The early-year marathon season kicked into high gear over the weekend with the Renaissance AllSports Athletic Club's Last Train to Boston Marathon and the Annapolis Striders' B&A; Trail Marathon.
Jack Davidson, an Air Force major from Norfolk, Va., won Saturday's Last Train in 2 hours, 55 minutes, 55 seconds. It was his first marathon. Margaret Starnes won the women's division in 3:14:11.
Mark Jones successfully defended his title in the fourth annual B&A; Trail Marathon on Sunday with a 2:39:06 finish.
In the women's division, Jennifer Sullivan beat Leann Myhre, who had won last year.
The Striders had named Jones and Sullivan its Runners of the Year on Friday night. The top finishers:
SATURDAY
Last Train to Boston Marathon At Aberdeen Proving Ground
Males: 1. Jack Davidson, 36, 2:55:55; 2. Michael Dransfield, 31, 2:58:37; 3. Troy Conran, 33, 2:59:04; 4. Dale Crum, 42, 3:01:27; 5. Jerry Grace, 38, 3:01:56; 6. Todd Matthew, 33, 3:02:50; 7. Tom Dixon, 48, 3:03:25; 8. Pat Heller, 26, 3:05:17; 9. John Tobin, 49, 3:05:49; 10. Mike Woodford, 29, 3:05:51. Masters: 1. Crum.
Females: 1. Margaret Starnes, 40, 3:14:11; 2. Sheila Terxeira, 31, 3:24:56; 3. Sandy Bertrand, 31, 3:30:54; 4. Margaret Seymour, 48, 3:35:48; 5. Diane Fantaskey, 50, 3:40:46; 6. Margaret Kilby, 38, 3:44:04; 7. Eileen Kelly, 31, 3:46:08; 8. Janet Gerber, 44, 3:49:46; 9. Catherine Fieseler, 36, 3:50:42; 10. Wendy Rauscher, 27, 3:50:44. Masters: 1. Seymour.
B&A; Trail Marathon At Severna Park
Males: 1. Mark Jones, 33, 2:39:06; 2. Jim Griffith, 34, 2:41:51; 3. Chris Riley, 51, 2:59:40; 4. Craig Conover, 45, 3:01:41; 5. Timothy Briscoe, 42, 3:02:31; 6. Francisco Sanches, 52, 3:06:55; 7. Budd Bettler, 51, 3:08:03; 8. Michael McHale, 44, 3:09:14; 9. Nicholas Walraven, 36, 3:10:40; 10. Dave Walser, 36, 3:14:10.
Females: 1. Jennifer Sullivan, 30, 3:06:31; 2. Leann Myhre, 37, 3:17:52; 3. Sophia Fenn, 29, 3:18:45; 4. Sue Briers, 39, 3:37:35; 5. Nancy Walz, 43, 3:38:25; 6. Mary Lang, 4;1, 3:49:08; 7. Brenda Norman, 37, 4:09:51; 8. Taylor Waters, 29, 4:16:12; 9. Lynn Kruck,
49, 4:56:09.
Streaking along
Craig Smith of the Seattle Times, who is writing a story on Washington's Jim Pearson -- a 50-year-old who has run every day for 25-plus years -- reports that Ron Hill's even-longer streak is intact.
Smith, who spoke with Hill, 56, last week, said the British runner suffered a broken arm Sept. 8 of last year but was able to continue his daily streak and observed its 30th anniversary Dec. 20.
Baltimore's Bob Ray, 57, who is approaching his 28th anniversary of running every day, continues to have what is believed to be the second longest streak.
Cherry Blossom update
Entries have closed at 5,800 runners for the 23rd running of the Northern Telecom Cherry Blossom 10-Miler on April 9 in Washington, D.C.
Runners who missed gaining entry this year can guarantee themselves entry next year by volunteering for this year's race.
D8 To volunteer, call (301) 340-6699 or (301) 262-7933.
Triathlete honored
Lee Di Pietro, who with her husband Lee moved to Baltimore in September, has been honored by Tri-Fed and Arena Sports as the 1994 Amateur Triathlete of the Year.
A 36-year-old mother of two boys, Di Pietro has been the national champion in her age class for the past three years, was second in the 1993 world championships and won her division at the most recent Ironman triathlon.
Better late than never
Runner's World publisher George Hirsch has been named winner of the 60-69 age group at the 1994 Chicago Marathon after first-place finisher Ruben Cordon was disqualified for not having run the entire course.
Hirsch took the announcement in stride.
"I think this might be the longest time it has ever taken a person
to win an age group in any marathon," he said.
Briefly
The Annapolis Striders have named Jimmy Carter, T. J. Harrington and Pam Haley Most Improved Runners of the Year for 1994. . . . Annapolis Striders president Matt Mace says: "We're hoping to add another race this year -- the Run Down
Rowe Boulevard 1-Miler. The tentative date is April 22." . . . Area finisher in Colonial Williamsburg Half-Marathon: Mike Baziz, 97:20. . . . Sunday's top finishers:
BRRC Layne Half-Marathon At Lake Montebello
6* Males: 1. Neville Anderson, 33, 65:32.
Bethesda Chase 20K At Bethesda
Males: 1. Eric Woronick, 66:27; 2. Mark Hoon, 68:06; 3. Christophe Koehler, 68:21. Area finisher: Mike Baziz, 92:00. Females: 1. Bonnie Barnard-Lopez, 75:26; 2. Susan David, 81:32; 3. Hope Hall, 83:15.
Coming events
Saturday, RASAC Polar Bear Run, APG, 9 a.m., (410) 836-1784.
Saturday, St. Patrick's 8K Cup, Largo Park, 9 a.m., (301) 925-7050.
L Saturday, St. Patty's 5K, Salisbury, 9 a.m., (410) 749-1624.
Saturday, 5K for Bruce, Newark, Del., 10:30 a.m., (302) 654-6400.
Saturday, Forest of Needwood 5M, Brunswick, 1 p.m., (301) 834-8045.
Sunday, Maryvale Rite of Spring 5K, Brooklandville, 9 a.m., (410) 377-8882.
Sunday, RASAC Fox 5K, Bel Air, 8 a.m., (410) 638-2717.
Sunday, MCRRC Piece of Cake 5K, 10K, 15K, Gaithersburg, 10 a.m., (301) 353-0200.
Sunday, Marathon Sports Winter Series 5K, Wilmington, Del., 11 a.m., (302) 654-6400.
Sunday, HCS Winter Series #9, Thunder Hill Elementary School, 2 p.m., (410) 964-1998.
March 18, Shamrock Marathon, 8K, Virginia Beach, Va., 8:30 a.m., (804) 481-5090.
March 18, Chambersburg YMCA Half-Marathon, Chambersburg, Pa., 9:30 a.m., (717) 765-8752.
March 19, RASAC Kielbasa 6.1-Miler, Bel Air, 8 a.m., (410) 838-9423.
March 19, Roemer's Roller Coaster 8-Mile Run, Hampstead, 9 a.m., (410) 374-1740.
March 19, Tri-Maryland La Plata Biathlon (3M run, 23M bike, 3M run), La Plata, 10 a.m., (410) 882-6103.
March 19, Caesar Rodney Half-Marathon, Wilmington, Del., 1 p.m., (302) 654-6400.
March 19, St. Patrick's Parade Run 5K, Baltimore, 1:30 p.m., (410) 882-5455.
March 25, Duckworth Relays 5K, Glenelg High School, 8 a.m., (410) 964-1998.
March 25, Hinte-Anderson Trail 50K, Susquehanna State Park, 9 a.m., (410) 879-7679.