30th Annual Bluemont Fair 10K

30th Annual Bluemont Fair 10K
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Bluemont, VA
Results courtesy of Karsten Brown

The Bluemont Fair 10K celebrated its 30th running on Saturday 20 September 2008 with a new location and a new course. After at least twenty-two years of starting on Clayton Hall Road and finishing in front of the United Methodist Church in the tiny town of Bluemont, Virginia, the 6.2 mile running race moved a mile south of Bluemont to Great Country Farms on Foggy Bottom Road. No longer would runners experience the old course's opening mad dash down the shoulder of busy Route 7 or the gut-wrenching climb up Snickersville Turnpike to the finish line. Instead, the 80 participants in the 2008 race were treated to a quieter three-loop course, with a large loop on rolling rural roads preceded and followed by a shorter loop on a quiet gravel farm road. Post-race reviews of the new route seemed positive, so perhaps this course will be used for many years to come.

The weather was perfect for this year's race, with mostly sunny skies, little to no wind, and temperatures around 55° for the 8 AM start. After instructions from race director Charley Billman, 77 runners took off through Great Country Farms, with three more runners getting started about 23 minutes late. Just over half the field of 52 males and 28 females was running the Bluemont Fair 10K for the first time; seventeen of the runners were back from the 2007 race.

Among those returnees were Loudoun Valley High School assistant cross-country coaches Justin Fritzius and Chris Sheaffer, who ran last year's race casually yet had no problem taking the top two spots. This year the two 24-year-olds were similarly unchallenged, but the pair ran much harder, blazing through the opening loop at a pace of 5:30 per mile. Eventually Fritzius picked things up even further, taking the men's victory for the second straight year in a speedy time of 33:39. Sheaffer, the 2006 men's champ, cruised in for second place in 34:22.

The finish line crew had to wait a couple more minutes for the next runners to arrive. Taking third for the second straight year was 34-year-old Karsten Brown, who now has the race's longest active streak of finishes with ten in a row. Brown bested his '07 time by a single second, crossing the line in 36:49. Charles Bowles, 26, ran a steady race and finished fourth in 37:56, his best performance in at least five appearances at Bluemont. Rounding out the top five was Arlington's Tom Heinemann, 39, whose 38:34 finish earned him the top spot in the men's 35-39 age group for the second time. First-timer Bill Lasky of Sterling was the top male finisher over the age of 39, running a 43:50 for seventh place. And Shenandoah Valley Runners president Myron Kremer was the top male finisher over the age of 49, finishing in 43:54 while wearing his "wedding outfit". (Kremer met his wife Heather at this race many years ago, and in August 2000, the two donned running attire and got married at the old starting line alongside Route 7!)

The women's field, meanwhile, consisted mostly of Bluemont Fair 10K newcomers, with all but six of the ladies running the race for the first time. Among the newbies was 28-year-old Jillian Atherton-Mellish, an assistant cross-country coach at Warren County High School in Front Royal. Her strong debut on the regional road racing scene resulted in an easy victory in 44:03, the sixth fastest women's performance at Bluemont in the past decade. Taking the runner-up spot was racing veteran Tina Genay, 37, posting a 46:25 in her first appearance at Bluemont.

Not far behind Genay was Harpers Ferry's Jill Montaquila, 41, the top Masters woman with a 46:59 finish. Even more impressive was the performance of 56-year-old Rachel Muir of Reston, whose 47:09 was by far the race's top female Senior Masters effort over the past ten years. And if adjusted for age using age-grading data, Muir's finish was also the best performance by a woman of any age during that span. (Unfortunately the author has no records from prior to 1999.) Also of note were two other Senior Masters women, Bess Stuart of White Post and Debby Rosel of Round Hill. Each has run Bluemont seven times since '99, the most of any female participants. This year Stuart ran her best time since 2002 to win the women's 50-54 age group in 50:17, while Rosel finished second in the age group with a 52:03 finish.

