti 41 Fairfax VA 38:57 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 575 Elena Orlova 41 Gaithersburg MD 38:23 V
2 459 Kim Isler 43 Oakton VA 41:58 V
3 746 Cheryl Young 42 Reston VA 44:40 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 798 Matt Anderson 45 Fairfax VA 40:08 V
2 540 James Darling 46 Falls Church VA 41:54 V
3 172 Mark Peterson 49 Purcellville VA 45:52 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 737 Kristen Barner 46 Rockville MD 47:49 V
2 626 Marsha Demaree 46 Marriottsville MD 49:30 V
3 710 Judy Swain 46 Purcellville VA 52:07 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 153 Harry Linde 52 Sterling VA 40:50 V
2 283 Rhys Williams 50 Reston VA 43:45 V
3 274 David Lee 53 Arlington VA 45:57 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 207 Nina Van Winkle 51 Vienna VA 51:10 V
2 309 Betty Sutter 53 Reston VA 54:27 V
3 621 Susan Manning 51 Virginia Beach VA 56:28 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 417 Roland Rust 59 Bethesda MD 39:43 V
2 800 James Lee 56 New Market MD 48:24 V
3 557 Dennis Doyle 56 Arlington VA 49:34 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 531 Peggy Davis 59 Vienna VA 52:40 V
2 510 Leslie Kash 55 Round Hill VA 54:00 V
3 680 Carla Bourgeois 58 Montclair VA 60:53 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 678 Ronnie Wong 64 Baltimore MD 44:54 V
2 24 Robert Ring 63 Harrisonburg VA 54:38 V
3 666 Chris Wells 60 Sterling VA 55:32 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 458 Linda Kearney 64 Oak Hill VA 52:35 V
2 410 Freyda Greenberg 62 Falls Church VA 53:06 V
3 530 Laurel Clement 62 Haymarket VA 55:39 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 450 Jim Noone 67 Fairfax VA 45:40 V
2 572 Bob Chase 66 Falls Church VA 47:41 V
3 709 Paul Holley 65 Ashburn VA 62:48 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 342 Pat Welch 66 Vienna VA 60:40 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 74
1 451 Chan Robbins 74 Arlington VA 55:07 V
2 682 Ken Quincy 73 Vienna VA 56:47 V
3 812 Warren Pitts 73 Baltimore MD 59:01 V
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 74
1 463 Ecris Williams 72 Reston VA 64:21 V
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 75 - 99
1 814 Terence McCarthy 76 Leesburg VA 64:18 V
2 366 Robert Gurtler 76 The Plains VA 65:51 V
3 272 Dick Coogan 79 McLean VA 80:18 V
Awards Listing for the 20K (No Duplicate Prizes)
MALE OVERALL
1 2518 Jared Abuya 34 Gainesville VA 1:05:50 X
2 2572 Wilson Komen 33 Washington DC 1:06:19 X
3 2652 Michael Wardian 37 Arlington VA 1:08:10 X
FEMALE OVERALL
1 2504 Lisa Thomas 35 Vienna VA 1:17:40 X
2 2505 Lindsay Wilkins 33 Vienna VA 1:17:45 X
3 2118 Meghan Ridgley 32 Ashburn VA 1:19:21 X
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 19
1 2701 Thorpe Lichtenberg 17 South Riding VA X 1:12:25
2 2694 Brady Guertin 15 Ashburn VA X 1:17:17
3 2574 Austin Lushinski 16 Ashburn VA X 1:18:31
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 19
1 2292 Lanie Smith 19 Reston VA X 1:26:25
2 2712 Alexandra Ludtke 18 Purcellville VA X 1:35:25
3 2186 Laura Kinley 19 Jefferson MD X 1:41:26
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 2719 Oberst Enzian 24 Charlottesville VA X 1:10:40
2 2636 Alec Saslow 23 Arlington VA X 1:27:06
3 2656 Christopher Smith 24 Centreville VA X 1:38:28
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 2260 Juhie Kumar 24 Great Falls VA X 1:35:20
