Award Winners – 2023

GRAND PRIX OVERALL WINNERS

Women

  1. Erin Snyder
  2. Kendall Sigman
  3. Mary Donahue
  4. Johanna Homon
  5. Taylor Ludman Hallock

Men

  1. Daniel Jacobs
  2. Jacob Sisler
  3. Daveen Bavari
  4. Jesse Henderson
  5. John Hallock

GRAND PRIX AGE-GROUP WINNERS

Women

13 and Under

  1. Milena Davis

14-29

  1. Gretchen Young
  2. Gretchen Whitesell
  3. Rachel Harris
  4. Sofia Driver
  5. Courtney Lamb

30-39

  1. Lindsey Weaver
  2. Rachel Keyton
  3. Michelle Felux
  4. Taylor Early
  5. Beth Fulcher

40-49

  1. Roxanne Kircher
  2. Farrah Douglas
  3. Katie Davis
  4. Heidi Novak
  5. Emily Yates

50-59

  1. Ruth Taylor
  2. Caren Clark
  3. Sue Faibisch
  4. Michele Newton
  5. Rachel Ridgway

60-69

  1. Beverly Black
  2. Kathy Cea
  3. Tee Dockery
  4. Robin McConaughey
  5. Maxann L. Davis

70 & up

  1. Allie Young

Men

14-29

  1. Jesse Magolon
  2. Kaleb Bennett
  3. Eddie Cretella
  4. John Temple

30-39

  1. Ryan Fields

40-49

  1. Amos Desjardins
  2. Carey Ahr
  3. Paul Pultar
  4. Scott Wallace
  5. Paul Lively

50-59

  1. John Way
  2. Pete Wergin
  3. Victor Cretella
  4. Mark Leahy
  5. John Duffy

60-69

  1. Tim O’Keefe
  2. Ronald Black
  3. George LaDue
  4. Bill Stahr
  5. Dana Defibaugh

70-79

  1. Jeff Jones
  2. Bruce Attavian
  3. John Clarke
  4. Arthur Gregory
  5. Charles Gentry

GRAND PRIX QUALIFIERS

Female Qualifiers

Laurie Luck, Joyce Smith, Caree Vander Linden, Julie Henderson, Ainsley Cain, Cari James, Michelle Mitchell, Mary Snyder, Kimberly Whalen, Patricia Ainsworth, Megan Putman, Amanda Berry, Melissa Sites, Dawn Ennis, Madeline Catalano, Wendy Weigant, Sarah Herbst, Yvonne Smith, Harriet Langlois, Jane Dallimore, Heather Churchey, Andrea Thompson, Jessica Reif-Jones, Julie Fernandes, Michelle Carlin, Sandra Slaughter, Sophie Krahnke, Melissa Wallace, Jennifer Edmond, Erin Benson, Katie Malone, Jessica Zieg, Mary Davis, Risa Clem, Catherine Vincent, Valerie Powell, Julie Minner, Myra Derbyshire, Stacy Sanders, Courtney Schlusser, Sheela Belagutti, Janice Tipton, Kelly Schultz, Meredith Lang, Isabella Ennis, Cindy Burdette, Renee Dubiel

Male Qualifiers

Andy Hanton, Abdi Russi, Wayne Slaughter, Alex Ennis, Jason Hinerman, Tim Sanders, Chris Earle, Stephan Dobson, Hugh McElroy, Kevin Shantholtzer, Preetam Yengkokpam, Derek Smith, Daniel Cardenas, Dan Ramsey, Joseph Hawkins, Nicholas Edler, Steve Rice

EQUALIZER SERIES

Women

  1. Beverly Black
  2. Ruth Taylor
  3. Erin Snyder

Men

  1. Daniel Jacobs
  2. Daveen Bavari
  3. John Way

DECATHLON SERIES

See Decathlon Tributes – 2023 for the detailed tributes

Women

  1. Bev Black
  2. Ruth Taylor
  3. Kathy Cea
  4. Chris Thomas
  5. Jen Edmond
  6. Melissa Wallace
  7. Dylan Barnes
  8. Farrah Douglas
  9. Beth Fulcher
  10. Mary Donahue

Men

  1. Scott Wallace
  2. Victor Cretella
  3. Daveen Bavari
  4. Dan Jacobs
  5. John Way
  6. Jake Sisler
  7. Pete Wergin
  8. Adam Kiely
  9. Eddie Cretella
  10. Tim O’Keefe

MAJOR AWARDS

Rising Star Women – Kendall Sigman

It is with great pleasure and immense honor that I stand before you today to present the Rising Star award. This accolade holds a special place in our hearts as it not only celebrates outstanding achievements but also recognizes the undeniable potential for greatness.

Our recipient this year is more than a rising star; she is a force of nature, a beacon of inspiration that shines brighter than we could have ever anticipated. It is truly heartening to present this award to someone who is not only a close friend but also an individual of unparalleled talent and determination.

Kendall Sigman, our Rising Star awardee, has left an indelible mark on our running community. Nominated for Female Runner of the Year, Rising Star, and Most Improved, Kendall’s journey with our club has been nothing short of remarkable. She teetered on the edge of victory, a mere point away from claiming the Female Grandprix—a testament to her extraordinary abilities in her first year with us.

The title may be Rising Star, but Kendall has transcended this label, finding her light and burning brighter than a supernova. Her debut half marathon performance in downtown Frederick, where she secured a remarkable 7th place finish with a time of 1:31.33, was just the beginning. Under the guidance of Monocacy Elite, and most currently More Miles she swiftly ascended to the top ranks in local races, seizing victory at the Rockville 10k and consistently placing among the top three.

