By James Moreland
Ashburn, VA
June 25, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
Out of the heat of the late spring furnace, the first weekend of summer grew a rose of a day. Late June is certainly warm and sunny as a summer day but with a cool breeze, making the inaugural 5K and 10K races a charm. The course is flat and fast with nearly all of the final mile a gentle downhill swoop to the finish. Nestled just a few yards from busy Leesburg Pike but well off the beaten path where runners saw next to none of the motor vehicles to compete for the domination of roads.
In today’s running world, women are coming out in greater numbers, usually about 60% of the field. More and more the courses are getting tested by runners who have no plans at a glorious tape breaking at the finish. They want to try their stuff surrounded by hundreds of other similar-minded people in a controlled environment.
Ringing in Hope got underway last New Year’s Eve with a 10K and a 3K and had a successful nearly 1000-runner event. For June they followed up the success by lengthening the shorter race to the most popular distance, the 5K.
Both races got underway at the same time and for the first mile of the race, competitors had to guess who was in which event. At Fincastle Road the journey split at a well marked point and the 10K continued on a long and winding road that goes to who knows where. I was not worried about it. I was doing the 5K.
Before the race started the presumptive favorite of the 10K race was Aaron Church. Church(left) had won the submasters title in the Winter Runner Ranking and if anything was getting faster throughout the spring. He was easily recognizable dressed =PR= black with bright white compression leggings. He seemed awfully calm at the start, while nearby Axel Tarnvik was racing his engines ready to blast over the ChronoTrack starting mats.
Tarnvik, 18 (photo below), had come in second overall last week at the Race with Dad 5K in 16:55 just behind Andrew Ciafalia’s 16:47 with Ramsay Wilson, at 39 more than twice his age, pushing him from behind with 17:03. When the Redskins Hogettes led the start with a whistle, Tarnvik took off down the side road in a rush.
The experienced Church must have guessed that he was competing in the 5K and patiently followed right off his heels. Church was coming off an impressive win at the PRR Twilight 4am two weeks earlier in 20:25. In that race he ran through the first two miles a step to the rear of a pack of seven top runners. He polished them all off in time for a leisurely final run to the finish line.
By the time these two runners hit the turn, it had to be clear to both that they would scorch their respective races. Still, both runners keep the afterburners going. Tarnvik jetted to an impressive 16:41 to set the standard on the new course, winning by nearly three minutes. In second place, John Eterno was left to deal with third place Dan Eddy. Eddy, who just turned 60, was almost as old as all of the other three of the top four racers. He sparkled with a rare-for-that-age sub 20:00 to take third.
In the fifth spot was a racer known for his 10K. Bill Stahr had run 78 of them in 2009. He said he decided to run the 5K because he had to get to work earlier today. Speculation was that this was only his second race back from nearly two weeks away from his running addiction. After all he has already run 72 races this year, with 28 5Ks and 24 10Ks before the All Star Break.
The women’s race was more sublime. Masters runner Kathy Hoenig had stolen the Ashburn Village 5k race for the second year in a row back in May with a solid 21:20. Two weeks later she won her age group and was second overall at Herndon Festival 5K in 21:02. She knew she would need a faster time for another triumph.
Karen Haddon, 25, of Aldie, VA (photo left) had that faster time, chasing after the seventh fastest man and winning in 20:56. Hoenig middled her two previous races with a very nice 21:20 to hold off 19-year-old Becca Kassabian for the runner-up spot. Danielle Newcome, 34, was from the fourth different decade, looking real good with her 21:45 placement.
As the crowd looked on with 5K runners continually sweeping in, eyes were pealed for the white socks of Aaron Church. Often slower runners make a courageous charge at the end of their race, looking quite fast. Still, there was no mistaking Church’s loping stride as he eased through and past the late 5K finishers.
He looked a little puzzled when he was urged to sprint to the finish. After all he had this race in the bag by the first mile. Then he saw the clock tick over to 33:02. Sometimes the competition dictates the pace. At the start of the year, he had to push to peel off Robbie Wade to win the winter Ringing in Hope in 32:14 on a similar type of course. Pumped from that, he charged out hard on the mostly cross country Rotary Resolution 10k the next day in an excellent 33:05, just off his event record of 32:49 from 2009. Still he was thumped by the record setting 32:24 run by the spring Runner Rankingschampion, Abiyot Endale.
Today he won by more than a half mile, though well off his planned 5:05 mile pace. Next, Jeff Kuzma, 39, of Sterling came charging through in a very credible 35:49. Third place Frank Spicer, 19, had a battle. With his 37:51 he was just ahead of the third submaster, Rob Meadows, who ran 37:58. Spicer’s dad, also a Frank, turned in a nifty 48:01 for second in his age group, though Reeves Westbrook, 61, (photo left)was the top grandmaster in 46:33. Alan Rider, 75, won his division uncontested in 56:43 but noted that he was ahead of everyone older than 65.
Sarah Bard had just finished fifth at the competitive PRR Twilight 4 mile in 25:41. Today she would not be denied. She was seventh overall, topping the women in a solid 40:24. Melissa Saunders, 19, was the runner-up a quarter mile back in 42:11. After that, the sun was making it a bit warmer and the pace slowed down a bit. Nicole Prietti was third in 46:15. The top master was Brooke Alsamman in 49:17.
