College Park Represents at Marine Corps Marathon, 10K

Tens of thousands of people toed the starting line at the 36th Marine Corps Marathon Sunday, and proudly I can say that 15 of them were from our city.

The first College Park-ian to cross the line was Daehwan Kim, who finished in three hours and six seconds. He was followed closely by Jonathan Ferguson, who finished just seconds behind him.

The fastest area time on the women's side came from Emily Dreckshage, who crushed the four-hour mark with three hours, 55 minutes and 20 seconds. Dreckshage is just 20 years old.

It was an Ellicott City woman, Tezata Dengersa, who took first place overall in two hours, 45 minutes and 28 seconds. Apparently, there's something in the water out there, because another Ellicott City woman, Getachew Shiferaw, finished just two minutes and two seconds later, good for third place in the women's race.

The men's race was won by Charles Ware of Wheeling, Ill., who crossed the line in two hours, 19 minutes and 16 seconds. The top Maryland finisher was Emiru Mekonnen with a time of two hours, 30 minutes and 51 seconds, good for seventh place. He's from — where else, but Ellicott City.

College Park had one finisher in the impressive wheelchair "crank" competition: Shannon Franks, who finished in two hours, 20 minutes and three seconds.

We also had 13 finishers in the Marine Corps 10K, with Hugh Weithers leading the charge in 46 minutes and 38 seconds. Caitlin Brown was the top College Park female in that race, crossing the line in 57 minutes and 19 seconds.

Reuben Mwei of Acworth, Georgia won the 10K race in 30 minutes and 37 seconds. The female winner was a Maryland woman — Amanda Rice of North Bethesda, who crushed the field in 36:30.