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Arlington Runners Compete in Boston Marathon

By WTOP Staff

Boston Marathon logoOn Monday, 102 runners from Arlington crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon.

It was the first running of what many view as the world’s premier distance race since last year’s race was marred by the bombings that killed three and left hundreds injured.

Michael Wardian was the top finisher from Arlington, finishing in 2:23:32, good for third in the 40-44-year-old men’s division and 44th overall. Wardian, who turned 40 on April 12, won the North Pole marathon by nearly an hour less than two weeks ago and completed two other races — the GW Parkway 10 Miler and a 5K — between then and Monday.

Michael Wardian in the 2014 Boston Marathon (photo courtesy Jenna Downey)Wardian is an elite runner who runs dozens of races each year, but he said this year’s Boston Marathon was unique – the excitement level among the spectators was off the charts.

“People are screaming and the energy is so amazing,” he said. “For me it was super emotional coming down the final stretch and crossing the finish line. I couldn’t ask for anything more. It was such a special day and a great day to be a runner.”

“The whole reason I got into running 20 years ago was to get into the Boston Marathon,” he said. “It’s an honor to just be a part of it.”

Arlington’s top female finisher was Clarendon resident Kayley Byrne, 26, who finished in 3:09:05, putting her in 322nd among all women and 267th in her division.

Kayley Byrne and her fiancee at the 2014 Boston Marathon (photo courtesy Kayley Byrne)Byrne, a William and Mary alum who’s getting married in August, ran the marathon for the third time in a row — and for the second time with her mother, Carol. The two ran the Boston Marathon last year and Carol finished just 7 minutes before the bombs went off. Carol was uninjured, but shaken up.

Afterward, Byrne recalls watching the news coverage in their hotel room, stunned at how such a joyous event had turned so tragic so quickly. Then they made a pledge.

“We were like — we have to go back,” she said.

Byrne said running the 26.2 mile course this year “was completely inspirational.”

“There were people lining the course the entire way,” she told ARLnow.com. “Everyone was wearing Boston Strong shirts. It wasn’t so much about the race but a celebration of Boston and of running. There was a huge sense of community throughout the entire race and the entire weekend.”

Wardian’s next race will be the picturesque Big Sur marathon in California on Sunday. Byrne said she’s “feeling pretty beat up today,” but is looking forward to some day competing in the two World Marathon Majors she has yet to run, London and Berlin.

After the jump, in order of finish, are Arlington’s top 20 finishers in Boston from Monday.

  • Michael Wardian, 40, 2:23:32
  • Eddie Valentine, 34, 2:32:51
  • Marty McCormick, 34, 2:37:06
  • Ian Blackwell, 27, 2:39:04
  • Andrew Whitacre, 28, 2:44:59
  • Jeramia Cibulka, 33, 2:45:38
  • Andy Cahoy, 27, 2:47:58
  • Charles Engle, 43, 2:48:51
  • Albert Kim, 36, 2:54:21
  • Marshall Martin, 28, 2:54:29
  • Justin McCarthy, 32, 2:55:13
  • David Barr, 28, 2:56:51
  • Thomas Johnson Jr., 28, 2:57:04
  • Andrew Orzel, 36, 2:59:47
  • Vince Jesaitis, 35, 2:59:48
  • Ben Shea, 35, 3:00:22
  • Steven Maguire, 47, 3:00:36
  • Matthew Clark, 30, 3:00:49
  • John Kelly, 30, 3:01:48
  • Jonathan George, 30, 3:02:19
  • Bradley Smith, 38, 3:03:36

Other finishers, in order of finish: Mark Fiegener, Matthew Cypher, Kayley Byrne, William Schaffer, Peter Bredemann, Michael Daley, John Kendra, Andrea Nelson, Jacqueline Wilkins, Melinda Metz, Paul Matheson, Jacob Brundage, Melanie Brown, Reynolds Wilson, Alison Smith, Julia Taylor, Jay Jacob Wind, James Donahue, Gregory Wood, Julie Chavanne, Caroline Lewis, Tammy Lamantia, Jessica Boucher, Taneen Carvell, Faith Korbel, Norris Cochran, Bo Bloomer, Pamela Walsh, Ryan Bieshaar, Kate Skidmore, Frank Fumich, Taylor Coffey, Audrey Anderson, Mallory Scott, David Lee, Grace Chan, Mary Freeman, Daryle Lademan, Joseph Scanlin, Jacqueline Pau, Will Ellison, Jeff Bedell, Amie Heap, Brittany Williams, Emily Rhoades, Elke Horne, Laura Danberg, Kym Rybold, Sarah Mennone, Abhaya Menon, Lauren Gabler, Alexandra Barrage, Anthony Barnes, Cathy Ahn, Steve Messinger, Robert Sindermann Jr., Patrizia Maness, Mark Henneberger, Jackie McCarthy, Mary Gibson, Julie McTernan, Jessica Summers, Deb Ryan, Gary Morgans, Anthony Demario, Jacqueline Nivet, Caroline Merena, Kate Bernier, Robert Loeb, Lisa Leonard, Cindy Walls, Jose Braz, John Simpkins, Daniel Tiernan, William Carty Jr., David Cote, Brenton Wetmore, Samantha Lauring, Suzanne Garwood, William McKenney, Megan McCluer.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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