The pinnacle of her achievements came at the California International Marathon, where Kendall showcased her tenacity and prowess with a jaw-dropping 16-minute personal record, crossing the marathon finish line in an astonishing 3:10.47. This remarkable feat followed her debut at Steamtown in October, where she set the stage with a 3:26 finish. Despite facing heart issues, Kendall’s dedication to her craft propelled her to excel, earning her age/division placements in multiple races throughout the season.

Kendall’s story is one of natural talent meeting unwavering commitment, a narrative that sets her apart as a standout athlete. Her dominance across longer distances is awe-inspiring, and as she continues to push boundaries and defy expectations, we eagerly anticipate what the future holds for this shining star.

So, without further ado, let us join together in congratulating the recipient of this year’s Rising Star award, the incredible Kendall Sigman. May your journey inspire others to reach for the stars and surpass their own limits. Congratulations, Kendall!

Rising Star Men – Daveen Bavari

This year’s recipient of the rising star award is a talented young runner who proved himself this season on road, cross country, and track. He has shown speed that has rivaled the clubs fastest runners and found himself in the top standings for many club competitions. Rumor has it, as fast as this runner is, he does not actually own any shirts.

On the road, this rising star showed his athleticism at distances ranging from 1 mile to the half marathon. At the market street mile this shirtless wonder pulled off a top 5 finish with a 4:34 mile, an 82.8% age grade. At the Summer Solstice, he slowed it down just a little to run the 8k distance in 29:23, an average mile pacing of 5:55 and a top 10 finish all without a shirt! Don’t worry, this runner’s topless super powers continued at the Turkey Trot where he finished top 10 once again with a 5k time of 16:29, a minute improvement from the previous years time of 17:20. This season, he had at least 3 5k races with an age grade rating of over 71%, making him a great addition to the Steeps Racing Team. Outside of Frederick, MD this running superstar snagged a first place finish, running a holiday half marathon in 1:16:38. He had just a little help with streamlined wind resistance since he ran that race, in December, in New York…you guessed it, shirtless.

If you think all of that is impressive, where this rising star really shines is the track. He participated in all 10 decathlon events, and even without an age grade assist he Placed third. Of course no one would expect him to wear a shirt at these summer track events, so it only makes sense that his running superpowers gave him top finishes at all distances and times that were all around 80% age grade rated or higher. As someone who also ran decathlon events, all I remember of this runner is a flash of skin moving super sonically around the track.

To round it out, this runner showed his speed on the cross country Ricks run course this past year. He competed in the one loop 5 mile course and came in first for his age group and fourth overall with a finishing time of 34:31. He then went on to run four more laps, 25 miles of cross country running despite being stung by wasps. Maybe because of these conditions he made an exception and ran with a shirt on… just kidding, he still was shirtless!

Some of you might be looking around now for a shirtless, speedy runner, but it seems like he does, in fact, own a shirt. If you haven’t already guessed it, the speedster runner rising to greatness and the recipient of the 2023 rising star award for males is none other Daveen Bavari. Congratulations to Daveen and we can’t wait to see what this next race season brings for you!

Most Improved Women – Mary Donahue

Good evening! Tonight, we come together not only to celebrate our shared love of running but also to recognize the outstanding achievements of one individual who has taken the concept of improvement to a new level. Her incredible journey is marked by dedication, determination, and a series of very impressive improved times which, without question, earns her the well-deserved title of Most Improved Female Runner. There’s something about Mary. And I don’t mean the romantic comedy. Mary Donahue’s journey over the past year has been nothing short of a blockbuster. Mary has made some fantastic improvements between 2022 to 2023. In 2022, Mary ran her first Steeplechasers race at the Run for the Pie 10k. This past year, she cut 19 minutes off her previous time, and earned a huge pie upgrade by being the first female overall, with a stunning time of 46 minutes 13 seconds. At the Women’s Distance Festival 5k we saw her time drop by over 5 minutes to an impressive 20 minutes 43 seconds. At the Market Street Mile, Mary’s mile time improved by over a minute to a lightning fast 5 minutes 37 seconds, putting her in third place for the women’s heat. At the Spook Hill 4 Miler, Mary shaved 5 minutes off her time with an incredible 30 minutes 55 seconds in 2023. At the Lewis 10 Miler two weeks ago, she crossed the finish line 22 minutes faster than her 2023 time, with a time of one hour 19 minutes 24 seconds. That’s more than 2 minutes per mile faster! And let’s not forget the 2023 Turkey Trot, which she conquered in an astonishing 19 minutes and 27 seconds, placing 3rd female overall out of over 18 hundred women. Mary, your running journey has been nothing short of spectacular. Your dedication, hard work, and consistently improving times are a testament to your passion for our sport. Your achievements not only inspire us but also make us want to lace up our shoes and chase after our own goals. And in my case, let’s be real, I’m totally chasing you and your Rabbit gear and that coveted spot at the top of the Grand Prix standings. So, here’s to Mary – the speedster, the record-breaker, the one who turns every race into a personal triumph, and one of the new members of the Steeplechasers Racing Team. Congratulations, Mary! You truly deserve this year’s Most Improved Female Runner award! Keep racing, keep improving, and keep inspiring us all!

Most Improved Men – Paul Pultar

I have had the honor and privilege getting to know this gentleman over the past year. Paul Pultar is an absolute rockstar, he has been on a rocket ship over the past year. He first really started getting involve with the club by joining the 10k training program in the fall of 2022. Just keep this in mind in 2021 he ran the Frederick Turkey Trot in a time of 26:22 at a pace of 8:29.