Other notes from the race: Although prizes were not given to the oldest and youngest finishers this year, 14-year-old Laura LaRock of Hamilton was 2008's youngest runner. The second youngest was Purcellville's Keegan Newton, who is just a month and a half older than LaRock. The oldest participants were two 73-year-olds, Paul Christopher of Leesburg and Bob Gurtler of The Plains. Christopher is the older of the two by three months... 18-year-old Jordan Smith was the top finisher from the immediate Bluemont area, coming in 19th in 47:57. Men's winner Fritzius and 21-year-old Angie Farris of Purcellville were the fastest Loudoun County finishers, with Farris finishing sixth among the women in 48:20. Just under half the field (36 finishers) hailed from Loudoun County... Former Loudoun resident Nathan Sowers travelled the farthest to run this year's 10K, coming an estimated 78 miles from Ellicott City, Maryland... Of the seventeen returning runners from the 2007 race, Kim Crisp improved her time the most, knocking off 3 minutes 36 seconds to finish in 52:14 this year. Fritzius improved on his '07 time by 2:32, and 17-year-old Stephen Novitch had his best Bluemont performance to date, taking 2:25 off his '07 time to finish tenth in 45:39.

Race director Charley Billman did an excellent job with this year's newly-relocated race, mapping out a nice new course and assembling a fine crew of volunteers to help out on race day. Among the volunteers were Anna & River Billman, Karsten Brown, Nancy Bullock, Larry Cochran, Sonny & Betty Colbert, Don & Linda Corley, Annabel Hughes, Muffin Quinn, and Kelly Roszel. Thanks to all who participated, and hopefully we'll see everybody next year at the 31st annual Bluemont Fair 10K on Saturday 19 September 2009!