2 2454 Victoria Butler 24 Ashburn VA X 1:37:25
3 2634 Liz Cresswell 24 West Chester PA X 1:38:16
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 2739 Matt Logan 25 Washington DC X 1:10:36
2 2216 Mark Buschman 27 Ellicott City MD X 1:12:09
3 2611 Brian Carnes 26 Leesburg VA X 1:16:27
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 2509 Erin Swain 29 Vienna VA X 1:20:33
2 2639 Sarah Bard 27 Leesburg VA X 1:20:45
3 2507 Annie Feldman 29 Vienna VA X 1:25:07
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 2288 Jeremy Lynch 31 Falls Church VA X 1:22:26
2 2334 Tim Soltren 34 Fairfax VA X 1:25:35
3 2654 Matthew Van Auken 31 Alexandria VA X 1:27:53
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 2580 Megan McNew 32 Baltimore MD X 1:25:43
2 2225 Laura Ramos 32 Silver Spring MD X 1:26:41
3 2311 Jessica McGuire 31 Arlington VA X 1:27:36
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 2736 Philippe Rolly 38 McLean VA X 1:13:44
2 2264 Edi Turco 38 Arlington VA X 1:13:56
3 2716 Karsten Brown 37 Front Royal VA X 1:15:15
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 2132 Tenley Ludewig 36 Washington DC X 1:29:03
2 2021 Nancy Eiring 38 Washington DC X 1:30:13
3 2007 Jennifer Zimmerman-Ra 38 Purcellville VA X 1:36:02
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 2062 Kevin Bell 42 Reston VA X 1:19:57
2 2679 Christopher Green 42 Sterling VA X 1:24:17
3 2638 Chris McKee 42 Vienna VA X 1:24:58
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 2018 Tonya Stotler 44 Leesburg VA X 1:33:16
2 2635 Billie Boersma 40 Alexandria VA X 1:35:15
3 2397 Diane Lathom 40 Ashburn VA X 1:39:28
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 2553 Derik Thomas 45 Alexandria VA X 1:14:54
2 2655 Eugene Holmes 46 Arlington VI X 1:20:26
3 2690 Howard Frost 45 Falls Church VA X 1:24:42
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 2479 Mandana Mortazavi 47 Leesburg VA X 1:32:43
2 2005 Amy Perkins 47 Leesburg VA X 1:42:33
3 2297 Anna Bradford 47 Vienna VA X 1:47:26
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 2740 Bob Ferry 51 Vienna VA X 1:20:55
2 2541 Kevin Dix 52 Manassas VA X 1:27:09
3 2585 Elias Tinta 53 Rockville MD X 1:28:53
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 2503 Deedee Loughran 53 Oak Hill VA X 1:25:48
2 2230 Carole Jones 54 Ashburn VA X 1:34:28
3 2304 Ellen Mannion 50 Herndon VA X 1:42:58
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 2686 Bruce Halpin 55 Ashburn VA X 1:24:17
2 2587 Richard Morgan 59 Silver Spring MD X 1:28:31
3 2276 Clyde Rollins 56 Herndon VA X 1:33:15
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 2352 Marcy Foster 57 Reston VA X 1:47:38
2 2561 Maria Nusbaum 59 Reston VA X 2:01:03
3 2178 Marilee Seigfried 59 Purcellville VA X 2:02:28
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 2567 John Bolton 60 Leesburg VA X 1:43:24
2 2565 Richard Kaplar 60 Herndon VA X 1:47:48
3 2598 Robert Lewis 63 Washington DC X 1:48:14
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 2711 Linda Mills 61 Salisbury MD X 1:50:19
2 2023 Mary Fredlake 61 Washington DC X 1:59:52
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 2122 Bill Vislay 65 Bumpass VA X 1:43:16
2 2545 Lou Shapiro 69 Silver Spring MD X 1:45:33
3 2362 Patrick Brown 66 Reston VA X 1:51:59
By James Moreland
Ashburn, VA
June 11, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
Virginia Pons moves past the starting line at the first loop.