Coming in right behind her was Karen Young who turned 43 on the last day of spring. Young matched her 28 5K races with her 28th 10K of the year. Her 79 races leave her just shy of the 82 raced so far by the region’s prolific racing master Ted Poulos (82).
Black Tie catering served snacks on a platter to finishing racers. The huge parking lot has more than enough room for the race to double in size. At the far end of the lot there was a live band and a moon bounce. Awards were given three deep in five year age groups.
Awards Listing for the 10K (No Duplicate Prizes) MALE OVERALL 1 1 Aaron Church 35 South Riding VA 33:02 X 2 426 Jeff Kuzma 39 Sterling VA 35:49 X 3 364 Frank Spicer 19 Clifton VA 37:51 X FEMALE OVERALL 1 480 Sarah Bard 27 Leesburg VA 40:24 X 2 442 Melissa Saunders 18 Sterling VA 42:11 X 3 490 Nicole Prietti 30 Ashburn VA 46:15 X MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 19 1 506 Stuart Liles 11 Centreville VA X 56:51 2 507 Simon Liles 11 Centreville VA X 56:51 3 323 Eric Cawi 18 Ashburn VA X 1:03:21 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 19 1 415 Lexi Acton 11 Waterford VA X 51:44 2 522 Melissa Haberman 19 Alexandria VA X 54:19 3 423 Judith Daughtry 13 Purcellville VA X 56:20 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24 1 556 Scott Gleeson 22 Centreville VA X 47:48 2 203 Kyle Shoemaker 24 Arlington VA X 54:35 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24 1 338 Susanne Shannon 24 Arlington VA X 46:41 2 348 Marisa Barber 20 Manassas VA X 49:40 3 178 Stacey Ahern 23 Fairfax VA X 52:19 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29 1 169 Matthew Clark 27 Reston VA X 45:17 2 244 Lucas Wright 27 Alexandria VA X 47:04 3 296 James Gilbertson 27 Reston VA X 47:13 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29 1 410 Jessica Frazier 28 Ashburn VA X 54:11 2 290 Brie Janet 28 Fairfax VA X 54:26 3 550 Mary Spiler 26 Manassas VA X 58:02 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34 1 446 Krilla Halley 31 Wilmington NC X 39:51 2 378 Daniel Hathorn 30 Virginia Beach VA X 43:58 3 491 Daniel Prietti 31 Ashburn VA X 44:14 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34 1 417 Katie Dunn 30 Purcellville VA X 47:11 2 144 Elizabeth Clor 32 Chantilly VA X 49:30 3 547 Sarah Davison 30 Arlington VA X 53:20 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39 1 487 Rob Meadows 39 Landsdowne VA X 37:57 2 496 Paul Schoeny 37 Hamilton VA X 40:05 3 278 Keith Nelson 36 Reston VA X 42:42 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39 1 204 Katie West 35 South Riding VA X 48:10 2 116 Debbie Kates 36 Sterling VA X 53:59 3 391 Katie Vey 36 Ashburn VA X 56:09 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44 1 58 Rick Ayers 43 Vienna VA X 45:33 2 241 Hyeok Lee 44 Leesburg VA X 47:10 3 537 Craig Richard 41 Winchester VA X 47:50 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44 1 159 Brooke Alsamman 44 Fairfax VA X 49:17 2 544 Karen Young 43 Boyds MD X 49:20 3 257 Kelley Barber 42 Manassas VA X 49:40 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49 1 133 Tim Burton 45 Sterling VA X 47:03 2 411 John Callaghan 49 Fairfax VA X 50:29 3 132 Corwin Walks 45 Haymarket VA X 51:46 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49 1 551 Laurel Kirkland 48 Chantilly VA X 52:23 2 460 Celine Contos 48 Oak Hill VA X 58:06 3 504 Sydney Liles 47 Centreville VA X 58:51 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54 1 238 Gary Peragallo 51 Ashburn VA X 53:27 2 377 Christopher Bertaut 51 Purcellville VA X 54:43 3 451 Donald Johnsey 51 Waterford VA X 59:31 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54 1 565 Peggy Fishel 53 Cross Junction VA X 56:14 2 359 Grace Ross 50 Purcellville VA X 58:13 3 381 Cathy Waldron 50 Haymarket VA X 58:26 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59 1 69 Glenn Clemmons 58 Richmond VA X 46:41 2 206 Frank Spicer Jr 59 Clifton VA X 48:00 3 190 Stephen Nettl 58 Reston VA X 53:34 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59 1 482 Carol Beaupre 55 Ashburn VA X 56:04 2 212 Marilee Seigfried 59 Purcellville VA X 56:28 3 297 Kim Hebert 56 Haymarket VA X 1:02:39 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64 1 498 Reeves Westbrook 61 Great Falls VA X 46:32 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69 1 181 Charles Wilde 68 Dumfries VA X 1:09:06 2 49 Fedor De Marchena 69 Stone Ridge VA X 1:19:43 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 74 1 444 Jim Chapman 70 Lovettsville VA X 56:54 2 328 Chet Coates 71 Silver Spring MD X 58:13 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 75 - 79 1 246 Alan Rider 75 Reston VA X 56:43 FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99 1 51:44 415 Lexi Acton 11 F Waterford VA 51:44
Below, Kathy Hoenig continues to turn out fast masters times.
