For Immediate Release
21 January 2004CONTACTS: (Please do not publish these numbers. THE NUMBER FOR PUBLICATION IS THE RACE HOTLINE AT 301-320-3350):
George Banker
202-685-3361
Local Runners. . . 10 Mile Triple
WASHINGTON, DC , JAN. 21, 2004 - Running in the Washington metropolitan area is rich in history, and the success of many of the races is attributed to the local runners. Three races have joined together to show appreciation by offering complementary entries into each other's races: The 29th Annual Annapolis 10 Miler (8/29/ 2004), the 20th Army Ten-Miler (10/24/2004) and the 32nd Annual Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile (4/4/2004). Each race has been ranked within the top five 10-milers in the country based on number of finishers. The non-transferable entries to these events will be awarded to the first local male and female in the open and master's category at each race. The local area is defined as the state of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. The winners must have resided in the area for at least one year prior to each race.
In its first year,
the Annapolis 10 Miler had just 9 finishers; last year there were 4,420, of
which 1,787 were females. John Astle, Maryland State Senator, Democrat, District
30, has completed the event for 27 consecutive years and was the first winner.
In 1985, two weeks
prior to the event the Maryland State Police wanted to cancel the race because
at the time it was against the law to have a road race.
The then Delegate Astle introduced House Bill No. 794 (61r2543) which
made it legal to have a footrace. The bill took effect July 1, 1986.
The race starts and
finishes at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium.
The July 2000 issue of Runners’s World magazine did an in-depth
story on the event, “Capital Punishment” by John Hanc.
Since 1976, 62,515 runners have completed the race.
The Army Ten-Miler
starts and finishes at the Pentagon. In the first edition of the race, held
October 13, 1985, there were 1,379 finishers. Kevin McGarry, a former miler at
the University of Maryland, won the first year in 50:05.
Marianne Dickerson was the female winner in 58:45, and she went on to win
in 1986 (57:33) and 1988 (56:46). There have been 10 local male winners and 13
local female overall winners.
In 1987, the Army
Ten-Miler was ranked fifth largest 10-mile race in the country and moved up to
second place in 1988. By 1989 it was ranked the largest. In 1988, the co-starter
was Army Specialist Andrew Maynard, U.S. Olympic gold medalist in boxing, light
heavy weight division.
The oldest winner is
Army sergeant Sammy Ngatia, age 40, who won in 2000 (48:50). Ngatia is the
holder of the master's record and the three fastest master's times.
The Credit Union
Miracle Day Committee, a partnership of credit unions, began sponsorship of the
Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in 2002. In 1973, the race started near the Club House on Hains Point
(East Potomac Park). In 1974, Dr.
Delano Meriwether, 1971 AAU 100-meter champion, was the race starter.
Prize money was
introduced at the race in 1984, and it was the first year for foreign born
winners: Simeon Kigen of Kenya (47:25), and Rosa Mota of Portugal (54:16).
The race has produced records at the national and world levels for males
and females.
One standout, Bennett
Beach of Bethesda, Md., ran the first Cherry Blossom in 1:01:11 at the age of
23, and has finished each year since then. In 2003, Beach placed 7th
in the 50-54 age group (1:02:15). Ruth
Rothfarb at the age of 91 in 1993 ran 3 hours 27 minutes, which at that time was
an American record.
"I'm making a
big deal about this race. It's more from a personal standpoint. This race was
the most important to me. This race is history", stated Chris Fox, the 1990
winner (47:06).
The three races share
a few things in common: scenic racecourses, history, and excellence in race
management and strong support for the local running community. To put it simply,
they are good places to hang out with your friends and family for ten miles.
Annapolis
10 Miler
Race Month: August
First Year: 1976 (2004 is the 29th running)
Website: http://www.annapolisstriders.org
2004 Date: August 29, 2004
US Rank: 5th largest 10 miler in 2002
Event Director: Ron Bowman 410-268-1165
Finishers:
Male
Female
Total
1st Year 1976
4 (57%)
3 (43%)
7
8/24/03
2633 (60%)
1787 (40%)
4420
Total Finishers Since 1976 62,515
Race
Event Records
Open
1980 Terry Baker
24
48:09
Williamsport, MD
1982 Eleanor
Simonsick 24
56:12
Baltimore, MD
Master
1994 James Pryde, Jr. 41
53:48
Churchville, MD
1991 Rose Malloy
43
1:00:36
Annapolis, MD
Army
Ten-Miler
Race Month: October
First Year: Oct. 13,1985 (2004 will be the 20th running)
Website: http://www.armytenmiler.com
2004 Date: Oct. 24, 2004
U.S. Rank: Largest in US
Event Director: Jim Vandak 202-685-3361
Finishers:
Male
Finishers Total
1st Year 1985
?
?
1379
19th 2003
7882
5316
13,198
Total Finishers Since 1985
126,060
Race
Event Records
Open
1997 Lt. Dan Browne 22
47:44
Fort Lee, VA (US Army)
1995 Susan Molloy
30
56:20
Charlottesville, VA
Master
2000 Sgt. Sammy Ngatia 41
48:50
Fort Carson, CO (US Army)
2002 Martha Merz
40
59:49
Mystic, CT
Credit
Union Cherry Blossom 10 Miler
Race Month: April
First Year: April 1, 1973 (2004 will be the 32nd running)
Website: http://www.cherryblossom.org
2004 Date: April 4, 2004
U.S. Rank: 3rd largest 10 miler in 2002
Event Director: Phil Stewart 301-320-3350
Finishers
Male
Female
Total
1st Year 1973
129 (91%)
12 (19%) 141
31st 2003
3940 (53%)
3534 (47%) 7474
Total Finishers Since 1973
111,707
Race
Event Records
Open
1995 Ismael Kirui
22
45:38
Kenya
1998 Colleen DeReuck 33
51:16
South Africa
Master
1996 Steve Jones
40
48:26
England
1987 Priscilla Welch
42
53:51
England
Please direct
questions on the races to the numbers listed above or visit the race websites
and questions on the process contact George Banker at the Army Ten-Miler,
202-685-3361 or e-mail george.banker@fmmc.army.mil.
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