BY KURT NICOLL
Victory appeared to be a certainty with an 18-minute head start--kind of like protecting a nine-point lead with 2:21 left for a national basketball title.
Unlike the University of Memphis Tigers, though, Billy Weldon did not let mounting pressure get to his head, and in the end walked away with a check for $2,500 on Saturday.
The 37-year-old substitute teacher in Henrico County finished his designated portion of the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10-k with a better-than two minute advantage over all-around champion Abdi Abdirahman, who crossed the finish line in 28 minutes, 32 seconds.
"I encountered them [the leaders] three blocks sooner than I had mentally anticipated," the former King George County resident told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "I realized if I couldn't keep up the pace, they would definitely catch me."
For the fourth year in a row, the event has staged an AT&T Dash for Cash feature where a randomly selected entry receives a 2.8-mile head start over the rest of the field.
In two of the previous three races, the front-runner was overtaken by the eventual winner.
Abdirahman, who resides in Tucson and was the winner of last year's race, joked during Friday's press conference how Weldon should "run for his life" when he saw him coming.
Weldon had plenty of fan support in his corner, including his wife, Leslie, two children, his sister, mother and in-laws.
Leah Kiprono of Kenya was the top female finisher, tying the course record with a 32:24 clocking. The event had 24,055 finishers.
Brian Whythe of Ruther Glen was the top area finisher, finishing 109th in 38:41.
Other noteworthy finishes included: Karl Cover of Montpelier (171st, 39:52), Randy Garbee of King George (274th, 41:05), Kristen Keller of Barboursville (331st, 41:40), Dave Paccassi of Warrenton (336th, 41:42) and Raymond McConnell of Stafford (364th, 41:59).
Also, Zackery Sudduth of Colonial Beach (371st, 42:04), Henry Jones of Louisa (403rd, 42:16), Mathew Hovey of Fredericksburg (407th, 42:18) and Brian Hayes of Montpelier (476th, 42:53).
Two efforts of special note were turned in by Stafford County resident Allen Vaughan, placing seventh in the men's 55-59 age division (43:15) and Fredericksburg's Colleen Himelright capturing third place in the women's 60-64 division (57.29).
THE RIGHT STUFF
Powerhouse Wrestling Academy accomplished nearly all of its goals at the Middle Atlantic Wresting Association's regional qualifying tournament at Salisbury, Md., last weekend. Five attended and all five will compete in the state tournament.
Raquim Wright led the way, winning all four of his matches to capture the 66-pound midget title. He beat long time rival Carter Davis of Team Predator in the finals.
Three of his teammates claimed runner-up trophies: midget 52-pounder Levi Inglman, junior 62-pounder Antonio Kibler and intermediate 90-pounder Sean Murphy.
Junior 78-pounder Connor Maenz placed fifth overall, but will return to Salisbury next month as a replacement wrestler.
The Powerhouse team will now take a temporary break from the folkstyle/collegiate style of wrestling, slated to compete in this weekend's takedown tournament in Annandale and a similar event upcoming at Columbus, Ohio.
TAKING CENTER STAGE
Novaks' Gymnastics Center put forth a dominating effort at the USAG-TT state championships last weekend, qualifying 17 of its trampoline and power tumbling athletes for the Junior Olympics national championships scheduled July 1-6 at Kansas City, Mo.
Brandon English of Stafford County turned in the team's top score with a winning trampoline score of 62.8--advancing him to the elite qualifying meet scheduled next week in Mobile, Ala.
Only performers competing at Level 5 or above qualified for nationals. The final qualifying meet for Levels 5-10 will be held next month in Damascus, Md.
Tumbling: Victoria Tucker (Level 8, 15-plus, 53.7, first, qualifier); Kira Parker (Level 9, 13-14, 52.3, first, qualifier); Ashlyn Ghazzaouri (Level 9, 15-plus, 52.6, first, qualifier), and Morgan Northup (Level 10, 13-14, 55.0, first, qualifier).
Trampoline: Kailey Clasen (Level 4, 6-under, 25.3, first); Jordyn Fouts (Level 4, 9-10, 24.6); Noel Washington (Level 4, 9-10, 23.1, second); Amy Malakoff (Level 4, 9-10, 22.4, third); Aiden Smith (Level 5, 9-10 male, 23.8, first, qualifier); Darby Roltsch (Level 6, 13-14, 24.5, second, qualifier); Casey Cottman (Level 6, 15-plus female, 22.1, first); Kira Rivers (Level 8, 11-12, 23.4, first, qualifier), and Hannah Langford (Level 8, 11-12, 23.2, second, qualifier).
Also, Jacob Weate (Level 9, 11-12, 48.9, first, missed qualifying by 0.3); Kayla Rivers (Level 9, 13-14, 24.1, third); Nicholas Novak (Level 10, 11-12, 53.5, qualifier); Jack Langford (Level 10, 13-14, 54.4, first, qualifier); Tommy Coe (Level 10, 13-14, 53.0, second, qualifier); Cole Graham (Level 10, 17-plus, 35.0, first), and Brandon English (Senior elite, 62.8, first).
Both events: Sarah Forbes (Level 4 tumbling, 11-12, 55.0, second, Level 6 trampoline, 24.2, first, qualifier); Arianna Fitzgerald (Level 5 tumbling, 9-10, 52.2, second, qualifier, Level 5 trampoline, 23.2, second, qualifier); Hannah Culbert (Level 5 tumbling, 13-14, 53.6, first, qualifier, Level 6 trampoline, 23.9, fourth, qualifier).
Also, Jessica Johnson (Level 5 tumbling, 13-14, 53.3, second, qualifier, Level 6 trampoline, 23.9, fourth, qualifier); Brittani Randall (Level 6 tumbling, 11-12, 52.3, first, qualifier, Level 6 trampoline, 23.8, second, qualifier), and Paul Fitzgerald (Level 6 tumbling, 13-14, 52.3, first qualifier, Level 6 trampoline, 6.8, first).
Kurt Nicoll: 540/374-5441
Email: knicoll@freelancestar.com