The Potomac River Twilight 4 mile race has built a solid reputation as a family event. While providing some of most competitive races at this less than common distance, the well attended mile fun run and all the entertainment after the event keep the race high in recidivism. While the classic rock band Dolley Sodds was warming up, event director Ray Pugsley was scurrying around filling a kid’s pool with ice to cool off the many different kinds of liquid refreshment awaiting the returning road warriors. Everyone knows that in this region June is really summer no matter what the calendar says. Pugsley was smiling as he said, “We dodged a bullet.” Indeed, after two record setting days in the last week, this year’s temperature in the low 80s seemed almost kind.
Owning the fourth fastest time of 20:07 from his runner-up spot in 2009 made Aaron Church, 35, the favorite. Church (left takes the final strides) was coming off a top ranking in the winter in his division and he was feeling good. Still, nobody told the other racers that he would win. On the way back past the starting line at about 2K in the race Church was riding easily in the back of a pack of seven racers. They had cruised through the opening mile in 4:49, which would put them on pace to take on Steve Crane’s event record of 19:47 from 2008. The race announcer keep the finish line informed by radio as they pushed through the next mile still sub 5:00.
Though perhaps the kindest day of the first five years, the race was really heating up, in more ways than one. After the race was done Church noted that he did not have a real speed, [not] and he made his break about 2.5 miles into the event. He did not want to leave the race to a sprint at the end. As the pack broke up a couple of the racers called it quits and dropped. Kent Pecora was from North Carolina and an unknown, clinging to the pace. Hugh Toland had won three races in the spring including a 15:45 5K. Ryan Deak had two wins and a 15:44 5K. As the runners came in view for the final two hundred meters, it was clear that Church would prevail. Church’s only race in the spring was a third overall four mile race in 20:43. This time he improved his pace to take it all in an event age group record 20:25. Pecora was next in 20:38. Deak looked really tired for a man moving so fast and settled for third place cash at 20:46. Toland was fourth in 21:02.
Coming up form the south was Williamsburg’s John Piggott. Piggott, 46, (left) as always, is training for the half marathon where he seems to excel the best. He had run 14 miles in the morning but “no one was pushing” him. As it turned out, he ended up in no man’s land in the race with no one within sight of him on either side. He did not even feel the pressure to press at the end. Still, he slipped in past the former course record held by the formidable Ted Poulos (22:42 – 2007) with a fine 22:30. That is the second fastest master time behind Darrell General’s 21:28 set in 2007.
Elite grandmaster George Buckheit (below) had the third fastest 50 and older time and one of the best lifetime racing résumés in the region – PR of 13:43 for 5K and 28:39 for 10K. Still, he just laughed when asked if he was going to break the tape this time. New minted grandmaster Jean Christophe Arcaz is a prolific racer and he always seems to do his best when the competition is tough. During his forties he and Ted Poulos had scores of close battles. This time he took the top grandmaster spot in 23:42 for 13th overall. The grandmaster best was set by Chuck Moeser in 2009 with 23:15.
Former age group winner Richard Adams, 60, was too tired to look around to see that nobody was close as he won by nearly three minutes In 26:54. His daughter was out on the course racing as well. Meanwhile Jason Page, 66, an age group record holder was on hand to watch his daughter race as well. She sure looked good racing. Page was at the Cascades Firechase 10K to watch another daughter win it all last month. Page will be back on the roads in time to take a shot at returning his rankings crown this summer.
In the morning the Lawyers have Heart race was turned into a 5K because of the heat. That was okay for Bob Gurtler, 76, of the Plains, VA. He had already run 35 of them this year. Still, by evening he was already itching to put in some more miles, winning his age group.
When John Piggott heard the top woman coming in he perked up his ears. Did they say Williamsburg? He knew he would know all the top racers from his hometown. Darcy McDonald led a well spaced line of young runners to the finish line. She ran the event’s third fastest time, 23:07. Laurel Jefferson followed in the sixth fastest time with 23:35. Third place went to Margie Shapiro with the seventh fastest time in 23:53. Only eight women have broken 24:00 on this course.