Now let’s go on a quick journey over a year. In October of 22 he did 1 loop at Ricks Run with a time of 51:07 which is a 9:48 pace. In November he ran the Bay Bridge 10k which was his longest run to date with a time of 47:32 at a 7:38 pace. In March of 2023 he ran the Needwood 5 miler with a time of 37:38 at a 7:31 pace. In April he ran the Cherry Blossom 10 miler which was the longest of his career with a 7:53 pace. Also in April he ran a 5k in Adamstown with a 6:55 pace and a 21:30 overall time. In May Paul signed up for the Nut job at the Frederick Running festival. Saturday evening he ran the 5K at a 7:35 pace, the next day he ran his 1st half marathon with an overall time of 1:42:50 which as you guessed it was his longest run. In the summer Paul ran the Indy5000 with a time of 21:20.  This year during Ricks Run he stepped up to do 4 loops which you guessed it was his longest run.

Paul decided to join the full marathon training program in the summer and fall of 2023 with a target race of the Marine Corps Marathon. He finished his 1st marathon, on a super humid, hot fall day with a sub 4 hour time of 3:56:09. By the way this was his longest run.

In November of 23 Paul ran the Frederick Turkey Trot he finished with a top 75 out of over 3000 runners, 7th in his age group with a 19:59 time at a 6:25 pace. In 2 years he had a 6 min 23 sec drop in his 5k time. That’s crazy to me. Paul goes and finishes the year off with a 8th place finish in the Santa 10k at a 7:03 pace with an overall time of 43:50.

For the record he went from a 10k as his longest run to a sub 4 hr marathon longest run in less then a year. This blows my mind. Not only has he improved on the clock he has improved in all aspects off running. He is a true friend and an outstanding member of the steeplechasers. I give you the 2023 most improved male runner Paul Pultar!

Iron Woman – Michele Jacoby

I am truly honored to present the 2023 Ironwoman award to an amazing woman who not only excels at running, but also does so much for the club.

In 2023, our Ironwoman ran two 50ks, a 55k, a 50 miler, and two 100 milers. She started off her year with a sub 8-hour finish at Hashawha Hills 50k. The name alone should give you an idea of what the course is like. A month later she traveled down to Corolla, NC for Blackbeard’s Revenge 100. This point to point road race takes runners the length of the Outer Banks from Corolla to Hatteras. Our Ironwoman had a sub 24-hour finish.

A few months later she took a break from volunteering at Jason Green’s Dam Yeti 55k and laced up her running shoes. Despite a tumble on the Creeper Trail, she had a sub 6-hour finish.

She continued training over the summer for her second 100 miler, the Hawk Hundred in Lawrence, KS. She was 2nd overall and the first female finisher.

In October, she ventured to Prince William Forest, VA for the PB&J Fat Ass 50k. Non-trail runners might be wondering about the term “fat ass”. No, it’s not a reference to the size of your bottom. These no-frills events focus more on fun and community over finishers’ swag.

She closed out the year with her first JFK 50 and a sub 10-hour finish. She was nothing but smiles everytime we saw her at an aid station.

In addition to running, she is the RD for the low-key trail race, Wild Trail 5k & 10k, as well as the head coach for the FSRC Spires Running program. She’s a regular at the Wednesday Pub Runs and organized the shirts for the Rich Potter Pub Run.

What’s her secret? In addition to a positive attitude, sense of humor, grit, and determination, she has a great support system. Her race butler and husband Tony is a staple at her races.

Our 2023 Ironwoman is none other than Michele Jacoby.

Iron Man – Mark Peyton

Our Ironman had an impressive year in 2023.The number one thing to know about him is that he loves to run, a lot.

After turning 50 last year, he was slightly concerned that he may be a bit over the hill and maybe he slowed down just a little. He’s proved that he’s neither and the only over the hill is the one that he’s running over. He runs high mileage on a regular basis often running 50+ miles per week.
In 2023, he ran 4 50Ks including a sub 9 hour at the Catoctin 50K and just over 8 hours at the Catherine’s Fatass 50K held on the rugged and seldom used trails in the southern section of Virginia’s Massanutten Mountains. He also ran 2 50 milers, Bull Run Run and Stone Mill. Finishing 11:34 at Bull Run and 12:23 at Stone Mill.

He likes to run with his dog Shiloh. Now, those of you who run with your dogs know that sometimes the weather isn’t conducive for this so you have to leave your dog at home. If our Ironman leaves the house to run without Shiloh, the dog goes berserk. So if for some reason he doesn’t want to bring Shiloh, he will leave the house in regular clothes or work clothes, but with his running gear underneath, so Shiloh thinks he’s just going to work or maybe running an errand. He then strips down to his running gear when he gets to wherever the run is.
He’s an Oregon Ducks fan and loves his bourbon.
You can often find him either leading or participating in weekly runs around the Harpers Ferry area including the Tuesday night hill repeats on Maryland Heights.

Your 2023 Ironman, Mark Peyton.

Unsung Hero – Mary Bellamy

In the late summer of 22, working with the Panthers lead, Chad, who was in need of coaches.  This is one of the more difficult positions to fill because it takes place mid-afternoon right after school dismissal.  I gave him a few ideas of people that came to mind and I went to the database of club members willing to help and found a couple that matched the need and sent them each an email as well.  One of the responses I received was amusement.  The member said that she wasn’t a runner, had no running skills at all but she was willing to help!  And she did.  She helped to coach our Lincoln elementary school running club.  She had also volunteered at several races earlier that year, earning gold level volunteer recognition at the membership meeting that took place that fall.  At that meeting, where we honor volunteers by level of service, she said to me “I’m going to earn the Platinum award next year.”  That’s the highest award, for those that serve a role that is ongoing and integral to the operations of the club.  About 20 people per year (or less than 2% of the membership) are volunteering at this level.  So, whenever an opportunity came up throughout 2023, I asked her for her help, and she was always willing to do what she could.  She continues to coach with the Panthers, has taken a committee position, and volunteers for just about every race opportunity including signature races, finish line services, and the club challenge.  She’s reliable, committed, enthusiastic, and engaging.  She’s one fabulous volunteer, Mary Bellamy!  

