SVR Jingle Bell 5K

Boyce, VA, December 20, 2008

Race Report

by Karsten Brown

Always one of the most popular races in the Shenandoah Valley Runners' eight-race Winter Series, the Jingle Bell 5K saw another sizeable pre-Christmas crowd this year. 149 runners, ten short of the event record, showed up on a cold, cloudy morning in central Clarke County to tackle the rolling but pleasant 3.1 mile loop through the grounds of the Blandy Experimental Farm & State Arboretum of Virginia. Hardly noticed amidst the hubbub was the fact that this was the Jingle Bell 5K's tenth year on the Winter Series schedule. First staged in 1999 by Kim Weisgerber-Craig and Patrick Farris, the race is now in the capable hands of Duane Williamson.

24-year-old Purcellville residents Justin Fritzius and Chris Sheaffer led the way around the Blandy loop, with Fritzius eventually breaking away to win in 16:28. Sheaffer had no trouble hanging onto second in 16:57. 15-year-old Seumas O'Reilly outclassed 2007 winner Karsten Brown for third place, shaking the 34-year-old with a burst of speed just before the three mile mark and dashing away to finish in 17:26. Brown huffed across the line seven seconds later.

2002 winner Brad Rippey, now 42, was the top male Masters finisher in 18:55, with 51-year-old Mike Meadows topping the 50-59ers in 19:12. 63-year-old Ed Mayhew's 23:14 finish and 70-year-old Doug Morris' 24:48 finish were also worthy of applause.

Winchester's Brenda Schrank, 37, earned her second overall women's victory at the Jingle Bell 5K with an excellent 19:35 finish, almost a minute faster than her winning time in 2002. Millbrook High School senior Sullivan Parkes was second among the 61-runner ladies' field with a 20:12 showing, followed eleven seconds later by Winter Series newcomer Jill Atherton-Mellish, 28. 2006 champ Michelle VanHorn, 27, edged out 20-year-old Megan Roberts for fourth by four seconds in 21:40.

Tracey Black, 46, was the fastest Masters woman in 23:36, while 53-year-old Connie Phlipot had an outstanding 23:57 performance to lead the fifty-somethings. Hidden further back in the women's field were impressive runs by 63-year-old Mary Mayhew (29:41) and 71-year-old Janet Hughes (35:31).

Race director Duane Williamson wishes to thank his volunteer crew, including registration tablers Rosanne Williamson and Greg Steinmeyer, set-up helpers Myron Kremer and Karsten Brown, course marshals Andy & Kathy Bonaffini, timer operators Glenn Williamson and Alexander Snyder, finish card hander-outer Jason Page, hot chocolate provider James Rohr, and photographer Vincente Lai. (Many photos taken by Vincente are available on Flickr.) And special thanks to the folks at Blandy for their hospitality!