Shapiro is a =PR= owner. Her fine race was her first race in several years.
Master winner Linda Foley will soon be fifty. Finishing sixth in 25:49 she was not far off her overall winning time form the first year, 2007, when she ran 25:23. For the grandmasters, Liza Recto had just turned 55 and she thought she had a chance to medal. When the called her name as first in 32:02, she learned the she was top grandmaster as well, not far of the 55-59 record of 31:36.
On each runner’s bib was an F tag for food and a B tag for beer. Beer of course only went to adults but the burritos from Moe’s Southwest Grill went to all the runners. There were all kinds of juices, water, and soda as well as doughnuts, cookie, chips. Nobody was going to leave hungry. As the band started up, hundreds of runners mingled around the circus-like venue. There was a dunk tank and moon bounces, and the soft ice cream stand quickly formed a line.
When the awards were being announced, many of the runners were still eating and drinking. It sure is wonderful to get the awards so fast that everyone is still there to get them. While the race totals very with the temperatures over the years. This year’s 989 four mile finishers combined with the fun runners to more than 1100 participants which are very close to the most ever.
Overall Female
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Darcy McDonald Williamsburg VA 479 24 10 23:06.2 23:06.9 5:47/M
2 Laurel Jefferson Washington DC 539 25 14 23:33.3 23:34.1 5:53/M
3 Margaret Shapiro Herndon VA 642 34 17 23:51.9 23:52.1 5:58/M
Female Masters
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Linda Foley Oak Hill VA 204 49 33 25:47.0 25:48.2 6:27/M
Female 14 & Younger
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Adriana Rosas Silver Spring MD 857 11 113 30:06.6 30:08.2 7:32/M
2 Brenda Rosas Silver Spring MD 859 12 151 31:28.0 31:28.8 7:52/M
3 Emily Landeryou Reston VA 863 11 256 34:59.7 35:09.0 8:45/M
Female 15 to 19
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Corey Bolyard Sterling VA 544 16 98 29:41.5 29:46.5 7:25/M
2 Kelly O'Toole Woodbridge VA 506 18 101 29:47.0 29:55.0 7:27/M
3 Alayna Bigalbal Leesburg VA 607 15 132 30:44.1 30:45.0 7:41/M
Female 20 to 24
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Petra Cotes Annandale VA 386 22 24 24:56.7 24:57.0 6:14/M
2 Meagan Klein Arlington VA 803 24 149 31:25.4 31:37.5 7:51/M
3 Maddie Humphrey Reston VA 279 23 159 31:40.1 32:12.0 7:55/M
Female 25 to 29
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Sarah Bard Leesburg VA 382 26 31 25:40.8 25:41.5 6:25/M
2 Kathryn Neeper Washington DC 430 27 37 26:03.3 26:03.6 6:31/M
3 Michelle Christine Leesburg VA 641 29 108 29:53.1 29:56.6 7:28/M
Female 30 to 34
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Jennifer Pantall Sterling VA 414 32 76 28:26.1 28:30.8 7:07/M
2 Mary Otto Centreville VA 648 30 111 29:54.9 29:57.6 7:29/M
3 Amanda Statz Alexandria VA 69 32 118 30:17.4 30:20.6 7:34/M
Female 35 to 39
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Nancy Eiring Washington DC 827 38 56 26:59.3 27:00.8 6:45/M
2 Tatiana Sheptock South Riding VA 563 35 67 28:03.4 28:05.8 7:01/M
3 Alison Gittelman South Riding VA 34 38 71 28:13.7 28:17.8 7:03/M
Female 40 to 44
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Mijiko Phelps Reston VA 522 41 43 26:24.9 26:26.2 6:36/M
2 Kim Isler Oakton VA 404 43 59 27:16.9 27:17.8 6:49/M
3 Sue Piergallini Ashburn VA 493 44 106 29:51.2 30:03.0 7:28/M
Female 45 to 49
