Story and all photos by George Banker

August 27, 2023, Annapolis, MD—It was 48 years of running for the Annapolis 10 Mile Run. The race started as a conversation among friends about men being more physically fit than women (1976). They staged a ten-mile challenge which included John Astle, Randy Fox, and Bart Royhrbach vs. Phyllis Beardmore, Debbie Fox, Donna Jay, and Bonnie Philipps.

Randy Fox: “John Astle and I came into Annapolis about a half block from the downtown finish. Astle planned only to finish and said, ‘Don’t let it ever be said who won the first Annapolis Run’ and took off. I did not expect it.”

Astle proved to be a competitor and said, “In 1985 the State Police tried to close the race two weeks before, because it was against the law to have a road race on state roads. Since there was no law permitting the race, it was interpreted to mean a race could not be held.” Through Astle’s intervention the race was held. To protect the future, then Delegate Astle introduced House Bill No 794 (61r2543), Vehicle Laws-Foot Racing Events. Senator Astle maintained a streak [Annapolis 10 Mile Run] from 1985 – 2013.

The 48^th race started under overcast skies which gave way to rising temperatures and humidity. The field included the defending champions Samuel Doud (53:05) and four-time winner Julia Roman-Duval (1:00:55).

Roman-Duval was defending a dual title of master from 2022. Kristopher Shold of Annapolis was defending his master’s title of  57:01 from last year.

The male event record was set in 1980 by Terry Baker (48:09) and the female was set in 1982 by Eleanor Simonsick (56:12).

The male master record was set in 1994 by James Pryde (53:48) and the female was set in 1991 by Rose Malloy (1:00:36). Malloy is a seven-time winner.

Once the runners left the lot of the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, a pack of five runners took the lead. In less than a half mile, Doud broke away and it was clear he was going to defend his title. The two runners who gave chase were Ben Doiron of Fleet Feet Adams Morgan and Mitchell Rome of Dallas, PA.

Going into the fourth mile Doud of Pacers/GRC had  a 400-meter lead over Doiron and Rome as they negotiated the 80-foot-span bridge over the Severn River. (The bridge was completed in time for the 19^th Annapolis 10 on August 28, 1994.) Also heading up the bridge were female leader Anna Kenig-Ziesler of Pacers/GRC with Julia Roman-Duval off to the left and matching stride.

The challenging part of the course was going over the rolling hills in the neighborhood before returning to bridge about mile 8.5.

Doud was overtaken by Doiron as they went toward the sixth mile. As Doud started to fall off the pace, Rome assumed second place trying to reel in Doiron. Once off the bridge with less than a mile to go Doiron made his way back to the stadium to take the win in 53:26. Rome placed second with 54:18 and Doud was third with 54:44.

Kenig-Ziesler on the road extended her lead over Roman-Duval and captured her first Annapolis with a time of 1:01:12. Roman-Duval held on for second with 1:03:10. Third place was captured by Yara Radoshittsky of Huntersville, NC in 1:03:53.

Shold defended his first master title with a time of 57:01 as did Roman-Duval with 1:03:10.

Marine Corps Marathon Race Director, Alexander Hetherington placed third in the Grand Master’s Division with a 1:05:55. In 2013 Hetherington was the master’s winner (58:25).

Full Results

Top Males

1. Ben Doiron, 26, 53:26, Washington, DC
2. Mitchell Rome, 22, 54:18, Dallas, PA
3. Samuel Doud, 27, 54:44, Washington, DC
4. Austin McGinley, 29, 56:08, Reston, VA
5. Luke Gilman, 29, 56:26, Stafford, VA
6. Paul Hugus, 39, 56:51, Columbia, MD
7. Kristopher Shold, 42, 57:01, Annapolis, MD (1st master)
8. Alan Francis Kasmer, 32, 57:22, Severna Park, MD
9. Harry Carter, 20, 57:42, Princeton, NJ
10. Andre Dominic Faigal, 19, 57:44, Princeton, NJ

 Top Females

1. Anna Kenig-Ziesler, 23, 1:01:12, Washington, DC
2. Julia Roman-Duval, 41, 1:03:10, Columbia, MD (1st master)
3. Yara Radoshittsky, 39, 1:03:10, Huntersville, NC
4. Katie Demers, 33, 1:05:58, Chesapeake Beach, MD
5. Jessica Smith, 29, 1:07:56, Portsmouth, VA
6. Whitney Heavner, 39, 1:08:14, Bethesda, MD
7. Corinne Hamberger, 35, 1:09:09, Millersville, MD
8. Ashley Roe, 29, 1:09:55, Catonsville, MD
9. Liz Ozeki, 35, 1:10:32, Rockville MD
10. Kimberly Lewnes, 34, 1:10:39, Annapolis MD

Male Senior Master

            Jicheng Liu, 51, 1:05:13, Ellicott City, MD

Female Senior Master

            Heather Schaffer, 52, 1:17:05, Potomac Falls, VA

Male Senior Grand Master

            John Stanmore, 60, 1:11:41, Baltimore, MD

Female Senior Grand Master

            Margaret Kuhn, 61, 1:18:42, Riverdale, MD                       

Commander Willie McCool Award

            Mitchell Rome, 22, 54:18, Dallas, PA

Pat O’Brien Award

            Corinne Hamberger, 35, 1:09:09, Millersville, MD

Ben Moore Award

            Charlie Schindler, 33, 59:02, Severna Park, MD

Categories: Race Coverage

Tags: 2023, Annapolis 10 Mile Run, featured, George Banker