OVERALL RESULTS

#   NAME                    AGE SEX CITY, STATE          TIME     PACE  IN SEX  AWARD
1.  Justin Fritzius          24  M  Purcellville, VA     33:39    5:25   1st    1st M Overall
2.  Chris Sheaffer           24  M  Purcellville, VA     34:22    5:32   2nd    2nd M Overall
3.  Karsten Brown            34  M  Front Royal, VA      36:49    5:56   3rd    1st M 30-34
4.  Charles Bowles           26  M  Boyce, VA            37:56    6:06   4th    1st M 25-29
5.  Tom Heinemann            39  M  Arlington, VA        38:34    6:12   5th    1st M 35-39
6.  Nathan Sowers            34  M  Ellicott City, MD    43:24    6:59   6th    2nd M 30-34
7.  Bill Lasky               44  M  Sterling, VA         43:50    7:03   7th    1st M 40-44
8.  Myron Kremer             51  M  Winchester, VA       43:54    7:04   8th    1st M 50-54
9.  Jillian Atherton-Mellish 28  F  Front Royal, VA      44:03    7:05   1st    1st F Overall
10. Stephen Novitch          17  M  Purcellville, VA     45:39    7:21   9th    1st M 15-19
11. Joshua Yospyn            31  M  Washington, DC       45:40    7:21   10th   3rd M 30-34
12. Bill Herdtfelder         44  M  Stephenson, VA       45:41    7:21   11th   2nd M 40-44
13. Tina Genay               37  F  Winchester, VA       46:25    7:28   2nd    2nd F Overall
14. Joel Kline               35  M  Purcellville, VA     46:33    7:29   12th   2nd M 35-39
15. Jill Montaquila          41  F  Harpers Ferry, WV    46:59    7:34   3rd    1st F 40-44
16. Jeremy Clark             29  M  Arlington, VA        47:08    7:35   13th   2nd M 25-29
17. Rachel Muir              56  F  Reston, VA           47:09    7:35   4th    1st F 55-59
18. Scott Walker             49  M  Ashburn, VA          47:53    7:42   14th   1st M 45-49
19. Jordan Smith             18  M  Bluemont, VA         47:57    7:43   15th   2nd M 15-19
20. Molly Lawless            33  F  Arlington, VA        48:01    7:44   5th    1st F 30-34
21. Andrew Heron             52  M  Reston, VA           48:08    7:45   16th   2nd M 50-54
22. Angie Farris             21  F  Purcellville, VA     48:20    7:47   6th    1st F 20-24
23. Paul J. Nevins           56  M  Leesburg, VA         48:32    7:49   17th   1st M 55-59
24. Wendy Snyder             35  F  Washington, DC       48:45    7:51   7th    1st F 35-39
25. Paul Heinold             39  M  Alexandria, VA       48:47    7:51   18th   3rd M 35-39
26. Randy Wingfield          63  M  Winchester, VA       49:30    7:58   19th   1st M 60-64
27. Alex Levin               22  M  Bluemont, VA         49:37    7:59   20th   1st M 20-24
28. Kevin Giles              53  M  Leesburg, VA         49:41    8:00   21st   3rd M 50-54
29. Anthony Morris           45  M  Bluemont, VA         49:44    8:00   22nd   2nd M 45-49
30. Heather O'Neill Jelks    42  F  Alexandria, VA       49:56    8:02   8th    2nd F 40-44
31. Dennis Gates             54  M  Haymarket, VA        50:07    8:04   23rd   4th M 50-54
32. Tom Simonds              53  M  Leesburg, VA         50:08    8:04   24th   5th M 50-54
33. Bess Stuart              50  F  White Post, VA       50:17    8:06   9th    1st F 50-54
34. Kathryn Dunn             28  F  Purcellville, VA     50:41    8:09   10th   1st F 25-29
35. Jereme Dill              32  M  Hedgesville, WV      50:54    8:11   25th   4th M 30-34
36. Laura LaRock             14  F  Hamilton, VA         51:21    8:16   11th   1st F 14 & Under
37. Thomas Yearwood          32  M  Purcellville, VA     51:26    8:17   26th   5th M 30-34
38. Keith Lichliter          23  M  Berryville, VA       51:36    8:18   27th   2nd M 20-24
39. Debby Rosel              53  F  Round Hill, VA       52:03    8:23   12th   2nd F 50-54
40. Bob Hasychak             54  M  Nokesville, VA       52:03    8:23   28th   6th M 50-54
41. Kim Crisp                41  F  Manassas, VA         52:14    8:24   13th   3rd F 40-44
42. Keegan Newton            15  M  Purcellville, VA     52:37    8:28   29th   3rd M 15-19
43. Kevin Frankovich         47  M  Round Hill, VA       52:41    8:29   30th   3rd M 45-49
44. Tom Bowman               46  M  Leesburg, VA         52:46    8:30   31st   4th M 45-49
45. Scott Levinson           46  M  Herndon, VA          53:00    8:32   32nd   5th M 45-49
46. Jamie Maines             35  M  Falls Church, VA     53:35    8:37   33rd   4th M 35-39
47. Tom Hoover               40  M  Bethesda, MD         54:00    8:41   34th   3rd M 40-44
48. Lynn Blycher             44  F  Leesburg, VA         54:24    8:45   14th   4th F 40-44
49. David LaMay              40  M  Leesburg, VA         54:34    8:47   35th   4th M 40-44
50. Zanny Ludtke             15  F  Round Hill, VA       55:13    8:53   15th   1st F 15-19
51. Teresa Murphy            52  F  Alexandria, VA       55:40    8:58   16th   3rd F 50-54
52. Kevin Murphy             46  M  Woodbridge, VA       55:40    8:58   36th   6th M 45-49
53. Chris Guillaudeu         52  M  Purcellville, VA     55:41    8:58   37th   7th M 50-54
54. Alan Riggs               51  M  Lovettsville, VA     55:58    9:00   38th   8th M 50-54
55. Erica Cline              29  F  Broadlands, VA       56:00    9:01   17th   2nd F 25-29
56. Megan Fatenbaker         28  F  Winchester, VA       56:01    9:01   18th   3rd F 25-29
57. Talbot Mack              68  M  Middleburg, VA       56:04    9:01   39th   1st M 65-69
58. Cassie Ludtke            24  F  Round Hill, VA       57:03    9:11   19th   2nd F 20-24
59. Charles Izzo             38  M  Purcellville, VA     57:49    9:18   40th   5th M 35-39
60. Anthony Crisp            42  M  Manassas, VA         58:16    9:23   41st   5th M 40-44
61. Gary Hoffman             53  M  Sterling, VA       1:00:04    9:40   42nd   9th M 50-54
62. Cassandra Stuart         27  F  Washington, DC     1:00:25    9:43   20th   4th F 25-29
63. Beth Newton              42  F  Purcellville, VA   1:01:39    9:55   21st   5th F 40-44
64. Anastasia Sowers         37  F  Purcellville, VA   1:01:40    9:55   22nd   2nd F 35-39
65. Jeff Charron             48  M  Purcellville, VA   1:01:40    9:55   43rd   7th M 45-49
66. Bob James                57  M  Leesburg, VA       1:02:23   10:02   44th   2nd M 55-59
67. Caroline Trudeau         33  F  Falls Church, VA   1:03:22   10:12   23rd   2nd F 30-34
68. Robert Gurtler           73  M  The Plains, VA     1:05:15   10:30   45th   1st M 70-74
69. Bob Thie                 62  M  Marshall, VA       1:05:32   10:33   46th   2nd M 60-64
70. Wayne Holland            66  M  Alexandria, VA     1:05:44   10:35   47th   2nd M 65-69
71. Molly Aitken             36  F  Woodsboro, MD      1:06:12   10:39   24th   3rd F 35-39
72. Joseph Nguyen            27  M  Woodbridge, VA     1:07:25   10:51   48th   3rd M 25-29
73. Trace-Ann Green          38  F  Ashburn, VA        1:07:41   10:54   25th   4th F 35-39
74. Kim Apperson             43  F  Silver Spring, MD  1:09:31   11:11   26th   6th F 40-44
75. Phil Lambert             29  M  Woodbridge, VA     1:12:04   11:36   49th   4th M 25-29
76. Jennifer Drew            26  F  Washington, DC     1:12:38   11:41   27th   5th F 25-29
77. Dan Dieckhaus            28  M  Washington, DC     1:14:23*  11:58   50th   5th M 25-29
78. Kristin Demming          26  F  Washington, DC     1:19:54*  12:52   28th   6th F 25-29
79. Paul Alexander           46  M  Arlington, VA      1:29:18*  14:22   51st   8th M 45-49
80. Paul Christopher         73  M  Leesburg, VA       1:30:16   14:32   52nd   2nd M 70-74

