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 James Moreland
Washington, DC
October 31, 2009
For the Washington Running Report
Christine Hackman (#520) and Joanna Russo (#512) battle down the final stretch.
One day before the clocks go back, nearly five hundred runners descended on West Potomac Park for the 2nd Annual Run Geek Run 8K. With overcast skies the race was still a little dark as it got [button-red url=”http://old.runwashington.com/results.htm” target=”_self” position=”left”] Results [/button-red]underway. Runners charged down Ohio Drive headed for Hains Point. Last year’s masters winner Bill Bray (44) of Fairfax, VA was eighth overall in 28:43. This year he pulled away from everyone early to win solidly in 28:08.
[button-red url=”http://old.runwashington.com/news/2201/” target=”_self” position=”left”] Photos[/button-red]He really did not seem in a real hurry at the end as the closest competition came from Alex Caudana (27) of Arlington, VA in 29:38. Adam Pignatelli (32) of Washington, DC was next in 29:48 but seemed content with third. Fourth place Eric Sonnenschein (36) of Washington, DCV could definitely hear the footsteps of fifth place Matthew Broaddus. Broaddus finished in 30:01 just four seconds behind.
The top three overall were placed by gun time. The age group winners got their places with ChronoTrack net time. Brooaddus had the second fastest net time in 29:29 but got a late start. Surprisingly last year’s event record holder Peter Silverman did the same thing, starting 45 seconds late. He did beat runner-up Pat Murphy to the tape 26:16 to 26:31 anyway.
Last year Laurel Jefferson (23) of Bethesda, MD set the standard, just breaking the 6:00 pace in 29:43. This year Mary Davison (36) of Bristow, VA finished eighth overall running with the lead men for a commanding 31:06 victory. Third place Emily Reuter (29) of Arlington, VA hurried after runner-up Elyse Braner (25) of Washington, DC, falling just short 33:46 to 33:55. She probably did not know how close grandmaster Alison Suckling (54) of Arnold, MD (in photo) was as she closed to 34:00 at the finish. With about 150 meters she pulled alongside Michael Cannon (in photo), second 50-54 in 34:08. She planned an even pace with a sprint at the end and left him in the dust. Cannon a mega racer was running his 55th race of the year. Perhaps he was a little tapped out as he had run three 5Ks last weekend. Earlier in the year he had run the Van Metre 8K in 31:52.
Bill Stahr of the Plains, VA may have been a little confused having run so many 10Ks from West Potomac Park. He is gunning for the record for 10Ks in a year; with 65 already he needs just five more. Today he ran race #124 in 32:13, nearly matching his best for the year (31:57) run on the hot and hilly Rockville Twilight 8K. It netted him the second place in the division. His award was picked up by his hometown mayor, Robert Gurtler. Gurtler (74) will soon be a regular ranked runner when he joins the 75-79 division in February. For now he finished second in the 70-74 division for his 108th racing adventure of the year.
Patricia Zerfas (47) of Kensington, MD is hard to please. She ran an excellent 34:48 to top her age group but when asked about her race she replied, “It was terrible.” Maybe that is why she runs so fast. Betty Blank (56) of Falls Church, VA (in photo – R) knew last week when she took top masters at the Race for World Peace 5K in 21:50 that she would be here today. She had won the grandmaster at Geek last year in 34:03, which would put her right on Suckling’s (in photo – L) heels. The two have traded wins for the last half dozen years. This year Blank throttled back to finish tops in the 55-59 in 35:16. Tops in the 60-64 division Gretchen Bolton (64) of Bethesda, MD missed a ranked time by 15 seconds in 49:11, though her net time was 48:47.
Paul Bousel (56) Alexandria, VA knew he would pulverize last year’s best time of 48:08. He bolted away with the leaders for a fine 33:14. It was a good thing he did as Tom Nolan (57) of Kensington, MD was not too far behind in 34:36. Michael Wesbecher (61) of Oakton, VA belied his age and finished soon after in 34:43.
