18 April 2007

CONTACT: Phil Stewart, Event Director, 301-320-6865 or pstewart@cherryblossom.org 

Couch Potatoes and Blue Hens Win Races In a Landslide

A team of Couch Potatoes from the Office of Senator Michael Crapo (R-ID) and a gaggle of Blue Hens of the Office of Representative Mike Castle (R-DE) have shown that while Republicans may have lost their majority status on Capitol Hill, they proved to be firmly in control of the annual Capitol Hill Competition at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run held on April 1, 2007. Over 200 Capitol Hill Staffers participated in the spirited team competition at the event, which is sponsored by the Credit Union Miracle Day Committee.

The mixed team of three finishers from Crapo's Couch Potatoes raced to a combined time of 3 hours 25 minutes and 3 seconds to defeat handily the Run Wyden team from the office of Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) by over 13 minutes. Laura Thurston Goodroe was the fastest finisher on the team (1:07:49) followed by Evan Roberts (1:07:52) and Jennifer May (1:09:22). The third victory by a team from Senator Crapo's office (the team won in 2004 and 2006) brought them to within one victory of the record of four titles posted by the Murray's Milers team from the Office of Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) between 2000 and 2003. Thurston Goodroe was also the fastest of any female finishers in the Senate team competition.

On the House side, the Project Blue Hen team consisting of Jim Catella, Sarah Rittling and Patrick Lyden produced a combined time of 3:46:46 to turn back a squad called the Cubinistas from the office of Representative Barbara Cubin (R-WY) by nearly 17 minutes. Catella (1:04:11) and Rittling (1:15:10) were also the fastest male and female finishers from among all the staffers on the House side. It was the first victory by a team from Representative Castle’s office, which finished as runner-up in 2006.

The Capitol Hill Competition is made possible by the support of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU), the Congressional Federal Credit Union and the United States Senate Federal Credit Union.

The 2007 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run featured over 10,000 finishers taking part in Washington’s only world class running event. The event served as the Road Runners Club of American National 10 Mile Championship. In addition the event raised over $828,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network through contributions by over 60 Credit Unions, Credit Union partners, and race participants. Further details about the event can be found at www.cherryblossom.org. 

- Full Hill Team Results Follow -

Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Road Race
Washington, DC
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Senate Teams (Score Top 3)
(two men + one woman -or- one man + two women)

Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Road Race
Washington, DC
Sunday, April 1, 2007
House of Representatives Teams (Score Top 3)
(two men + one woman -or- one man + two women)