* Note: Dan Dieckhaus (77th), Kristin Demming (78th), and Paul Alexander (79th) all started late.

RESULTS BY DIVISION

The top two men & women overall received handpainted pottery items. The top two in each age group received Bluemont Fair mugs.

FEMALE OVERALL
#  NAME                     AGE SEX CITY, STATE          TIME     PACE   O'ALL  IN SEX
1.  Jillian Atherton-Mellish 28  F  Front Royal, VA      44:03    7:05   9th    1st
2.  Tina Genay               37  F  Winchester, VA       46:25    7:28   13th   2nd

MALE OVERALL
1.  Justin Fritzius          24  M  Purcellville, VA     33:39    5:25   1st    1st
2.  Chris Sheaffer           24  M  Purcellville, VA     34:22    5:32   2nd    2nd

FEMALE 14 & UNDER
1.  Laura LaRock             14  F  Hamilton, VA         51:21    8:16   36th   11th

FEMALE 15-19
1.  Zanny Ludtke             15  F  Round Hill, VA       55:13    8:53   50th   15th

MALE 15-19
1.  Stephen Novitch          17  M  Purcellville, VA     45:39    7:21   10th   9th
2.  Jordan Smith             18  M  Bluemont, VA         47:57    7:43   19th   15th
3.  Keegan Newton            15  M  Purcellville, VA     52:37    8:28   42nd   29th

FEMALE 20-24
1.  Angie Farris             21  F  Purcellville, VA     48:20    7:47   22nd   6th
2.  Cassie Ludtke            24  F  Round Hill, VA       57:03    9:11   58th   19th

