Woman finishes 10K with 3-peat

Former steeplechaser wins men's 10K

As Tara Wojciechowski made the turn onto McDowell Street, the Old Reliable Run began to look more like the Old Reliable Re-Run.

Petite, but powerful, she sped down the stretch on the wings of emotion to claim her third straight women's 10K title in the 22nd annual event, which drew more than 2,000 runners, walkers, baby joggers and wheelchair participants on a balmy fall Sunday.

During her 35 minute, 10-second jaunt, Wojciechowski ran with light feet, but a heavy heart as she thought about Margaret Matkins, the 35-year old Broughton high school teacher who died last week after suffering a stroke.

"All throughout the race I was thinking about [her]," said Wojciechowski, a 30-year old chemistry teacher at Wake Forest-Rolesville High. "I met her and in about five minutes I could tell she was a special person. Life is short. I said: 'Enjoy this race.' "

While Wojo -- who isn't related to Duke assistant basketball coach Steve Wojciechowski -- continued her dominance, Wake Forest assistant track coach Matt Kerr won the men's 10K in runaway style after coming in fourth last year.

A former two-time NCAA steeplechase champion at Arkansas, the sinewy 29-year old Kerr turned in a 30:41 time, and looked as if he could have run a marathon afterwards.

"I felt flat coming in, had tired legs," said Kerr, yet he flat-out burned up the gently rolling course after his wife, Jill, exhorted him to go out and "have fun."

Kerr, appropriately wearing a Fleet Feet shirt, took the lead early and sustained a "steady, even" -- and fast -- 4:57 mile pace to finish far ahead ahead of Winston-Salem's Garick Hill, who was clocked at 31:57.

Wojciechowski's race was more stressful as runner-up Kristin Price (35:16) and Durham's Becki Marshall (35:24) pushed the tempo from start to finish.

"At the 5K mark, I said: 'This is too fast,' " Wojciechowski recalled. "But I said I would hold on and do what I can."

The former University of Delaware standout, who calls herself a "morning runner," did enough once again in the afternoon run.

She surged ahead about the halfway point and sustained the edge with a 5:40 per mile average, while Price (5:41) and Marshall (5:42) kept nipping at her heels.

"There was a lot of competition,'' said Wojciechowski. "I was hoping to break 35 minutes. [But] I'm pleased."

The race likely marked the end of this most reliable champion's reign in the The Old Reliable Run, however, at least until 2007. Wojo plans to compete in the Chicago Marathon next fall.

In the 5K, Cary's Patricia Brewer captured the women's title in 18:47 and Michael Prada took the men's crown in 16:31.

Prada came from Baltimore to cheer for the Terps' football team, which edged UNC in overtime Saturday, and decided to stick around for the race.

Then the former Terps runner ran like a hare.