Seneca Creek

Classic course results are below. Splits (for both classic & relay legs) are available on Attackpoint or Winsplits.
To enter your routes and see how others went, head to RouteGadget.

Flickr photo album for this event is here.

On December 15, QOC regained the Broken Compass Award in the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Championships at Seneca Creek - Smokey Glen Farm! The participants braved frozen ground, sleet, snow, and rain outside (but little wind) and enjoyed snug and festive socializing inside the barn. The scene was especially cheerful with the holiday decorations provided by Smokey Glen. Course setter and designer Glenn Pastel provided a full set of Classic and 3-leg Relay courses.

Results

The Classic races saw 242 starts, with 277 people in all. QOC, with home field advantage, fielded 179 from QOC, welcoming the 36 who made the trek for DVOA. We had JROTC participants from BPI and JFK. It was especially terrific to see so many families and teens at the event, and more than a few first-time orienteers. QOC's win was truly a club-wide effort, one we will want to replicate when we strive to hold onto the Broken Compass when DVOA hosts the 2025 competition.

Thirty teams competed in the relays. Despite the worsening weather, a robust crowd cheered on the runners, particularly as they sprinted uphill on tired legs to the finish. It was a thrilling race!

The winning relay team was QOC Awesome, with Maria Brogren, Jon Torrance, and Ted Good, a 9-point team, with a time of 47:14. A close second, at 47:25, was team DVOA Suhockis, with Grace Suhocki, Ava Suhocki, and Page Suhocki, also a 9-point team. DVOA Foxes took third place, comprising Oriana Riley, Sergei Ryzhkov, and Greg Alswede, a 3-point team. Their time was 49:40. A full page of results will be posted shortly.

Volunteer Thanks

We extend a hearty thank-you to all who volunteered beforehand to help with the meet and to those who pitched in onsite because we needed you. There was so much going on that I may have missed some who helped, and I apologize. The event succeeded because of 39 volunteers, including three first-time volunteers (Krissi and Emi Lundblad, and Massey Bartolini). The list includes Charles Gregorski, who came in the frigid early morning for set-up even though he was not racing. 
Setting up the starts, flagging clearly the route to the advanced start, testing our process, and getting orienteers successfully onto their courses was a feat. It engaged Valerie Meyer, Charles Gregorski, David Levine, Krissi Lundblad, Emi Lundblad, Iliana Lundblad, Cecilia Landers, Dawn Savage, Massey Bartolini, David Rager, and Greg and Kathleen Lennon. I especially appreciate the several who were flexible in changing assignments, or who went back and forth to make sure everything went smoothly. We had a crowded roster of racers, especially of greens and browns, but nary a grumble. Krissi, Emi, and Iliana also helped out with meet set-up. 
Check-in was managed masterfully by Harry Jones, Iliana Lundblad, Greg Palardy, and Reiko Rager. 
Scott Sharp and Ted Good provided beginner and refresher instruction. 
Valerie Meyer and Amy Louden again ran e-punch for both the classic races and the relays. We cannot overstate how important they are to QOC! Dan Lathrop and Aaron Linville assisted them. 
Glenn Pastel designed and set the courses -- the full set of classics and the relays -- despite very late confirmation that we could use Smokey Glen. While he couldn't stay for the meet, Glenn was out in sub-freezing temperatures setting the remaining controls on Sunday morning. 
Aaron Linville, with help from Laura Linville, coordinated the relays, including placing people on their teams. Jody Landers emceed the relays. Wyatt Riley coordinated the DVOA teams. 
As the weather turned wetter and colder, stalwart racers on weary legs went out again for control pick-up: Lydia Andrews, Nadim Ahmed, Erin Brandt, Rob Field, Francis Hogle, Michal Jarnik, Ed Joseph, Steven Pepe, and Jon Torrance. A special shout-out goes to Ted Good and Jon Torrance who stayed to the very end to sort the controls and make sure I wasn't left alone. Ted also did a final check on the building (finding a turquoise hydration pack, if anyone knows to whom it might belong; other lost and found items are shown in the event photo album). Dasa Merkova also helped with clean-up and taking the kit for the January 12 meet. 
Greg Lennon managed the web page and was registrar for the event. Mike Newman arranged the permit at this marvelous facility. 
Sidney Sachs tallied stats for the meet, reliable as always. 
Several people were invaluable in supporting the meet director before and during the meet: Don Fish, Greg Lennon, David Rager, and Reiko Rager. They, along with Cecilia Landers and Jody Landers, seemed to be around all day, and helped with myriad issues that popped up. 
Respectfully submitted, 
- Jane Leggett, Event Director