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Anita Freres Reston VA 871 46 65 27:43.5 27:51.2 6:56/M
2 Karen Ames Purcellville VA 496 45 154 31:32.0 31:40.0 7:53/M
3 Stephanie Cappello Ashburn VA 835 47 187 32:40.1 32:54.2 8:10/M
Female 50 to 54
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Cynthia Revesman Oak Hill VA 504 50 188 32:44.2 32:58.6 8:11/M
2 Paula Looney Ashburn VA 371 50 221 34:05.8 34:11.0 8:31/M
3 Shari Sturm McLean VA 282 50 295 35:55.5 36:39.8 8:59/M
Female 55 to 59
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Lisa Recto Lexington Park MD 707 55 167 31:57.5 32:02.1 7:59/M
2 Carla Bourgeois Montclair VA 840 58 345 36:56.8 37:16.4 9:14/M
3 Liz Roberts Leesburg VA 589 55 361 37:23.8 37:37.8 9:21/M
Female 60 to 64
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Lucille Walke Ashburn VA 674 62 45 26:28.8 26:28.8 6:37/M
2 Gayle Novig McLean VA 378 60 564 42:52.0 43:14.9 10:43/M
Overall Male
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Aaron Church South Riding VA 501 35 1 20:24.9 20:24.9 5:06/M
2 Kent Pecora Chapel Hill NO 524 22 2 20:37.7 20:37.7 5:09/M
3 Ryan Deak Burke VA 843 25 3 20:45.6 20:45.6 5:11/M
Male Masters
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 John Piggott Williamsburg VA 554 46 8 22:29.9 22:29.9 5:37/M
Male 14 & Younger
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Nathan Vigil Ashburn VA 786 13 102 29:48.0 29:50.7 7:27/M
2 Adam Bolton Leesburg VA 332 11 168 31:57.6 32:10.2 7:59/M
3 Eli Lifland Fairfax VA 869 12 210 33:46.1 33:52.6 8:27/M
Male 15 to 19
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Logan Feierbach Leesburg VA 396 16 22 24:22.3 24:22.6 6:06/M
2 Samuel Rodgers Leesburg VA 560 16 40 26:12.4 26:13.0 6:33/M
3 Mark Newberry Ashburn VA 537 16 51 26:48.8 26:49.3 6:42/M
Male 20 to 24
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Ethan Rissell Shippensburg PA 387 21 5 21:12.4 21:12.4 5:18/M
2 Matt Weber Sterling VA 626 20 23 24:30.2 24:30.2 6:08/M
3 Darin Miller Arlington VA 320 23 25 25:00.1 25:09.3 6:15/M
Male 25 to 29
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Josh Peterson Minneapolis MN 801 27 7 21:56.7 21:56.7 5:29/M
2 Justin Fritzius Purcellville VA 902 26 9 22:51.4 22:51.4 5:43/M
3 Pat DeRocco Arlington VA 571 27 12 23:26.6 23:27.1 5:52/M
Male 30 to 34
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Hugh Toland Fairfax VA 551 30 4 21:01.7 21:01.7 5:15/M
2 Aaron Schwartzbard Reston VA 600 33 6 21:18.8 21:18.8 5:20/M
3 Thomas Abbey Centreville VA 211 30 50 26:46.0 26:49.6 6:42/M
Male 35 to 39
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Marco Rosas Silver Spring MD 858 36 16 23:45.5 23:46.1 5:56/M
2 Rich Roberts Washington DC 818 39 18 24:06.2 24:08.0 6:02/M
3 Rob Meadows Landsdowne VA 759 39 19 24:10.6 24:10.6 6:03/M
Male 40 to 44
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Todd Jarman Potomac Falls VA 375 41 11 23:24.0 23:24.1 5:51/M
2 Kevin Bell Reston VA 666 42 13 23:30.0 23:30.1 5:53/M
3 Stephen Crago Vienna VA 254 42 20 24:11.9 24:13.5 6:03/M
Male 45 to 49
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 George Lane Ashburn VA 123 45 27 25:07.1 25:09.0 6:17/M
2 Dan DiFonzo Rockville MD 624 48 39 26:08.7 26:09.6 6:32/M
3 Rich Harfst Annandale VA 795 47 54 26:53.9 26:56.7 6:43/M
Male 50 to 54
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Jean Christophe Arcaz Rockville MD 829 50 15 23:41.3 23:41.7 5:55/M
2 George Buckheit Reston VA 842 53 28 25:14.5 25:15.5 6:19/M
3 David Pinnick Manassas VA 650 54 47 26:33.1 26:35.9 6:38/M
Male 55 to 59
