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Star Photoj by Rick FosterFormer James Madison University standout Jason Long (left) won Saturday's men's overall title in the Loudoun Street Mile. Maria Spinnler (above) won the women's race.Area Talent Claims Mile TitlesFormer JMU Star Long,By BEN BROOKS_The Winchester Star_With last year’s champions no where in sight, Saturday’s 15th annual Loudoun Street mile road race in Winchester was bound to have different winners.Different names, perhaps, but ones not exactly new to the area.Former Central High School and James Madison University standout Jason Long made his first appearance at the Loudoun Street mile memorable by winning the men’s open division with a time of 4 minutes, 10 seconds.Forty-one year-old Maria Spinnler, a Hagerstown, Md., resident and five-time winner of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom 10K, took advantage of some notable absences to win the women’s division. Spinnler finished in 5:21, eight seconds slower than her third-place time a year ago and 21 seconds off three-time champion Sasha Scott’s 2002 winning time.Long, a four-time collegiate All-American, held off second-place Corey Smith by four seconds to earn the increased $300 first-place prize money. Recent Sherando High School graduate Ryan Foster took third place (4:33) for the second straight year.“I was chasing just like last year,” said Foster, a Group AA state championHagerstown’s Spinnler1this spring in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. “But it’s fun to race against good competition.”Longtime area runner and first-time Loudoun Mile race director Mark Stick-ley has known Long for years. So when Long paid a visit to Stickley’s store, Runner’s Retreat, on the Old Town Mall to purchase some shoes, Stickley encouraged him to register for the race.Long wasn’t familiar with all his competition Saturday, but he did know that Smith would not be far behind. The two 24-year-olds have trained recently at Georgetown University.“I knew he was there and that he was going to be there the whole time,” Long said. “He’s a quality runner.”Long broke the four-minute mile barrier indoors this season and hopes to keep improving and make a second trip to the Olympic Trials next summer.“I think with a little more training I can get to that next level,” Long said. “I’ve got some years ahead of me.“I’ve just got to keep pushing forward and keep on getting better.”With Scott not returning to defend her Loudoun Mile title and 2002 runner-up Brenda Schrank of Winchester forced to jog because of an injury, Spinnler took control.Jessica Fanning, 17, a rising senior at Western Ablemarle, took second in 5:29 and Maureen Hall, 38, was third in 5:43.Vin Loudoun St. RacesJessica’s younger sister Tasmin Fanning placed fourth.“It was a little different crowd this year,” Spinnler said. “There were several younger girls up there.“Everyone went out really hard, maybe too hard, and I think that slowed the times up a little.”Stickley won the men’s masters division (40-49 years old) with a time of 4:38, fifth best overall. Loeticia Warring won the women’s masters with a 5:44.Grand masters division winners (50 and over) were Jason Page (5:28) and Nancy Specht (6:44).As has been the case in recent years, a portion of the proceeds from the Loudoun Street Mile are donated to Winchester’s Shelter for Abused Women. Sponsors for this year’s race included Oldies FM 95.3, First Bank, Valley Health, PERC Fitness, Runner’s Retreat, and Winchester Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine.Stickley said that increasing the prize money from last year’s $100 first-place amount is key to improving the race field.“It really makes it attractive to someone like Jason,” Stickley said. “Hopefully we can continue to increase the prize money.”Stickley said that 158 runners entered the race and 155, including children who ran separately, participated.
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Winchester Star
Winchester, Virginia, US
Mon, Jul 21, 2003
Page 14
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MD, USA 11 Dec 2024
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