U.S. Marines Put Together Winning Team

The U.S. Marines topped Britain's Royal Marines to win the Commanders Cup for the second straight year -- but for just the second time in the last 16 years.

"Your guys have finally got some runners, that's the problem," said Royal Navy Commander Al Rich. The rivalry began in 1978 as a one-time contest, Rich said, but proved so popular that it is now a hotly contested but good natured annual event.

U.S. team captain Alex Heatherington, 41, long the Marines' top runner but not a scoring team member yesterday, ran 2:44:45. "It's just good to finally be on the winning team," said Heatherington, who missed last year's race with an injury.

Staying on Pace

Marathon pace groups, led by experienced runners carrying signal balloons, have become extremely popular and help runners maintain an even pace from start to finish. Bill Sanders, from Elmhurst, Ill., paced hundreds of runners in the popular 3-hour 40-minute group yesterday. "We hold 'em tight together through 23 [miles], then send 'em on," said Sanders, who finished right on schedule.

"It helped a lot," said Doug Frawley, 30, from Warner Robins, Ga., who finished in a personal-best 3:40:01. "I've gone out too fast before. This makes a big difference. . . . You just keep the balloons in sight."

More First-Place Finishers

Scott Seiss of Rocky Ridge, Md., won the handcrank bike race in 1:23:21. He raced closely with Arkadivsz Skrzypinski of Poland until the course's final hill. "In the last kilometer, I said congratulations," Skrzypinski said.

Seiss's handcrank bike, a kneeler, allows him to use his trunk and generate more power. Skrzypinski raced in a reclining handcrank bike, which is more aerodynamic and suited for flat courses, but since it only uses a racer's arms, isn't ideal for hills.

David Swope won the wheelchair race in 2:20:26. The New Windsor, Md., resident won last year as well.

Barrett Takes 10K

Marine 2nd Lt. Sean Barrett, 23, won the 10K race for the second straight year, finishing in 34:23. He expected to be in Iraq but his deployment was delayed three weeks ago. Without enough time to train for the marathon, he signed up for the 10K. "I starved myself to try to lose some of the extra weight," said Barrett, who lost 12 pounds while preparing.

Registration closed at 5,000 runners, making it one of Washington's largest 10-kilometer races. . . .

Wearing bib number 2 and the countenance of a former drill instructor -- which he was --Carlton Kent, the 16th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, finished his sixth Marine Corps Marathon in 3:55:59. The sergeant major is the Corps' senior enlisted man. . . .

D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty finished his eighth Marine Corps Marathon in a personal-best 3:37:18. "All out, all the time," Fenty said.