Neville Anderson has been on a roll.
First-place finishes this year in the Aloha 5K, the Light Rail Run 5K, the Twilight River Run 5K, the Five-Smiler and Race Judicata 5K. Second-place finishes in Paola's 5K, the Benjamin Banneker Memorial 5K, the Zoo Zoom 5-miler and the Provident Bank Labor Day 8K.
Since two-thirds of his first- and second-place finishes have come at 5 kilometers, it is not surprising that it is the distance he considers his best.
"The 5K is a speed race, but surprisingly I like the longer races too," says Anderson, a 32-year-old resident of Baltimore. "My weight is still around 180 -- people say that's heavy for distance running. I have trouble with the hills -- going up them and coming downhill."
And therein lies the rub for the 6-foot-1 Anderson, who has run four marathons -- including a personal-record 2 hours, 42 minutes, 9 seconds in the 1993 Pittsburgh Marathon -- and would like to run another.
The solution?
Pick carefully.
"They say Philly and the Trails are flat marathons," says Anderson. "I don't want to have to tackle hills."
Anderson, who works for Family Services Foundation, an institution for the deaf and blind, will pick between the Philadelphia Marathon -- to be run Nov. 20 -- or the Baltimore Road Runners Club's Northern Central Trail Marathon Nov. 26.
"My running is up and down," says Anderson, who won a Race Judicata 5K Saturday in 15:27 and another Race Judicata 5K in the spring, "because I'm doing something people in the running community say is bad for you -- racing every week. I've raced every week going back two years now. As long as I'm halfway healthy, I'll keep doing it."
Briefly
Area finishers in the New York City Marathon: Dominique DaLuz, 2:39:52; Karl Hurst, 2:54:11; Gary Pedroni, 3:08; Ronnie Wong, 3:10:18; Dale Jordan, 3:14; Janine Paciarelli, 3:40:58; Joe Glass, 4:07:30; Jill Mottus, 4:08; Alan Sokoloff, 4:39:20; Chandini Bachman, 5:45:15. . . . The Tri-Maryland Triathlon Club operates a free race-application facsimile service. For information, call (410) 882-6103. . . . There was a total of 110 participants in RASAC's three-part Bill Brown Youth Series. . . . Area finishers in the Chicago Marathon: Dave Berardi, 2:24:14; Ray Lorden, 2:57:40; Jack Paterra, 2:57:53; Dale Jordan, 3:08:38; Pete Hens, 3:13:43; Tim McDermott, 3:14:02; Kathy Luby, 3:35:31; Bailey St. Clair, 3:36:06; Christy St. Clair, 3:40:43; Ruth Hens, 3:48:16; Chris Sinclair, 2:49:01; Sam Fine, 3:48; Joe Glass, 3:59; Bob Ray, 4:11:32. . . . The area's top finishers:
SATURDAY
RASAC Thomas Run 7-Miler
At Harford CC
Males: 1. Bucky Sexton, 44:05; 2. Michael Feinberg, 44:41; 3. Mike McGinley, 46:36; 4. Todd Rumbaugh, 47:43; 5. Bernie Gemmill, 51:29.
Females: 1. Tracey Lawler, 52:29; 2. Margaret Starnes, 55:11; 3. Wendy Hayes, 57:14; 4. Rhonda Dilutis, 1:04:55; 5. Debby Grieb, 1:04:56.
BRRC Cross Country Series
At Baybrook Park
Teams: 1. BRRC, 38; 2. Annapolis Striders, 41.
Males: 1. Mike Woodman, 15:59; 2. Jim Clelland, 16:01; 3. Paul Hannsen, 16:11; 4. John Floyd, 16:16; 5. John Hecox, 16:52; 6. Matt Mace, 17:14; 7. Remus Medley, 17:15; 8. Desi McNellis, 17:48; 9. Fin Mears, 18:07; 10. Chris Cucuzzella, 18:29.
Females: 1. Christy Nichols, 17:42; 2. Cindy Carpenter, 20:01; 3. Michelle St. Laurent, 20:59; 4. Kitty Good, 22:26.
SUNDAY
BRRC Children's Cross Country Championships (1 1/2 miles)
At Goucher College
Boys 9 and under: 1. Sid Blevins, 9:45; 2. Joseph Wojciechowski, 9:45.6; 3. Jason Nissley, 9:55. Girls 9 and under: 1. Valerie Battenfeld, 9:59; 2. Kim Vaughan, 10:09; 3. Ashley Campbell, 10:23. Boys 10-11: 1. Brad McGinty, 9:23; 2. Danny Anacker, 9:23.7; 3. Adam Schluter, 9:34. Girls 10-11: 1. Kacie Remeto, 9:29; 2. Davlyn Hill, 9:36; 3. Jamie Hilliard, 9:42. Boys 12-14: 1. Kirk Bouffard, 8:15; 2. Scott Novak, 8:58; 3. Aaron Johnson, 9:00. Girls 12-14: 1. Jennifer Schuerhold, 9:16; 2. Brianne Jenkins, 9:39; 3. Julie Bederka, 9:42.
WRRC Caple's 3-Mile Cross Country Caper
At Westminster
Males: 1. Larry Pickett, 33, 18:36; 2. Bob McCubbin, 34, 21:23; 3. Gary Honeman, 39, 21:48; 4. Dave Herlocker, 54, 23:19; 5. Curt Meadows, 47, 23:42. Masters: 1. Herlocker.
Females: 1, Janice Haug, 36, 24:14.
Nov. 6, Patapsco Ramble 5- and 10-Milers, Patapsco State Park.
Coming events
Saturday, MCRRC Little Bennett Big Bumpy Cross Country #4, Clarksburg, 8:15 a.m., (301) 353-0200.
Saturday, Jingle Bell Run/Walk 5K, Columbia, 8:30 a.m., (410) 377-8882.
Saturday, Annapolis Striders' Hog Neck Scamper 5-Miler, Pasadena, 8:30 a.m., (410) 268-1165.
Saturday, Big Brothers, Big Sisters 5K, Wilmington, Del., 9 a.m., (302) 654-6400.Sunday, Vietnam Veterans Memorial 10K, Washington, 8 a.m.
Sunday, Essex CC Triathlon (3M run, 10M bike, 1/4 M swim), Essex CC, 8:15 a.m.Sunday, BRRC Challenge Cross Country, 6 miles, Herring Run, 9 a.m., (410) 243-3153.
Sunday, Lutherville-Timonium Turkey Run 5K, Lutherville, 9 a.m., 882-5455.
Sunday, RASAC Tucker 10K, Bel Air, 9 a.m., (410) 939-4679.
Sunday, HCS 2M, 5M, Swansfield Elementary, 2 p.m., (410) 964-1998.