By James Moreland
Fairfax, VA
October 30, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
After all these years could this perennial race be doomed to success? Competing against the massive Marine Corps Marathon with its little sister race 10K with nearly seven thousand finishers, the ‘gallop’ keeps roaring along, for equestrians note that of the four gears-–walk, trot, canter, and gallop–gallop is the fastest. With nearly five hundred races in the region between Labor Day and Veterans Day, the Goblin Gallop expanded again to nearly 20% more finishers than last year. Maybe it is because discerning runners and walkers alike see that the race has what it takes.
Tons of free parking close by is a wish come true. As soon as you get out of your car you already hear the Spark Plugscranking out tunes. While the songs are mostly from my generation, they are so lively that people could easily forget the first white Halloween. Naturally, the media made it seem scarier than the scores of hundreds of costumes worn by the participants. Everybody from Fairfax east ducked the near freezing soaking that cut many of Saturday events’ participation in half. Nine inches in western Maryland barely ranked a notice. The question was how are the corners of Fairfax Corner? How are the slopes of Random Hills?
Runners were more than adequately warned and though there were a few slick spots, the morning blossomed into a near perfect fall wonder. With the dominating Tezata Dengara over in Arlington winning the Marine Corps Marathon, Hirut Mandefro (right)had to be considered the favorite. She returned back in the area earlier this year after having been the top ranked runner for much of the last three years. Already this fall she had two solid wins, twice breaking 17:00. She also ran a swift 58:21 at the Virginia Ten Miler. Still, there was a new gunslinger in town and Anna Holt-Gosselin already has a fine reputation with a fall win at the Run! Geek! Run 8K and a smartly done Army Ten Miler in 59:19.
An even newer face on the scene, sub master Kristie Connelly, 36, made them both work hard on the roller coaster ride around the shopping center. Mandefro quietly secured another victory in a very nifty 17:42 on an honest course that is too hilly to be really fast.
Holt-Gosselin (left) was standing tall in second place with WRR summer cover man Bob Briggs, 54, close behind. Briggs, a former Olympic class racewalker as well as a 29:00 10K runner, must prefer the cooler weather as he improved on his 18:18 at the inaugural Let Freedom Run 5K in July (18:18 2nd AG) to win his division in 17:57. He was the second best at the age graded table with 84.9%. Mandefro was fourth (83.6%) among the seven racers better 83%. Connelly took third overall in 18:05 with the seventh best age grade at 83%.
Two other women made that elite status and neither was a surprise. Top ranked master Alisa Harvey was sixth woman overall in 19:05 for an age graded 84.5%. Then there was Dee Nelson, 68. She capped off another excellent win for her 1,400th career race in an excellent 25:35, giving her the top age graded time for the event in 85.3%. Her best 5K of the year was more than two minutes faster.
At the awards ceremony, second place winner Gordon, 78, note, “I can’t stay with Tami.” Few can. Tami Graf has been looking to take down another Virginia State record. She has already raced faster but she has to have a certified course that also reports the race. Her 32:09 is more than two minutes faster than the current 34:26 and the more than generous Virginia has chosen to use net times, Graf’s was 31:50, to enhance the record book.
Former masters ranking champion Andres Wright (left) is back and already starting to produce times that earned him the title. At 44, his 16:56 was third best man at 83.1% but the prize goes to the fastest not the best age graded. He knew second master, Mike Colaiacovo, was the only one close at 17:02. Still wary, he was confident he would win. The third master was Jean Christophe Arcaz. At fifty, he can still hang with the young guys, racing 17:43, a step ahead in the age grading with 83.2%.
After the race Alan Rider, 75, noted that maybe the generous five-year age groups might go one more from 70 to 99 and include a 70 to 74 with the eldest being 75-99. That would have worked for him this year. Next year both Chan Robbins (25:15) and John Gluck (25:45) will have aged up from 74 and be gunning for top dog Skip Grant.
For the top men, Seife Geletu had been third overall in 16:01 last year. For nearly all the race it looked as if he had a chance to take the crown. The final quarter mile features a sharp turn cresting the long hill followed by a steep hundred meter downhill. From there it is two sharp turns to the final straightaway. Ryan Hanson(below) made the break early enough and jetted away to win in 15:43. Though Geletu was only five seconds behind, it was clear he would not be able to catch up.