Inspiration – Mark Lawrence & Paul Lively

Mark Lawrence

If you’ve been a Steeplechaser for longer than a minute, you know who this guy is. He has been an inspiration to me since the day I met him nearly 20 years ago. My introduction to trail running was the Frederick Watershed and he took me to school.

His tenure as president of the Steeps was longer by far than anyone else. He was instrumental in turning the club into the family oriented, community driven club that it is now.

He can be found leading the finish line team at most of the local races. He also goes out hours before the start of most of these races and marks the course.

After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, something that would have stopped a lot of people in their tracks, he has faced many challenges. In addition to remaining active within the club, he continues to be active in his personal life. Most mornings you can find him running along the creek. Professionally, he’s accepted a new position that requires a greater level of responsibility and commitment.

Last year, he had a procedure done called Deep Brain Stimulation, which involved two brain surgeries in quick succession in an attempt to improve his quality of life. The result has been nothing short of miraculous. Six weeks after the procedure, he ran a 7-minute PR at the
Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. He is back to running the weekly pub runs and his running form is perfect as I personally witnessed when he blew by me at one of those runs. Good running form is something he has always prided himself on. He has taken every cruel twist life has thrown at him not only in stride but brushed them aside like they were nothing.

I was both honored and thrilled when he decided to run the Lewis Run this year, a race he had RD’d for over 15 years. He not only ran it, he crushed it. Beating his predicted time by nearly 6 minutes.

He has shown nothing but grace and dedication in the face of his Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis, refusing to let it slow him down. His determination to keep moving forward, not just in running but in life, is truly inspiring.

A true inspiration in every sense of the word, Mark Lawrence.

Paul Lively

I am honored to present this year’s inspiration award to a club member who has gone above and beyond in so many aspects in the past year. This person embodies the mission of the Steeplechasers – to promote running for fitness, friendship, and athletic development. He is unfailingly positive, encouraging, and fun to be around. He welcomes new runners and makes everyone feel at home. No one would ever call this guy quiet, but he is humble about his accomplishments as a runner. The miles he logged last year (2203 to be exact) and his race results are inspiring on their own, but what really stands out is his dedication and commitment to helping others. 

At the end of marathon training in 2022, he asked me what I thought about keeping the Tuesday night runs going through the off-season. I told him to go for it as long as I didn’t have to be in charge of anything. Since then I doubt there is a member who has hosted or participated in more group runs than he has. If that wasn’t enough, he also agreed to coach marathon training this past year which is a huge commitment in itself.

We have joked that he is my press secretary and the voice of the training program because he’s loud and people listen to him, but the truth is that he is the heart – he creates an environment where runners of all abilities can thrive and he makes everyone feel welcome and included. His positivity and determination make him a great leader and role model. He gives his time and energy, and asks for nothing in return. He does it because he loves running and he loves this community. 

By now, I’m sure everyone in this room knows who I am talking about – but if you don’t you should …this year’s Inspiration Award goes to the one and only Paul Lively.

Junior Runner of the Year – Caroline Gregory

I’d like to introduce you to the Steeplechasers Female Runner of the Year, Caroline Gregory. When I was offered the opportunity to present Caroline’s award, I thought GREAT! Then I realized that I only had a short time to present a true running phenomenom and thought OH GREAT. So you’ll hear a snippet of what a wonderful and accomplished athlete she is as well how she truly represents Steeplechasers running ideals. Caroline started her running with the Frederick Spires and it was immediately evident there was something special about her. By her 8th grade year she had finished in the top 10 in the nation at the championship meet. She entered Frederick High School and was placed in the able hands of Coaches Frank Strakonsky and Sage Norton. Despite the limitations of the pandemic reduced schedule, she progressed and by sophomore year won the Maryland State cross country race. She not only won it, she had the fastest time of any girl in any division…as a sophomore! Caroline is a hard worker and takes her training seriously. This past season, as a senior Caroline repeated her feat with a come from behind victory that once again was the fastest time of any girl that day. Caroline is well rounded in areas besides her running. She will graduate this year with high honors in school and will be attending Cedarville University…a running power house in Ohio. In winter she is an accomplished swimmer and this year is doubling with indoor track.  She helps each year with Unified Track  as both official and runner, helping special needs students enjoy running. Last Candy Cane Dash she could be found volunteering as a course monitor. She is the complete package!

Caroline is the only Frederick County runner to have won cross country regionals all 4 years and has been the Frederick News Post Runner of the Year. Caroline has the fastest 2 mile time in the county for indoors at 11 minutes 42 seconds and is both the County and conference champion.

This is only a snapshot of Caroline. She is a wonderful person to get to know. When you have the chance, introduce yourself and come meet our Junior Runner of the Year as well as the fastest high school cross country runner in the state of Maryland.

Junior Runner of the Year – Eddie Cretella

I’d like you to meet Eddie Cretella, the Steeplechasers Junior Runner of the Year. I’ve known Eddie as a youth who would come with his dad to the track and run in the Summer Decathlon races. I’ve watched him grow and mature and get faster and faster. I was a bit taken aback when I officiated one of his first high school cross country meets and heard the team cheering on their runners but nobody was yelling for Eddie. Poor guy! I asked his dad Victor about it and he explained with a smile that nobody at school knows him as Eddie…he’s known by his given name Victor and there was lots of cheering for Victor! 4 years later, he is still Eddie to me. Eddie runs for Linganore High School which is a challenge because they are one of the top distance running schools in the county. Eddie worked his way up to become the go to runner on the team his junior and senior year. Others may have good and bad races…Eddie is consistent and reliable. He’s a power runner and pushes the pace from the gun to the finish line. This past cross country season his 18:35 five km was second on the team. He followed that with a 17:42 at regionals and then an 18:29 on a brutally hilly 3 mile state course. He’s a coaches dream for his work ethic and reliability. His effort earned him an honorable mention in the Frederick News Post.  Eddie’s talents are not limited to running. He is an incredible musician and plays violin, baritone, tuba, guitar, and trombone. He plays at a level good enough to earn him all county band honors from 7th through 11th grade. If that is not enough, how many runners do you know who make their own homemade pasta, can tell you anything you want to know about F1 racing, and if that is not enough, regularly quotes Michael Scott from the Office!

