2024 Women’s Distance Festival/ Men Run After the Women 5K BY KATHY HANSON
T he 2024 race was held on July 6, a sunny day with a temperature of 90 degrees at the start and 8 mph winds from the West. There were 29 male & 104 women who pre-registered, and eight race-day registrants. On race day, there were 96 finishers of the women’s race, and 25 in the men’s. To give a little history of this race, the name “Women’s Distance
Congrats to our 5k class graduates
Coach Paul Thorn
Festival” (WDF) is part of a Grand Prix Series sponsored by the Maryland RRCA and its participating RRCA clubs. There were eight clubs
this year which participated in the Series. Our race was the fourth leg. They are all 5K (3.1 miles) races for women runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. Those who complete four or more races receive a participation award, usually presented in October. This race also is the graduation race for the Annapolis Striders’ Beginning Runners 5K program. Because there are men in the program, a special event was created for them (“Men Run After the Women,” RATW). Not all of the clubs participating in the Grand Prix Series allow men in their events. Rene Tolan was the first overall finisher of the WDF, with a time of 20:55. Eric Penkala finished first overall in the RATW with a time of 17:31. The oldest female runner was Allie Young who is 78 years young, and the oldest male runners were John Koletty and Alan Wycher- ley , both 82 years young. Everything went relatively smoothly on race day, though it was quite warm. One of the female runners was taken to the hospital after the race, initially for dehydration. I would like to thank not only Larry Puglisi who became the Volunteer Coordinator at the last minute, but all of the volunteers who helped make this race a success. I would also like to thank the gentleman (name unknown) who helped announce the award winners. We look forward to seeing you next year!
Chelsy-Sippora Funebe
Kimberly McKay
Laura Allen
Elizabeth DePriest
Moges Abebe
Tom Lyden
THE STREAK I SUMMER 2025
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