MALE 20-24
1.  Alex Levin               22  M  Bluemont, VA         49:37    7:59   27th   20th
2.  Keith Lichliter          23  M  Berryville, VA       51:36    8:18   38th   27th

FEMALE 25-29
1.  Kathryn Dunn             28  F  Purcellville, VA     50:41    8:09   34th   10th
2.  Erica Cline              29  F  Broadlands, VA       56:00    9:01   55th   17th
3.  Megan Fatenbaker         28  F  Winchester, VA       56:01    9:01   56th   18th
4.  Cassandra Stuart         27  F  Washington, DC     1:00:25    9:43   62nd   20th
5.  Jennifer Drew            26  F  Washington, DC     1:12:38   11:41   76th   27th
6.  Kristin Demming          26  F  Washington, DC     1:19:54   12:52   78th   28th

MALE 25-29
1.  Charles Bowles           26  M  Boyce, VA            37:56    6:06   4th    4th
2.  Jeremy Clark             29  M  Arlington, VA        47:08    7:35   16th   13th
3.  Joseph Nguyen            27  M  Woodbridge, VA     1:07:25   10:51   72nd   48th
4.  Phil Lambert             29  M  Woodbridge, VA     1:12:04   11:36   75th   49th
5.  Dan Dieckhaus            28  M  Washington, DC     1:14:23   11:58   77th   50th

FEMALE 30-34
1.  Molly Lawless            33  F  Arlington, VA        48:01    7:44   20th   5th
2.  Caroline Trudeau         33  F  Falls Church, VA   1:03:22   10:12   67th   23rd

MALE 30-34
1.  Karsten Brown            34  M  Front Royal, VA      36:49    5:56   3rd    3rd
2.  Nathan Sowers            34  M  Ellicott City, MD    43:24    6:59   6th    6th
3.  Joshua Yospyn            31  M  Washington, DC       45:40    7:21   11th   10th
4.  Jereme Dill              32  M  Hedgesville, WV      50:54    8:11   35th   25th
5.  Thomas Yearwood          32  M  Purcellville, VA     51:26    8:17   37th   26th

FEMALE 35-39
1.  Wendy Snyder             35  F  Washington, DC       48:45    7:51   24th   7th
2.  Anastasia Sowers         37  F  Purcellville, VA   1:01:40    9:55   64th   22nd
3.  Molly Aitken             36  F  Woodsboro, MD      1:06:12   10:39   71st   24th
4.  Trace-Ann Green          38  F  Ashburn, VA        1:07:41   10:54   73rd   25th

MALE 35-39
1.  Tom Heinemann            39  M  Arlington, VA        38:34    6:12   5th    5th
2.  Joel Kline               35  M  Purcellville, VA     46:33    7:29   14th   12th
3.  Paul Heinold             39  M  Alexandria, VA       48:47    7:51   25th   18th
4.  Jamie Maines             35  M  Falls Church, VA     53:35    8:37   46th   33rd
5.  Charles Izzo             38  M  Purcellville, VA     57:49    9:18   59th   40th

FEMALE 40-44
1.  Jill Montaquila          41  F  Harpers Ferry, WV    46:59    7:34   15th   3rd
2.  Heather O'Neill Jelks    42  F  Alexandria, VA       49:56    8:02   30th   8th
3.  Kim Crisp                41  F  Manassas, VA         52:14    8:24   41st   13th
4.  Lynn Blycher             44  F  Leesburg, VA         54:24    8:45   48th   14th
5.  Beth Newton              42  F  Purcellville, VA   1:01:39    9:55   63rd   21st
6.  Kim Apperson             43  F  Silver Spring, MD  1:09:31   11:11   74th   26th

MALE 40-44
1.  Bill Lasky               44  M  Sterling, VA         43:50    7:03   7th    7th
2.  Bill Herdtfelder         44  M  Stephenson, VA       45:41    7:21   12th   11th
3.  Tom Hoover               40  M  Bethesda, MD         54:00    8:41   47th   34th
4.  David LaMay              40  M  Leesburg, VA         54:34    8:47   49th   35th
5.  Anthony Crisp            42  M  Manassas, VA         58:16    9:23   60th   41st