 He still runs the Summer Decathlon where he finished 9th this year. He was 3rd overall at the Indy 5000 with a 19:23 and 6th overall at the Forest of Needwood 5 miler in 31:36.

He’ll be taking all this talent to Salisbury University where he’ll study Economics or Finance. Congratulations to our Junior Runner of the Year…Victor Cretella the 4th!

Super Grand Master Runner of the Year Women – Jeanette Novak

The Frederick Steeplechasers Super Grand Masters Runner of the Year is 79 year old Jeanette Novak. For those of you who remember the commercials for the Everready Rabbit, that could be Jeanette…she just keeps going and going. If my research is correct…research means I asked John Way who knows everything running…Jeanette ran 131 races last year. And that’s including an injury in October that slowed her down a bit. She brings her enthusiasm to every race she runs and is always checking to see how everyone is doing. In Maryland, there are 8 running clubs that put on a Women’s Distance Festival 5 km. I actually did my own research this time and I’m pretty sure Jeanette did all 8. There is an honor for the select group that runs at least 4 races. I’m sure very few have matched Jeanettes accomplishment.

Running accomplishment’s aside, what I find special about Jeanette is her caring about the little details in races. At every Summer Decathlon Jeanette picks up any trash she comes across on the way to the track. When we leave the track, I’m confident is cleaner than when we came because Jeanette was there. Johanna Homon is nice enough to bring cold towels to our summer races. Jeanette will take any towels she finds, wash them, and put them in the cooler. Things get hectic during the races but I can count on the finish cards being clipped in order and by heat compliments of Jeanette. Who knew that was what the clips on the end of pens are used for!

Last year Jeanette ran a 14:08 for 4th in her age group at the Market Street Mile. In a highly contested Frederick WDF, she was 5th in her age group at 49:11 and walked away with a random prize! Spring time saw a 46:55 first place age group win in the Carroll Manor Roaring Lion 5km.

Congratu;atins to this year’s Super Grand Master Runner of the Year…Jeanette Novak.

Super Grand Master Runner of the Year Men – Jeff Jones

Congratulations to the Steeplechasers Super Grand Master Runner of the Year…Jeff Jones. Jeff is a long time Steeplechaser member and participant in races at all distances and all over the county. He is best known for incredible blazing speed in the 200 and 400 meter races in the Summer Decathlon. Jeff is part of the Tremendous Trio of races from the Hagerstown area who have a tendency to collect all the hardware in the 70 year old group in most races. Even at age 75 he can still crank out a sub 8 minute mile with a 7:51 3rd place finish in the Market Street Mile. He showed his trail running skills with a second place AG finish in the Wild Trail 5k at 40:36. Jeff has a mystique surrounding him. You never know quite sure when he’ll pop up at a race. In the summer decathlon he ran the 1600 m and 1500 m but skipped his strong events the 200/400 m. Go figure! He is a softball player which has him more active in the summer months. He is known for his retro running gear which not only spurs conversation but he has a sharp memory and can tell you about the event no matter how long ago. he has a great recall of many races and their adaptations over the years. At the Krumpe Donut 5k, he was 3rd in his AG with  28:20. His 30:39 Indy 5000 run put him in the runners up position. Hills, heat, humidity…nothing seems to phase Jeff…he just keeps pushing himself. That push and extra effort paid off at the Making Hay 10 k where he won his AG with a time of 69:26. There must be something he loves about the 6.2 mile distance and the hills because he had another AG victory in the Pie Run with a 65:49.

Jeff is a fun person to be around even though there is no pattern to the races he shows up to. If he’s there and you’re at the same race, come over and chat with our Super Grand Master Runner of the Year…Jeff Jones.

Grand Master Runner of the Year Women – Beverly Black

Our female grandmaster runner of the year is no stranger to the Steeplechasers.  A Steeplechasers member for over 25 years, she is also no stranger to the Steeplechaser’s competitive racing series and performance awards.  She has won all the major performance awards over her years including: Runner of the Year and Master’s runner of the year multiple times.  She has also been a consistent AG winner of the grand prix series and numerous overall wins or top placements in the Decathlon series.  This is, however, her 1st female grandmaster award. Having taking a couple of years off from competition during Covid years, this year she was also a top winner in both in the Equalizer and decathlon series.

Although not a member of the Steeps race team, she would easily qualify as an elite member with numerous age graded performances over 73%. She is a consistent age group winner in all distances from the mile to the ½ marathon.  She started out the year with an impressive Club Challenge 10 miler time of 1:27:54, with an AG of 73.3%.  She followed that up with a fast Forest of Needwood 5 miler time of 43:21, AG 71.6%. She continued the year with impressive performances at the Frederick ½ marathon with a time of 2:01:58.

She didn’t let the summer heat slow her down either with a quick time of 25:11 at Frederick WDF, age-graded 76.2%, 24:40 at Krumpe’s donut rally 5k, age-graded 77.8% and a hilly, hot Run for the Pie in July- all good for 2nd place age-group wins.

She also demonstrated her continued prowess as a short distance runner with a swift 6:46 at the Market St. mile with an amazing 81.2% AG.  She ended her competitive year with the Steeps at the Spook Hill 4 miler in a time of 33:56 and another amazing AG of 73.5% for the tough, hilly cross-country course.