Awards Listing for the 5K (No Duplicate Prizes) MALE OVERALL 1 336 Axel Tarnvik 18 Ashburn VA 16:41 5 2 563 John Eterno 29 Ashburn VA 19:38 5 3 562 Dan Eddy 60 Alexandria VA 19:59 5 FEMALE OVERALL 1 529 Karen Haddon 25 Aldie VA 20:56 5 2 526 Kathy Hoenig 42 South Riding VA 21:20 5 3 502 Becca Kassabian 19 Oakton VA 21:24 5 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 19 1 234 Bruce Liberi Jr 17 Ashburn VA 5 20:45 2 532 Joseph Olenik 17 Ashburn VA 5 20:53 3 528 Zackary Pardue 14 Elizabeth City NC 5 22:45 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 19 1 168 Abby Lawrence 14 Foley MN 5 24:04 2 519 Catherine English 16 Centreville VA 5 24:06 3 472 Kayleen Miller 15 Ashburn VA 5 25:10 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24 1 557 Dan Marquardt 22 Salt Lake City UT 5 20:08 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24 1 98 Nora Tayiel 22 Potomac Falls VA 5 27:52 2 524 Michele Rizzo 21 Leesburg VA 5 28:16 3 175 Dana Ritz 24 Bunker Hill WV 5 34:28 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29 1 317 Nick Nikish 27 Vienna VA 5 26:23 2 218 Eric Schiavo 27 Sterling VA 5 31:25 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29 1 467 Cate Scovel 29 Leesburg VA 5 26:56 2 222 Christy Irish 29 Chantilly VA 5 29:32 3 177 Meghan O'Connor 25 Reston VA 5 30:15 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34 1 468 Todd Waldrop 33 Ashburn VA 5 21:26 2 42 Ryan Ferrario 34 Brambleton VA 5 24:20 3 493 Karl Coughlin 33 Aldie VA 5 24:20 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34 1 180 Danielle Newcome 34 Round Hill VA 5 21:45 2 252 Courtney Cornwall 32 Leesburg VA 5 23:00 3 66 Tara Daugherty 32 Ashburn VA 5 26:07 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39 1 334 Tom Hoyler 39 Broadlands VA 5 21:30 2 527 Jason Pardue 36 Elizabeth City NC 5 21:54 3 256 Andrew Wright 37 Reston VA 5 26:55 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39 1 353 Kerree Wolf 37 Herndon VA 5 23:27 2 293 Janet Esler 37 Chalfont PA 5 24:55 3 164 Denae Newman 37 Sterling VA 5 26:06 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44 1 138 David Adams 41 Centreville VA 5 23:11 2 55 Scott Damelin 42 McLean VA 5 23:58 3 567 Kevin Cox 40 Manassas Park VA 5 24:35 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44 1 346 Beth Howser 42 Warrenton VA 5 27:54 2 445 Kristin Wallner 40 Ashburn VA 5 28:49 3 489 Susie Brick 41 Herndon VA 5 29:00 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49 1 166 Michael Marsh 46 Leesburg VA 5 21:20 2 333 Leroy Johnson 46 Purcellville VA 5 21:41 3 95 Assegid Gossa 46 Lorton VA 5 23:17 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49 1 167 Barbara Lawrence 45 Leesburg VA 5 24:06 2 456 Lisa Warden 45 Ashburn VA 5 28:06 3 370 Joanne Eldridge 46 Arlington VA 5 29:13 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54 1 545 Bill Stahr 50 The Plains VA 5 20:33 2 339 Stuart Bailey 50 Chantilly VA 5 25:18 3 173 Daniel Humphries 51 Alexandria VA 5 25:45 FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54 1 406 Heather Callahan 54 Castleton VA 5 28:30 2 422 Margaret Haberman 54 Alexandria VA 5 28:50 3 304 Marlene Ubilla 51 Sterling VA 5 31:39 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59 1 10 James Moreland 58 Gaithersburg MD 5 23:50 2 421 Doug Brownlee 57 Sterling VA 5 25:49 3 142 Doug Naquin 57 Ashburn VA 5 26:03 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64 1 525 Doyle Talkington 64 Haymarket VA 5 28:29 2 400 Mario Alvarez 61 Fairfax VA 5 32:41 3 125 James Lovelace 64 Ashburn VA 5 33:36 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69 1 477 Harvey Golomb 68 Herndon VA 5 29:13 MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 75 - 79 1 511 Jim Hufford 77 Reston VA 5 37:34 MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99 1 23:17 95 Assegid Gossa 46 M Lorton VA 23:17 FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99 1 26:09 263 Mikayla Sonnenfeld 12 F Centreville VA 26:09
Third overall in the 5K, Dan Eddy, 60, will be a big factor in the summer Runner Rankings.