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Chris Dettmar Reston VA 408 57 103 29:48.0 29:57.7 7:27/M
2 Stephen Nettl Reston VA 526 58 268 35:12.2 35:52.2 8:48/M
3 Ray Deegan Leesburg VA 274 55 269 35:13.2 35:35.6 8:48/M
Male 60 to 64
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Richard Adams Herndon VA 660 60 55 26:54.1 26:54.5 6:44/M
2 Jay Wind Arlington VA 706 61 96 29:35.3 29:37.3 7:24/M
3 Daniel Bentz Oak Hill VA 88 60 510 41:29.1 42:06.0 10:22/M
Male 70 to 74
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Tim Long Reston VA 306 70 503 41:15.0 41:32.0 10:19/M
Male 75 and older
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Robert Gurtler The Plains VA 272 76 600 44:38.5 44:45.2 11:10/M
By James Moreland
May 29, 2010
Sterling, VA
For the Washington Running Report
This is the weekend for the unofficial start of summer but it had cooled down greatly from Thursday’s 91 degrees. The gnats sticking on your skin told of the searing humidity that runners would soon be basting in. That does not sound for a recipe for a personal record on a two-loop course with rolling hills, long hills, and stairway hills. Before the race we caught up with consensus favorite Aaron Church, 34, of South Riding, VA. Church (in photo) had not run the course before but was in awe of Philippe Rolly’s 2005 30:40 course record. He knew all about Rolly towing to a split second photo finish C.W. Moran, who at age 19 had owned the course record set in 2004 at 32:34. Rolly, the sub masters record holder from 2008 and Ray Pugsley the masters record holder from 2009 were absent. Church smiled and noted that a course record was unlikely. This from a man coming off a 30:55 at the Kaiser Permanente Pike’s Peek 10K just a month ago and a blazing Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10M in 50:52 with a 10K equivalent of 30:36.
By then the announcer was getting runners set to dart under the traditional ladder arch made by the Sterling Fire Department. And they were underway. Church jack rabbitted around the corner quickly and was soon out of sight of the nearly seven hundred finishers. By the mile, he had a 150 meters lead and the race was for second place.
The first mile was deceptively fast. The second fulfilled the axiom of “what goes up…” Still, there is always a large contingency of onlookers and supporters. After a Great spring Mary Beth Chosak was coming off a tough sixth place finish at the Capitol Hill Classic 10K race in 39:54. That same weekend Sarah Bard won it all at the Devotion to Children 4M in 24:48. This meant both racers would be battling most of the way. They were joined by Cathleen Willy for the journey. Nobody else was going to break forty that day as Bard pulled away to win in 39:06.
Humidity, hills, and heat did not seem to affect slim Linda Foley and she wore the de rigueur shades, more for the bugs than the sun. Foley also had a fine spring so far, finishing second at the Devotion to Children 4M in 25:22 but though she won the top masters spot she could not stay as close to Bard finishing fifth overall.
Dee Dee Loughran (accepting her award) already has the fastest 20K and the fastest half marathon not belonging to Joan Benoit Samuelson in 2010 as well as a chart topper at the Kaiser Permanente Pike’s Peek 10K in 40:47. But we are in Virginia and she was looking at the relatively soft 42:01 set by Ecris Williams. It has been hanging around for twenty years. Coming back down the opening stretch on the second loop she knew she was golden and busted the record wide open with a swift 41:23 and seventh overall.
