DC Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis

Washington, D.C., December 8, 2001 - The annual ringing of bells was dampened by a light falling rain for the 18th Jingle Bell Run For Arthritis 10K and 7th 5K was held blocks away from the White House in Washington. There were 1,341 registered for the 5K and 2,547 for the 10K.

In the 10K, the Quantico Marines, LCpl Erik Kweder and GySgt Ed Holloway, sent some of their finest runners to do battle. The mix included two-time winner (31:27-1997, 30:58-1998), George Probst of Blacksburg, Va., and the 1996 winner (33:11) Eric Desautels, and Edmund Burke of Burtonsville, Md. The event record was set 1986 (29:58).

The female field included Cathy Pugsley of Annandale, Va., Melissa Rittenhouse of Baltimore, Md., Team Pacers of Old Town Alexandria, members Heather Hanscom and Sharon Servidio and Kitsten Black. The female mark was set in 1993 (35:11) by Christine (Constantin) Ireland.

The runners raced towards the U.S. Capitol in a pack of five runners with Michael Wardian of Team Pacers was in the lead for the first half mile. Kweder, Probst, Desautels and Burke took control and went through the first mile in 5 minutes.

Into the second mile it was down to three runners, Kweder, Probst and Burke. At two and three-quarters mile disaster struck, due to a lack of course control, four buses were on the course route as the runners made a sharp turn, the police car and pace car came to an abrupt stop, the leaders made the turn and spread out to avoid the cars and buses. Burke tripped over the foot of Kweder and landed flat on his stomach and slid across the rain-soaked road about ten feet and stopped short of sliding under the front of the parked bus.

Burke, regained composure and got up and chased Kweder and Probst for fifty yards and was back in the hunt.

Congestion struck at four and three quarters mile where the leaders came up on the back of the 5K runners and it was a dodging game to avoid the runners and walkers.

At mile five, 25:03, it was down to Probst and Burke. The two were down to Pennsylvania Avenue with less than a mile to go. It was down to the last 800 meters and Burke threw in one last surge and went on to take first in 30:55, the fourth fastest winning time. Probst was second in 30:59 and Kweder was third in 31:10.

Hanscom in her Jingle Bell debut worked to the front and dominated the race with the fourth fastest winning time in 35:50. Casey Smith of Mechanicsville, Va., was second in 36:32. Servidio was third in 37:18 with Pugsley in fourth in 37:46 and Rittenhouse in fifth with 37:54.

The masters were lead by Peter Kirk of Rockville, Md., in 35:40 and Betty Blank of Falls Church, Va., in 42:58.

The victory of the 5K was taken by Todd Martin of Herndon, Va., in 16:33 followed by Jesse Leifert of McLean, Va., in 16:38. Zachary Vaslow, age 16, of Bethesda, Md., was third in 16:42.

Fairfax County firefighter, Jackie Concaugh (Team Saucony) of Alexandria, Va., captured first in a record setting time 18:05. April Brannon of Washington was second in 18:57. Marine Captain Kristin McCann of Quantico was third in 19:24.

The master's victory went to Jim Wadsworth of Alexandria, Va., in 17:32 and Renee West of Bethesda, Md., in 21:58.

Arthritis is one of the country's primary health problems, affecting one out of every six people in the country -- more than 500,000 in the Metropolitan Washington area, it strikes people of all ages including children and young adults. The Arthritis Foundation sponsors research that is uncovering the causes, prevention and treatments for the more than 100 arthritis-related diseases.

Thanks to the numerous sponsors and supporters, to name a few, Aventis, Booze Allen Hamilton, Nissan, Smooth Jazz 105.9, and Modell's, Midwest Express Airlines and AirTan Airways.
Full Results 5K & 10K, Dec 8 2001

10K Top Males

1 Edmund Burke                  32         30:55 Burtonsville, MD

2 George Probst                 28         30:59 Blacksburg, VA

3 Erik Kweder                   23         31:10 Alexandria, VA

4 Eric Desautels                29         32:57 Arlington, VA

5 Michael Wardian               27         34:45 Arlington, VA



Females

1 Heather Hanscom               24         35:50 Alexandria, VA

2 Casey Smith                   22         36:32 Mechanicsville, VA

3 Sharon Servidio               27         37:18 Alexandria, VA

4 Cathy Pugsley                 32         37:46 Annandale, VA

5 Melissa Rittenhouse           25         37:54 Baltimore, MD



Top 5K Males

1 Todd Martin                   31         16:33 Herndon, VA

2 Jesse Leifert                 24         16:38 McLean, VA

3 Zachary Vaslow                16         16:42 Bethesda, MD



Females

1 Jackie Concaugh               26         18:05 Alexandria, VA NEW RECORD

2 April Brannon                 24         18:57 Washington, DC

3 Capt. Kristin McCann          29         19:24 Stafford, VA