GW Parkway Classic
Alexandria, VA
Sunday, April 21, 2002
Conducted by United Way of National Capital Area

The tradition continued with the start of a new era. The George Washington Parkway Classic closed the 17 year era of the 15K with Kenyan and Russian winners last year. On Sunday, April 21, 2002, under overcast skies and cooler temperature in the mid 50s, close to 1500 registered runners converged on Mount Vernon, Virginia off the George Washington Memorial Parkway for the 18th George Washington Parkway Classic, now a 10 miler into Old Town Alexandria, Va.

The lead pack was formed within the first half mile, the Fila Team, Benson Ogat, Naftal Mayoyo and Julius Gwako was joined by Richard Cochran of Annapolis, Md. Going into the first mile (4:50) Ogato, Mayoyo and Gwako had dropped Cochrane back by 25 meters. The chase pack was fifty meters off Cochrane lead by Glen Mays of Washington.

Into the second mile (elapsed time 9:45, 5:05 split) it was clear the three were in control of the race. The female leaders were Irina Suvorova of Russia, now living in Rockville, Md., and Alice Muriithi of Kenya, now living in West Chester, Pa. Sharon Servidio of Team Pacers was trailing in third place. Servidio won the 15K in 1999 (55:22).

All had competed in the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Miler two weeks prior, Ogato (48:30), Gwako (49:28), Mayoyo (51:58), Suvorova (57:00) , Muriithi (58:16) and Servidio (58:48).

Into the third mile (elapsed 14:41, 4:56 split) Mayoyo had dropped to rear by a couple of steps and within the next two minutes there was a 25 meter gap. It was down to Ogato and Gwako.

Into the fourth mile (elapsed 19:43, 5:02 split) Ogato and Gwako were matching strides as Mayoyo's time was 19:57.

On a slight down hill before the fifth mile, Ogato threw in a surge which opened a gap over Gwako who could not cover the move. Ogato took over control of the race and went on unchallenged. Last week Ogato had ran 29:57 at the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K (Richmond, Va.).

Suvorova and Muriithi were both holding control the women's race.

At the seventh mile (34:10) Ogato had a 10 second lead over Gwako. The trailing runners were no longer in sight. Once into Old Town, Ogato put the finishing touch to collect the first prize of $500 in an event record time of 49:05. Gwako was second in 49:33 ($300) and Mayoyo was third in 51:46 ($150).

"The race was good, it was a little windy and I'm better in warmer weather. When you are alone the wind will push you but with someone else it's easier. When I saw the time I was doing I increased the pace. We all train together, but in a race we run to win", said Ogato.

It was race to wire as Suvorova and Muriithi both arrived on the far end of Union Street with less than a mile to go. At 200 meters out, Suvorova made the decisive move which Muriithi could not cover to take the win and record in 58:46 ($500). Muriithi was second in 58:58 ($300) followed by Servidio in third with 1:00:16 ($150).

"I felt good the whole race and I was trying to reach my form. I was not concerned about any other runner. I liked the course this year", said Suvorova through an interpreter.

"The course was good, up and down and I liked it. She sprinted at the finish and I was not tired", said Muriithi.

The master's records were captured by Dan Lawson of Team Saucony/PowerBar in 56:21 (10th place overall). Laura Freix of Team Pacers was 1:04:38 (7th place).

Hedy Marque, age 84, of Alexandria, Va., finished in 1:55:30.

The 4th George Washington Parkway Classic 5K was dominated by the ladies, two new event records. Heather Hanscom of Team Pacers wasted no time it getting out to a fast start going through the first mile in 5:25. A few seconds back was the first master, Maria Spinnler of Hagerstown, Md. Into the second mile at the base of a 100 meter hill Hanscom had complete control and pushed up and over to get to Union Street and the final three-fourths of a mile. It was an all out unchallenged effort to take first in 17:23 and new record. The old record was 17:56 set by team member Nancy Watkins in 1999 (17:56).

"It was a good course and I like running in this area. I was pretty much on my own after the first mile. I wanted to do 5:20-5:25 pace to see if I could hang on, today was not my day. I wanted a 16:50 or better, I have high expectations for myself", said Hanscom.

"I fell off after the first mile. I knew she was young and she got me by the second mile, she was good. I could not challenge her, the mile was to fast and I didn't know if she was going to fade", said runner-up, Maria Spinnler of Hagerstown, Md. Spinnler was the first master and set a new record in 18:19 , the old record was set last year in 20:10 by Beth McCann of Falls Church, Va.

The overall winner was Jason Van Horn of Dumfries, Va., in 15:31. The runner-up and first master was Gennady Teminikov of Russia, now living in Rockville, Md., in a time of 15:36. Teminikov was the third master at the Boston Marathon in 2:20:23. The third place and second master was Jim Hage of Lanham, Md., in 15:54.

The men's records stand at 14:48 (Philippe Rolly, Team Pacers) and the master's record is 14:49 (John Tuttle).

The George Washington Parkway Classic is presented by Verizon and benefits the community through the Alexandria United Way James P. Moran Grants and the Alexandria Olympic Boys & Girls Club. The other sponsors include Inova Health System, Advanced Power Technologies, Inc., Pacers of Old Town Alexandria and New Balance.

Top Results
10 Miler- Males
1         Benson Ogato         21         49:05 Kenya                  $500
2         Julius Gwako         27         49:33 Kenya                  $300
3         Naftal Mayoyo        33         51:46 Kenya                  $150
4         Glen Mays            31         52:23 Washington, DC
5         Richard Cochrane     28         52:41 Annapolis, MD
Females
1         Irina Suvorova       31         58:46 Russia                 $500
2         Alice Muriithi       22         58:58 Kenya                  $300
3         Sharon Servidio      28       1:00:16 Alexandria, VA
4         Patsy Long           35       1:02:46 Sterling, VA
5         Elizabeth Scanlon    31       1:03:08 Alexandria, VA
Master- Males
1         Dan Lawson           46         56:21 Gaithersburg,MA         $300
2         Bill Gibbs           42         59:29 Clemons, NC             $200
3         Paul Peterson        47         59:50 Bethesda, MD            $100
4         Mike Cook            44       1:01:13 Alexandria, VA
5         Develand Campbell    49       1:01:19 Lusby, MD
Females
1         Laura Freix          40       1:04:38 Centreville, VA         $300
2         Leslie Wolfe         40       1:06:15 Herndon, VA
3         Patricia Scott       40       1:06:38 Alexandria, VA
4         Beth McCann          42       1:12:14 Falls Church, VA
5         Karen Erb            51       1:14:09 Alexandria, VA
5K- Males
1         Jason Van Horn       28         15:31 Dumfries, VA           $150
2         Gennady Teminkov     40         15:36 Russia              M1-$100
3         Jim Hage             44         15:54 Lanham, MD
4         Tyler Newcomer       27         15:58 Hagerstown, MD
5         Frank Sprtel         29         15:59 Takoma Park, MD
Females
1         Heather Hanscom      24         17:23 Alexandria, VA         $150
2         Maria Spinnler       40         18:19 Hagerstown, MD      M1-$100
3         Hilary Cairns        31         18:32 Washington, DC
4         Jennifer Stearns     33         19:22 Stafford, VA
5         Julie Hayden         42         19:32 Ashburn, VA

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