MALE 45-49
1.  Scott Walker             49  M  Ashburn, VA          47:53    7:42   18th   14th
2.  Anthony Morris           45  M  Bluemont, VA         49:44    8:00   29th   22nd
3.  Kevin Frankovich         47  M  Round Hill, VA       52:41    8:29   43rd   30th
4.  Tom Bowman               46  M  Leesburg, VA         52:46    8:30   44th   31st
5.  Scott Levinson           46  M  Herndon, VA          53:00    8:32   45th   32nd
6.  Kevin Murphy             46  M  Woodbridge, VA       55:40    8:58   52nd   36th
7.  Jeff Charron             48  M  Purcellville, VA   1:01:40    9:55   65th   43rd
8.  Paul Alexander           46  M  Arlington, VA      1:29:18   14:22   79th   51st

FEMALE 50-54
1.  Bess Stuart              50  F  White Post, VA       50:17    8:06   33rd   9th
2.  Debby Rosel              53  F  Round Hill, VA       52:03    8:23   39th   12th
3.  Teresa Murphy            52  F  Alexandria, VA       55:40    8:58   51st   16th

MALE 50-54
1.  Myron Kremer             51  M  Winchester, VA       43:54    7:04   8th    8th
2.  Andrew Heron             52  M  Reston, VA           48:08    7:45   21st   16th
3.  Kevin Giles              53  M  Leesburg, VA         49:41    8:00   28th   21st
4.  Dennis Gates             54  M  Haymarket, VA        50:07    8:04   31st   23rd
5.  Tom Simonds              53  M  Leesburg, VA         50:08    8:04   32nd   24th
6.  Bob Hasychak             54  M  Nokesville, VA       52:03    8:23   40th   28th
7.  Chris Guillaudeu         52  M  Purcellville, VA     55:41    8:58   53rd   37th
8.  Alan Riggs               51  M  Lovettsville, VA     55:58    9:00   54th   38th
9.  Gary Hoffman             53  M  Sterling, VA       1:00:04    9:40   61st   42nd

FEMALE 55-59
1.  Rachel Muir              56  F  Reston, VA           47:09    7:35   17th   4th

MALE 55-59
1.  Paul J. Nevins           56  M  Leesburg, VA         48:32    7:49   23rd   17th
2.  Bob James                57  M  Leesburg, VA       1:02:23   10:02   66th   44th

MALE 60-64
1.  Randy Wingfield          63  M  Winchester, VA       49:30    7:58   26th   19th
2.  Bob Thie                 62  M  Marshall, VA       1:05:32   10:33   69th   46th

MALE 65-69
1.  Talbot Mack              68  M  Middleburg, VA       56:04    9:01   57th   39th
2.  Wayne Holland            66  M  Alexandria, VA     1:05:44   10:35   70th   47th

MALE 70-74
1.  Robert Gurtler           73  M  The Plains, VA     1:05:15   10:30   68th   45th
2.  Paul Christopher         73  M  Leesburg, VA       1:30:16   14:32   80th   52nd

Race director: Charley Billman. Volunteers: Anna & River Billman, Karsten Brown, Nancy Bullock, Larry Cochran, Sonny & Betty Colbert, Don & Linda Corley, Annabel Hughes, Muffin Quinn, Kelly Roszel. Results: Karsten Brown.

Sponsors: Bloom Purcellville; Bluemont General Store; Bluemont Vineyard; Broad Run Veterinary Service Inc.; Global Emergency Group; Graydon Manor Behavioral Health Services; Great Country Farms; Hair Designs by Rosemary; L.A.D. Reporting & Digital Videography.

Special thanks: Round Hill Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Signet Screen Printing & Embroidery, Shenandoah Valley Runners.

Additional race coverage can be found on the Bluemont Fair Web site at http://www.bluemontfair.com/.