Our female grandmaster runner of the year is no other than Beverly Black! Congratulations on another great year!

Grand Master Runner of the Year Men – Tim O’Keefe

This year’s winner, Tim O’Keefe, holds the record for the most active years in the Frederick Steeplechasers- going strong at over 42 years.  He is best known in his volunteer role in the club.  He has held every position in the executive board including President, vice-president, and secretary.  He has recently been a member of the Steeps racing time, past grandmaster runner of the year in 2015, and Waxter award winner in 2008 for his volunteer work. He is currently on the board of directors and a platinum -level volunteer.  He is most famous for his race director role in the Decathlon series- a role that he is has been doing for over 30 years!  An engaging and energetic speaker, he is sought-after for his speeches at the annual awards banquet and of course, at the picnic recognizing the Decathlon winners! Even with all his volunteer work in the club, Tim has still found time to race and has been active participant in the Steeps grand prix and Decathlon series.  As a runner this year, Tim had a tough job being at the highest end of his 60-69 year old age-group and turning 70 mid-way!   He prevailed this year- running 11 of the grand prix series races from distances of 800m to 10 miles, placing 1st in 4 of them, and 2nd in 4 of them.  All that hard work earned him a hard-won victory- 1st place in the grand prix 60-69 age group.  Some of his best races included: Krumpe’s Donut Rally 5k (AG 67.3%) in a time of 25:55, Market St. Mile in a time of 7:14 (AG 70.6%), and Frederick Turkey trot (AG 69.5) in a time of 25:06.  Additionally, he placed top-ten in a competitive Decathlon series this year! For all these reasons and more, Tim O’Keefe is our male grandmaster runner of the year!

Master Runner of the Year Women – Roxanne Kircher

Our female Master Runner of the Year for 2023 is a first time major award winner, but isn’t a stranger to running, racing, or kicking ass!

Claire Heasman’s departure from Frederick in June was a game changer for the highly competitive 40-49 age group in the Grand Prix series. As we know, you never know what might happen with the rankings. For a time, our Master Runner of the Year was in the top five overall females. While she didn’t finish the year there, she was 1st in the 40-49 age group, even though she turned 50 earlier in the year. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Grand Prix Series, you don’t move up to the next age group until the following year. Looks like the 50-59 age group is going to have to work a little harder this year!

In 2023, she ran 10 Grand Prix races in distances from 5k to her first 50k at Rick’s Run 8-Hour Challenge. She had some pretty impressive results this year. At the Summer Solstice 8k, she finished in 38:09, which is age-graded at 70.1%. At the Frederick Turkey Trot, she finished in 23:36, which is age-graded at 69.9%. Ooh, so close to having two qualifying races to join the Racing Team. I have no doubt that she’ll continue to work hard this year and will be submitting an application.

In addition to racing, she has an impressive run streak of 1,368 days as of today. She’s also known for her fun outfits at races and on runs, which included dressing up like Forrest Gump on Gump Day of her running streak. What’s Gump Day you ask? It’s the number of days that Forrest Gump ran in a row, which is 3 years, 2 months, 14 days, and 16 hours.

In 2023, she set a goal to run 2,024 miles. She met that goal on December 27th and went on to run 23.17 more miles.

What’s her secret? In addition to a great group of running buddies, she swears by whiskey the night before a race.

Let’s race a glass to our 2023 female Master Runner of the year, Roxanne Kircher!

Master Runner of the Year Men – John Way

Our Master Runner of the Year had an incredible year! His Grand Prix series this year had results many of us can only dream of.  He has had numerous age group wins and had at least 15 races above 75% age graded.   His versatility at various distances is demonstrated with age group wins in:

            RRCA Club Challenge 10 Mile Race at 72.7% age grade in a time of 1:11:55

            Frederick ½ marathon at 71.2% age grade in a time of 1:37:12

            Market Street Mile at 80.6% age grade in a time of 5:41

            Summer Solstice 8k at 74.5% age grade in a time of 34:02

            Spook Hill Cider Run 4 miler at 72.8% age grade in a time of 27:49

            The summer Decathlon 800 Meter race at 77.8% age grade in a time of 2:40

            Rockville 10k at 73.3% age grade in a time of 43:26

            Frederick turkey trot 5k at 77.62% age grade in a time of 20:06

This year’s master’s winner is not only known as a competitive runner but for the sheer number of races he manages to complete!  He is a prolific and dedicated runner – completing over 150 races this year alone.  He has completed this number of races not just this year but over the course of 25+ running year history!  This is his 16th consecutive year of 100+ races. He typically runs at least 2-3 races a week but during the summer months, he often will run 4-5 races a week with being an avid competitor in multiple club summers series.  He is a frequent volunteer at races not only with the Steeplechasers but at the other running clubs he belongs to including but not limited to Montgomery Road Runners, Howard Striders, Westminster Road Runners, Potomac Valley track club, and DC Road Runners.  If you ever need information about races in this region, this runner is the great resource of running knowledge!

Besides being a prolific runner, he is a versatile one- running all distances from 200 meters to the ½ marathon and all types of running from track events, road races, and trail.  He has numerous streaks of running certain races and race series that extend beyond 10 years.  This runner has run well this year improving his overall AG  1.3% this year with an average age-grade of over 70.5%! He is also a member of the Steeplechasers racing team.  He finished the year with 1st  place AG wins in the Steeplechasers Grand Prix series and the MD RRCA Grand prix series.  Additionally, he placed 3rd in the equalizer series and 5th in the decathlon series. He is the ultimate competitor – always looking for his next race but always ready to volunteer in his spare time.  For this, John Way truly deserves to be Master Runner of the year!  We are happy to have him on the Racing Team and as a Frederick Steeplechaser.