For the older guys, John Churchman (66) of Arlington, VA was terrific in 37:47. Ralph Bayrer (70) of Washington, DC missed the Ranked Runner cutoff time by 21 seconds in 44:45. Larry Dickerson (78) of Burke, VA is still tough in 46:23. Nearly ten years older than him, Walt Washburn (87) of Vienna, VA finished his third race of the month and 18th of the year by winning his 80-99 division.
Throughout the morning there was rousing music for the runners. Many of the runners decided to run in costumes. There were scores of portajohns still hanging from last week’s marathon. After the race, there was plenty of food and a bit of candy as well. The awards went three deep in five year age groups with nice engraved medallions as mementos. We are looking forward next’s year race.
FEMALE Open 1 507 Mary Davison 36 Bristow VA 00:31:06 2 466 Elyse Braner 25 Washington DC 00:33:46 3 115 Emily Reuter 29 Arlington VA 00:33:55
MALE Open
1 283 Bill Bray 44 Fairfax VA 00:28:06
2 503 Alex Caudana 27 Arlington VA 00:29:38
3 46 Adam Pignatelli 32 Washington DC 00:29:48
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 01 – 19
1 Katie Trainum 13 F ARLINGTON VA 52:47 51:30 10:22
2 Anna Degarmo 14 F ARLINGTON VA 52:48 51:30 10:22
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 1 – 19
1 Sergey Gribach 14 M RESTON VA 34:36 34:34 6:58
2 Paul Stetekluh 16 M ARLINGTON VA 40:13 40:11 8:05
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 20 – 24
1 Joanna Russo 24 F WASHINGTON DC 37:34 37:25 7:32
2 Susie Skoda 24 F WASHINGTON DC 38:24 38:18 7:43
3 Jessica Miga 22 F KENSINGTON MD 38:42 38:39 7:47
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 20 – 24
1 James Pacala 24 M ARLINGTON VA 37:04 37:01 7:27
2 Jared Anderson 24 M STERLING VA 39:23 38:52 7:50
3 Sam Dupont 23 M WASHINGTON DC 39:55 39:23 7:56
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 25 – 29
1 Marley Rave 27 F WASHINGTON DC 36:15 36:10 7:17
2 Helen Knudsen 29 F WASHINGTON DC 37:52 37:44 7:36
3 Linda McGreevy 25 F WASHINGTON DC 39:01 38:46 7:48
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 25 – 29
1 Ian Brim 26 M MCLEAN VA 32:08 31:53 6:25
2 Matthew Gerke 27 M ALEXANDRIA VA 32:28 32:27 6:32
3 Joshua Herbert 26 M ALBUQUERQUE NM 33:17 33:10 6:41
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 30 – 34
1 Lindsay Dudbridge 31 F ALEXANDRIA DC 39:30 39:17 7:55
2 Caroline Wizeman 32 F POTOMAC FALLS VA 39:40 39:26 7:56
3 Laura Clayton 31 F ARLINGTON VA 40:20 39:52 8:02
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 30 – 34
1 Matthew Broaddus 32 M WASHINGTON DC 30:01 29:29 5:56
2 Benjamin Young 33 M WASHINGTON DC 30:50 30:49 6:12
3 Colin Shah 34 M WASHINGTON DC 32:01 32:00 6:27
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 35 – 39
1 Jennifer Steen 35 F ARLINGTON VA 39:43 39:33 7:58
2 Heather Kauffman 36 F ARLINGTON VA 40:06 39:44 8:00
3 Mary Ege 38 F ARLINGTON VA 42:31 40:49 8:13
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 35 – 39
1 Eric Sonnenschein 36 M WASHINGTON DC 29:57 29:57 6:02
2 Jon Torrance 38 M WASHINGTON DC 30:45 30:42 6:11