After the race, most of the cold had gone away. The large crowd in the square ate hot dogs and listened for their number for the dozens of random prizes. The final prize was Redskins tickets. It did take quite a long time to hand out all the prizes that went three deep in five-year age groups. There were also team awards and costume awards. Next year’s event will be their 19th.
Awards Listing (No Duplicate Prizes)
FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Time
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== =====
1 1520 Hirut Mandefro 30 Washington DC 17:42
2 951 Anna Holt-Gosselin 23 Vienna VA 17:55
3 713 Kristie Connelly 36 Alexandria VA 18:05
MALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Time
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== =====
1 1540 Ryan Hanson 24 Bethesda MD 15:43
2 1519 Seife Geletu 29 Washington DC 15:48
3 1262 Jerry Greenlaw 23 Alexandria VA 16:26
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 99
1 4 Alisa Harvey 46 Manassas VA 19:05 19:05 6:09
2 1436 Kim Isler 43 Oakton VA 20:17 20:17 6:32
3 1050 Karen Ashbrook-Barnes 41 Vienna VA 21:26 21:26 6:54
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 99
1 1548 Andres Wright 44 Frederick MD 16:56 16:56 5:27
2 1535 Mike Colaiacovo 42 Ellicott City MD 17:02 17:02 5:29
3 1426 Jean-Christophe Arcaz 50 Rockville MD 17:43 17:43 5:43
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 14
1 784 Morgan Wittrock 13 Vienna VA 21:23 21:23 6:53
2 1037 Emily Lichtenberg 12 South Riding VA 22:59 22:59 7:24
3 1298 Sierra Brooks 14 Clifton VA 23:07 23:07 7:27
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 14
1 1036 Tyler Lichtenberg 14 South Riding VA 17:27 17:27 5:37
2 1459 Nati Digafe 13 Centreville VA 20:36 20:36 6:38
3 1033 Kai Stephens 14 Fairfax VA 20:59 20:59 6:46
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 15 - 19
1 328 Christine Mayuga 15 Oak Hill VA 20:35 20:35 6:38
2 242 Jordan Lilly 19 Centreville VA 23:40 23:32 7:35
3 1538 Natalie Schlosser 18 Winchester VA 24:05 23:58 7:43
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 15 - 19
1 1163 Daniel Anderson 16 Falls Church VA 19:14 19:14 6:12
2 1111 Neil Totten 15 Herndon VA 19:35 19:35 6:19
3 1186 Alex Min 15 Burke VA 21:00 20:48 6:42
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 1215 Jenn Ennis 23 Richmond VA 18:35 18:35 5:59
2 1306 Maura Carroll 22 Washington DC 18:44 18:44 6:02
3 1094 Maria Cheshire 24 Bristow VA 21:44 21:44 7:00
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 11 Sean McLaughlin 24 Centreville VA 19:25 19:25 6:15
2 1029 Brian Amaya 23 Herndon VA 22:03 22:03 7:06
3 402 Timothy Kutz 24 Fairfax VA 25:32 23:37 7:36
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 96 Susan Hein 29 Chantilly VA 23:54 23:34 7:35
2 1319 Krystine Rivera 25 Ashburn VA 24:45 24:45 7:58
3 710 Martha Mishkin 28 Fairfax VA 25:01 25:00 8:03
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 1406 Jason Myers 26 Alexandria VA 16:32 16:32 5:20
2 783 Ryan Werner 27 Washington DC 19:44 19:44 6:21
3 1448 Joshua Pinedo 26 20:24 20:24 6:34
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 1419 Jessica McGuire 31 Arlington VA 21:01 21:01 6:46
2 1255 Taylor Poling 30 Arlington VA 21:18 21:18 6:52
3 1185 Megan Brummer 32 Washington DC 22:09 22:09 7:08
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 1420 Aaron Lyss 30 Washington DC 19:45 19:45 6:22
2 407 Jason Bryan 31 Springfield VA 19:53 19:53 6:24
3 51 James Brennan 32 Alexandria VA 20:29 20:25 6:34
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 150 Melissa Hardt 35 Arlington VA 22:08 21:55 7:04