Runner of the Year Women – Erin Snyder

This runner is close to my heart in more ways than one! She has had an amazing year with multiple wins at many distances from 5k to ½ marathons. Although not a prolific racer, her results speak for themselves- she had nine 1st place overall wins and three 2nd place overall wins against stiff competition. Not bad.  She picked up the pace at the end of year running 3 races from Thanksgiving to mid-December.  Her age grades are consistently above 74% for her road races and above 70% for the cross-country/ trail races for all distances.  Some of her impressive accomplishments include:

RRCA 10 mile club challenge in a time of 1:06:26, age-graded 74.3%

Summer Solstice 8k in a time of 31:59, age graded 74.1%

Rick’s Run 5.22 miler in a time of 35:32, age-graded 70.1%

Spook Hill Cider run 4 miler in a time of 26:20, age graded 72.2%

Frederick turkey trot 5k in a time of 19:03, age-graded 77.3%

YMCA Santa run 10k in a time of 40:14, age-graded 73.9%

Gar-Williams ½ marathon in a time of 1:30:17, age-graded 71.96

Additional accomplishments for this runner include being a member of the Steeps elite racing team and a 3rd place equalizer award winner! I am happy to present this award to my granddaughter and female runner of the year, Erin Snyder. 

Runner of the Year Men – Jesse Henderson

Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, and fellow athletes,

Today, we gather to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our Runner of the Year. This individual has not only set the pace but has left an indelible mark on the running community with their exceptional accomplishments.

Let’s begin by acknowledging the incredible marathon performance at the Marine Corps Marathon, where our runner blazed through the course in 2 hours and 48 minutes. This remarkable feat showcases not only speed and endurance but also the dedication and hard work invested in every training session leading up to that defining moment.

But the excellence doesn’t stop there. Our Runner of the Year claimed a remarkable 15th place at the challenging Baltimore Half Marathon, finishing in an impressive 1 hour and 17 minutes. This result not only highlights their speed but also their ability to navigate and conquer diverse race conditions.

And let’s not forget the Summer Solstice 5 Miler, where our honoree secured the 6th overall position. The tenacity displayed in a shorter race format, with a keen sense of strategy and speed, further adds to the narrative of a runner who consistently excels in various distances. Also in the 2023 grand prix this runner got 4th overall just missing 3rd by 1 point. 

What truly sets our Runner of the Year apart is not just the podium finishes or record times but the inspiration they provide to the running community. This individual is not just a competitor; they are a beacon of consistency, a testament to the unwavering commitment to their craft. 

It’s not only about crossing finish lines; it’s about the countless early mornings and late nights dedicated to training. It’s about the willingness to toe the starting line, race after race, embracing challenges with open arms. This runner exemplifies the spirit of the sport, reminding us all that success is not just a destination but a journey marked by persistence and passion.

So, let us raise our glasses and applause to our Runner of the Year, whose footsteps inspire us all to lace up our running shoes, face challenges head-on, and run with the same unwavering determination that makes them truly deserving of this prestigious title. Congratulations!

Outstanding Volunteer Award – Katie Davis & Barbara Meely

Katie Davis

The women’s award winner for the outstanding volunteer award is someone who joined the Frederick Steeplechasers in the summer of 2021. Little did the club know that this person would have such a natural talent as a stand-out club volunteer, and also have that special ability to encourage others into the roles needed to make a volunteer-run club a success.

This person was one of 21 volunteers recognized with the highest volunteer appreciation level during our fall membership meeting. Contributing 100+ hours of personal time to volunteerism in a year is no small feat, but is not entirely unexpected when you look at all the areas of involvement she has had in 2023. She is no stranger to anyone in the club if you have participated in any of the Steeplechasers signature races, pub runs, training groups, race timing services, or our wonderful Spires youth running program.

This outstanding volunteer is someone that never demands attention, and will always go out of her way to introduce herself and others to new club members at our Wednesday pub runs. She was given the nickname of ‘the welcoming committee’ by our own Billy Clem and I think that stands as a testament to her character and inclusiveness. The Wednesday pub runs have grown from a handful of people each week to well over 20 people on average. This volunteer is one of the many reasons why people choose to come back each week in the spirit of running and social comradery.

This volunteer was instrumental in supporting the Spires youth running program. In part, because her own wonderful daughter was a participant, but also because she cares to give children the best chance at becoming interested in the lifelong hobby of running.

Did you participate in the Market Street Mile this year? Did you notice the race running smoothly and with plenty of volunteers? You have this outstanding volunteer to thank for such a well orchestrated event. She was the Volunteer Coordinator for this annual signature race. In this role, She was able to send a message out to the club and never failed to get volunteers left and right. Her knowledge of who could be helpful in what role was highly appreciated.

Were you a participant in the 5k training program leading up to the Women’s Distance festival? You, yet again, have this volunteer to thank for being involved and ensuring runs happened on time, with active communication, and always encouraging others with a smile. I often joke with this award recipient that, with as many of the half marathon training program cycles she has done, she should run the Frederick half marathon! Someday she might do it. Perhaps this moment in the spotlight can make it happen?

She will always be a grounding force in our running community, reminding us that people of any speed, experience level, and running goal can be involved and positively contribute to the Frederick Steeplechasers.

The 2023 women’s recipient of the outstanding volunteer award is none other than Katie Davis. Thank you for all you do to support our active, growing, and inclusive running community!

Barbara Meely

Our first outstanding volunteer this year has been a strong volunteer for the club for quite some time. 

When she started as Membership chair in 2019, the club had 810 members – just a few weeks ago we hit a high water mark of 1117, a 38% increase over her tenure. This increase was no accident. She has worked hard to turn lurkers on our club’s Facebook group into members, and to hold the members we have. Having more members helps the club’s bottom line, but more importantly more members means we are sharing our love of running and our programs with more runners in the community. 