Meanwhile, the trailing pack for the men was composed of four local young men who finished in a clump between 36:45 and 36:48. Patrick Wilson of Potomac Falls took the runner-up spot. Tom Steinbach was the top master in 38:15 for seventh place.
For the grandmasters, it was all Jason Page, 65, of Hamilton, VA in photo below. He is sneaky fast and loves to go out strong. It comes from many years of winning races by taking the lead. After the race it admitted he may have gone out too fast. “I really would have done better with a five mile race,” he lamented. “I ended up slowing to a 7:00 mile for the last mile.” Lucky for him it was a 10K because his best 5M at Germantown two weeks ago in 32:24 is a ways off of John Hosner’s 31:09. But his 40:35 today set aside and excellent 41:11 for the Virginia State record held by Cal Fowler.
Glenn Luttrell, 68, of Winchester, VA was pumped up by his second place age group win. “Soon I will seventy.” That was a tough challenge today as Chan Robbins of Arlington, VA took top honors in 50:53. And what of the 75 and older? This race is great in recognizing five year age groups and going three deep. Still as Terry McCarthy of Leesburg, VA has just turned 75, he knows competing with those young whippersnappers is well-nigh impossible. So he took on Bob Gurtler of The Plains, VA who is 75 and has already raced forty times this year.
At 2.5 miles and again on the second loop at 5.5 miles there was a fire truck sending a fifty foot fountain of water over the roadway to help cool the runners. The second time through what had been mist was more like a river.
After the race there was lots of water, though all of us had a sheen of liquid covering the outside of our bodies already. Bagels and bananas were abundant and the chicken sandwiches were spicy and hot. Giant Foods also handed out some reusable shopping bags with goodies inside.
To the left Ray poses with Old Glory.
Awards Listing (No Duplicate Prizes)
OVERALL MALE (GUN TIME)
Place Num Name Lname Age City Time
===== ===== =================== === ===================== =======
1 8 Aaron Church 34 South Riding VA 32:21
2 655 Patrick Wilson 17 Potomac Falls VA 36:45
3 653 Joshua Hardin 19 Potomac Falls VA 36:47
OVERALL FEMALE (GUN TIME)
Place Num Name Lname Age City Time
===== ===== =================== === ===================== =======
1 464 Sarah Bard 25 Leesburg VA 39:06
2 517 Mary Beth Chosak 31 Arlington VA 39:21
3 727 Cathleen Willy 26 Alexandria VA 39:52
MALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 19 (NET TIME)
1 434 Brian Robinson 19 Sterling VA 36:34
2 162 Stefan Vanburen 17 Potomac Falls VA 37:27
3 338 Brian Horlick 17 Manassas VA 37:55
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 19 (NET TIME)
1 542 Julie Bell 19 Vienna VA 48:21
2 615 Emily Henderson 19 Potomac Falls VA 48:46
3 345 Lauren Dalton 15 Sterling VA 49:04
MALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 24 (NET TIME)
1 713 Robert Mulloy 20 Great Falls VA 44:35
2 524 Brad Mitchell 22 Sterling VA 44:43
3 703 Jin Hwan 20 Potomac Falls VA 45:03
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 24 (NET TIME)
1 518 Katie Muething 24 Arlington VA 40:30
2 124 Karen Dickerson 24 Springfield VA 46:31
3 598 Marissa Olson 20 Leesburg VA 47:49
MALE AGE GROUP: 25 - 29 (NET TIME)
1 178 Dennis Haeberle 29 Reston VA 41:30
2 188 Daniel Torrico 28 Sterling VA 41:56
3 505 Brett Ruff 25 Arlington VA 43:30
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 25 - 29 (NET TIME)