3 Stephen Ahern 38 M ALEXANDRIA VA 31:45 31:44 6:23
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 40 – 44
1 Cynthia Olsen 43 F ARLINGTON VA 35:10 35:09 7:05
2 Cheryl Young 40 F RESTON VA 36:53 36:51 7:25
3 Toby Warden 42 F ALEXANDRIA VA 37:01 36:59 7:27
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 40 – 44
1 Michael Honch 40 M TAKOMA PARK MD 34:42 34:33 6:57
2 Bill Bejeck 43 M GERMANTOWN MD 38:26 38:09 7:41
3 Scott Burrell 44 M WASHINGTON DC 38:41 38:24 7:44
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 45 – 49
1 Patricia Zerfas 47 F KENSINGTON MD 34:48 34:47 7:00
2 Kris-Anne Kane 45 F PRESTON CT 36:36 36:27 7:20
3 Christine Hackman 46 F ARLINGTON VA 37:40 37:38 7:35
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 45 – 49
1 Nadim Ahmed 48 M BETHESDA MD 31:59 31:59 6:27
2 Bill Stahr 49 M THE PLAINS VA 32:13 32:12 6:29
3 Jack Tade 45 M FALLS CHURCH VA 34:11 34:07 6:52
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 50 – 54
1 Alison Suckling 54 F ARNOLD MD 34:00 34:00 6:51
2 Laura Moore 50 F 39:57 39:22 7:56
3 Christine Picklo 54 F OLD SAYBROOK CT 41:12 41:01 8:15
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 50 – 54
1 Timothy Kane 52 M PRESTON CT 31:17 31:16 6:18
2 Michael Cannon 51 M SPRINGFILED VA 34:08 34:06 6:52
3 David Cristeal 51 M ARLINGTON VA 37:14 37:10 7:29
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 55 – 59
1 Betty Blank 56 F FALLS CHURCH VA 35:16 35:16 7:06
2 Merrilee Seidman 55 F ALEXANDRIA VA 40:51 40:51 8:13
3 Anne Case 55 F MANASSAS VA 49:33 49:10 9:54
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 55 – 59
1 Paul Bousel 56 M ALEXANDRIA VA 33:14 33:14 6:41
2 Tom Nolan 57 M KENSINGTON MD 34:36 34:32 6:57
3 Gary Morgans 56 M ARLINGTON VA 42:29 42:13 8:30
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 60 – 64
1 Gretchen Bolton 64 F BETHESDA MD 49:11 48:47 9:49
2 Patricia Canestra-He 61 F ARLINGTON VA 59:46 59:32 11:59
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 60 – 64
1 Michael Wesbecher 61 M OAKTON VA 34:43 34:40 6:59
2 Marshall Collins 60 M SALEM CT 41:27 41:16 8:18
3 Randall Nelson 61 M SILVER SPRING MD 45:33 45:24 9:08
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 65 – 69
1 John Churchman 66 M ARLINGTON VA 37:47 37:43 7:36
2 George Gillespie 67 M COVENTRY CT 42:28 42:27 8:33
3 Jim Verdier 67 M ALEXANDRIA VA 48:32 48:27 9:45
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 70 – 74
1 Ralph Bayrer 70 M WASHINGTON DC 44:45 44:35 8:59
2 Robert Gurtler 74 M THE PLAINS VA 50:30 50:16 10:07
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 75 - 79
1 Larry Dickerson 78 M BURKE VA 46:23 46:15 9:19
2 Edward Green 78 M WASHINGTON DC 49:56 49:48 10:02
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME – NET PACE 80 – 99
1 Walt Washburn 87 M VIENNA VA 74:12 73:45 14:51
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME – NET PACE 1 – 99
1 513 Amy Trautman 25 F Washington DC 42:02 41:30 8:21
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME – NET PACE 1 – 99
1 24 Matthew Gerke 27 M Alexandria VA 32:28 32:27 6:32