2 735 Margaret Albaugh 36 Falls Church VA 23:11 22:58 7:24
3 1168 Ann Wessel 37 Vienna VA 25:55 25:20 8:09
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 1271 Keith Freeburn 37 Centreville VA 17:17 17:17 5:34
2 734 Bob Koeppen 35 Alexandria VA 18:13 18:13 5:52
3 1423 Tim Davis 37 Springfield VA 19:52 19:52 6:24
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 1300 Missy Salisbury 42 Lorton VA 24:34 24:34 7:55
2 544 Stephanie Hammond 44 Springfield VA 24:34 24:34 7:55
3 160 Melanie Massiah-White 42 Fairfax VA 24:43 24:43 7:58
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 1432 Rob Meadows 40 Leesburg VA 18:40 18:40 6:01
2 1275 James Lister 42 Falls Church VA 19:17 19:17 6:13
3 1508 Tom Powers 43 Kensington MD 19:22 19:22 6:14
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 1515 Annie Downer 46 Herndon VA 22:28 22:28 7:14
2 1032 Yoko Stephens 46 Fairfax VA 22:54 22:54 7:23
3 698 Angelika Kirkland 45 Oakton VA 24:41 24:26 7:52
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 927 Craig Greene 46 Manassas VA 20:15 20:13 6:31
2 472 Robert Martin 48 Fairfax Station VA 21:03 21:03 6:47
3 282 Tim Martin 47 Manassas VA 21:38 21:38 6:58
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 284 Sushila Nanda 50 Arlington VA 23:22 23:22 7:32
2 401 June Ring 50 Fairfax VA 23:37 23:32 7:35
3 1107 Sarah Buckheit 51 Reston VA 24:25 24:25 7:52
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 1505 Robert Briggs 54 Springfield VA 17:57 17:57 5:47
2 1506 Terry McLaughlin 51 Spotsylvania VA 18:21 18:21 5:55
3 1182 Peter Cini 53 Fairfax VA 21:22 19:55 6:25
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 1546 Heather Sanders 56 McLean VA 23:16 23:16 7:30
2 1247 Merrilee Seidman 57 Alexandria VA 25:51 25:51 8:20
3 377 Pat Warren 55 Kensington MD 26:44 26:44 8:37
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 1248 Paul Bousel 58 Alexandria VA 21:24 21:24 6:54
2 526 Stuart McFarren 55 Arlington VA 22:22 22:22 7:12
3 10 James Moreland 59 Gaithersburg MD 23:36 23:36 7:36
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 1507 Gail Contreras 60 Fairfax VA 33:32 32:50 10:34
2 13 Maureen Babcock 61 Cambridge MA 34:39 33:33 10:48
3 192 Claudia Tuller-Brooke 60 Annandale VA 34:55 34:50 11:13
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 850 Michael Wesbecher 63 Oakton VA 21:41 21:32 6:56
2 253 Gary Robinson 60 Bellaire TX 25:40 25:07 8:05
3 281 Paul Riede 60 Stafford VA 25:37 25:21 8:10
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 1568 Dee Nelson 68 Gaithersburg MD 25:35 25:35 8:14
2 427 Mary Schade 65 Arlington VA 47:24 46:33 14:59
3 491 Joannene Maynard 65 Kingsville MD 48:50 48:08 15:30
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 893 Mike Golash 68 Washington DC 24:06 24:03 7:45
2 189 Richard Wiley 67 Centreville VA 28:42 28:25 9:09
3 1132 James Verdier 69 Alexandria VA 29:54 29:47 9:35
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
1 1422 Tami Graf 75 Lusby MD 32:09 31:50 10:15
2 186 Winnie Gordon 78 Fairfax VA 46:59 46:18 14:54
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
1 1196 Chan Robbins 74 Arlington VA 25:15 25:15 8:08
2 916 John Gluck 74 Alexandria VA 25:45 25:34 8:14
3 9 Alan Rider 75 Reston VA 28:45 28:32 9:11
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 639 Andrey Gochev 26 M Springfield VA 22:46 20:48 6:42
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 242 Jordan Lilly 19 F Centreville VA 23:40 23:32 7:35
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