1 617 Kristina Keller 27 Cleveland Heights OH 45:49
2 319 Miranda Rocker 28 Arlington VA 47:53
3 21 Ardene Kidby 25 Springfield VA 47:57
MALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 34 (NET TIME)
1 722 Greg Stemberger 33 Aldie VA 38:09
2 663 Greg Sprowl 32 Bethesda MD 38:35
3 416 Adam Borbidge 31 South Riding VA 39:23
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 34 (NET TIME)
1 384 Elizabeth Helland 32 Arlington VA 41:13
2 514 Kimberly Barnes 30 Leesburg VA 46:48
3 661 Cassie Henry 30 Potomac Falls VA 46:49
MALE AGE GROUP: 35 - 39 (NET TIME)
1 710 David Kent 38 Arlington VA 38:08
2 545 Brian Szabos 36 South Riding VA 38:29
3 81 Richard Haylor 39 Martinsburg WV 38:48
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 35 - 39 (NET TIME)
1 36 Heather Schaffer 39 Potomac Falls VA 42:03
2 180 Deborah Whitfield 37 Potomac Falls VA 43:52
3 289 Alison Gittelman 37 South Riding VA 44:28
MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 44 (NET TIME)
1 499 Tom Steinbach 44 Sterling VA 38:06
2 200 Bin Mu 41 Reston VA 38:23
3 240 Dennis Billings 41 Woodbridge VA 39:35
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 44 (NET TIME)
1 601 Kristin Didomenico 43 Potomac Falls VA 42:37
2 479 Lynne Cuppernull 40 Herndon VA 44:30
3 80 Mary Kay Anderson 42 Leesburg VA 45:51
MALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49 (NET TIME)
1 133 Gregory Gould 49 Sterling VA 40:34
2 664 Jim Bradford 48 Vienna VA 41:19
3 541 Robert Sichau 46 Alexandria VA 41:24
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49 (NET TIME)
1 9 Linda Foley 48 Oak Hill VA 40:52
2 250 Mandana Mortazavi 46 Leesburg VA 43:57
3 812 Annie Downer 45 Herndon VA 47:32
MALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 54 (NET TIME)
1 611 Matt Rea 54 Potomac Falls VA 41:55
2 430 Kevin Apsley 53 Herndon VA 44:59
3 111 John Stacy 53 Fairfax VA 46:57
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 54 (NET TIME)
1 533 Deedee Loughran 51 Oak Hill VA 41:21
2 13 Carole Jones 53 Ashburn VA 46:55
3 112 Stephanie Danahy 53 Fairfax Station VA 50:04
MALE AGE GROUP: 55 - 59 (NET TIME)
1 14 Ken Krehbiel 56 Washington DC 43:59
2 10 James Moreland 57 Gaithersburg MD 46:39
3 600 Rob Colburn 55 Ashburn VA 50:27
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 55 - 59 (NET TIME)
1 712 Peggy Davis 58 Vienna VA 51:53
2 318 Anne Case 55 Manassas VA 59:55
3 446 Carla Bourgeois 57 Montclair VA 1:00:35
MALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 64 (NET TIME)
1 143 Ted Baca 64 Arlington VA 46:27
2 199 Bill Koetter 61 Ashburn VA 50:30
3 415 Jon Palks 60 Bowie MD 50:42
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 64 (NET TIME)
1 716 Linda Kearney 63 Oak Hill VA 53:49
2 398 Freyda Greenberg 61 Falls Church VA 58:17
3 815 Janet Ruth 60 Potomac Falls MD 1:15:46
MALE AGE GROUP: 65 - 69 (NET TIME)
1 248 Jason Page 65 Hamilton VA 40:33
2 402 Glenn Luttrell 67 Winchester VA 1:01:37
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 65 - 69 (NET TIME)
1 172 Pat Welch 65 Vienna VA 1:00:11
MALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 99 (NET TIME)
1 525 Chan Robbins 72 Arlington VA 50:53
2 87 Gordon Turner 70 Potomac Falls VA 52:17
3 372 Alan Rider 74 Reston VA 55:09
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 99 (NET TIME)
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 160 Jason Eller 16 M Sterling VA 44:10
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 543 Diane O'Neill-Mason 30 F Sterling VA 63:18