As Membership chair, she saw a need to introduce new members to what the club offers and integrate them into the club. So she invented the new member meet and greet meetings, which have been well attended and much appreciated.

Similarly, she saw that there is a set of members who were feeling left out, as these members aren’t on social media. The FSRC Group Runs email group was born, which automatically sends emails to those subscribed to the email group when a new post or event is made to the FSRC Group Runs Facebook group.

Keeping our Facebook groups up to date and free of spam is a constant battle. She and her committee support the Communications committee by accepting new group members and moderating group’s content for several of our groups. 

As if all this wasn’t enough, she volunteers at our low key races, has helped with Intro to Trail Running, and helped with the general membership meeting. If you ran the Lewis Run, you saw her at the finish line collecting bib tags.

And while this wasn’t in 2023, she led the Nominating committee which solicited officer and director nominations, vetted these candidates, and recommended the slate for the Executive Board we have now leading club operations.

Please join me in congratulating FSRC’s Outstanding Volunteer for 2023, Barb Meely.

Special Award – Rich Potter

For those of you who didn’t know, this past year we lost a long time and very active member of The Steeps Rich Potter. 

If you’ve ever run with Rich (which so many of us have) you know just how interesting a person he was. After running with him just a few times I started referring to him as the most interesting man in the world. Just this morning Randy Querry said Rich was a walking book. 

You may not know this but I think of many of you and conversations we’ve had when I run by a certain landmark or see a specific thing on a run, but nobody pops into my mind more often than Rich. 

His stories of riding motorcycles, sailing boats, riding his bike across Iowa, taking language classes before traveling to foreign countries, driving for Meals on Wheels, or a simple history lesson about a landmark we passed never stopped flowing. He was still surprising me with things he’d done after all these years. 

Whether on the trails or a long country road run Rich got lost quite a few times but rarely got upset about it and usually joked about it afterwards. During a training run once Risa was waiting for him at the finish thinking he was right behind her and then after a while he appeared with a book that he picked up at the library mid Run! That was Rich!

He spoke so highly of his fellow Steeps and his family. He was a proud member of our little running club and told so many people about it. 

He wasn’t just an interesting person, he was a kind, caring, and fun person. 

In the last few years I realized Rich had stresses and anxieties about things just like we all do. Somehow seeing his more vulnerable side made him even more extraordinary to me. 

Much like myself, he loved the social parts of our running club. He was a regular at the Wednesday Pub Runs from the beginning, even when he didn’t run. 

I know I’m not alone when I say I will miss our dear friend so much. I’m glad there’s reminders of Rich all around our town. I think if he were here he’d tell us to appreciate the everyday moments with friends and family.  

Cheers to our friend Rich! 

President’s Award – Bill Susa

I am thrilled to share that I selected Mr. Bill Susa for the President’s Award. I started to notice a theme in 2023. When I ran Froggy Hollow, I was so happy to hear Bill announce my name as I crossed the finish line. Then of course he popped up on my Facebook feed to remind me to sign up for Makin Hay. When I volunteered for the finish line after Mark Lawrence put out a call for volunteers, who was there but Bill. When I crossed the finish line at Rick’s Run, Bill was there again announcing names making everyone feel like heroes. During the JKF Ultra, he was out maintaining the AT to make sure that the trail was clear. And then of course at the end of the year, he was there to celebrate the runners of Candy Cane Dash. It was obvious to me that Bill is an essential and vital part of the Frederick running community.

I’d like to share a quote that is on point for this award: “If you knew the extent of what a person had to endure to have the impact, empathy and outlook they have today, you would not be intimidated. You would be empowered.” (Morgan Richard Oliver).

Years ago, while working as an airport flight controller, Bill found himself stressed out, overweight and concerned about his health. He decided to make a change. He took up running. He started as a roadrunner but found his passion and happy place on the trails. He made great friends affectionately named the Fat Rumps. They would get together and run crazy runs each weekend. Bill has an extensive and impressive running resume. He has completed numerous races from 5ks to ultras, including seven 100-milers, his favorite being Virgil Crest in the New York Finger Lakes Region.

Several years ago, Bill wanted to help raise funds for the South Mountain Heritage Society’s museum which was built around the year 1829 and didn’t have indoor plumbing. Thus, the Run for the Bathroom 8K was born to help raise funds. It was his first foray into organizing races. Fun fact: The Run for the Bathroom eventually became the much-loved Spookhill Wine & Cider Run.

At a later point, Bill’s good friend from the Fat Rumps, Leah Perry, convinced him to help with Girls on the Run. Supporting Girls on the Run became a passion for Bill. He served as race director of the Candy Cane Dash for years. He still serves as the race announcer each year. For him, seeing the sense of accomplishment on the faces of the girls as they cross the finish line never gets old.

According to Leah, Bill has dedicated countless hours supporting local non-profits, providing them advice and service. His superpower is that of an encourager… for new race directors, local non-profits and runners of all abilities. And so it seems only natural that he would eventually start his own business offering race support and announcing services.

It should be no surprise that someone as remarkable as Bill did not become the man he is today on his own. Bill has been able to make such a significant impact because of the love, encouragement and support that he receives from his family, especially lovely wife, Anne, daughter Pam, and his great friends including Cassi and Tim Todd, Melissa Kauffman and Leah Perry.

Now I’d like to ask last year’s President’s Award winner, Leah Perry, to come forward to help me present the award.

I hope that you all can take inspiration from Bill who made a decision to invest in his health and take up running, embrace it to the full as an ultra-runner, and give back to the running community as a race director and volunteer. He is an exemplar of volunteerism and a heck of a nice guy. Bill, please come forward to receive your award.