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Les Kinion Award

Men’s Results

Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run Presents 2018 Les Kinion Outstanding Service Award to

Jean Arthur in Recognition of Her 20 Years of Service to the Race

Award honors the memory of longtime race volunteer Les Kinion.

by Keith Peters

Photo: Dennis Steinauer

Event Director Phil Stewart Presents Jean Arthur with the Les Kinion Award. Arthur has coordinated all of the water
stops on the course for 20 years.

pril 7, 2018, Washington, DC: Hospitals. has been as essential to the Credit launch the first Maryland Marathon.
AAt this year’s pre-race dinner To top it off, one dedicated race Union Cherry Blossom Run as the After retiring in 1986, Les moved

for the Credit Union Cherry Blossom committee member was about to water and Gatorade she has served to to Bishopville, MD, and worked on
Run, the table was set—in more ways receive the coveted Les Kinion our participants for the last 20 years. hundreds of races on the Maryland-
than one. Everyone who gathered for Outstanding Service Award—an Jean oversees a corps of water stop Delaware Coast. He became involved

dinner had done their best to prepare award established in 2015 to ensure captains who get up before 4:00 a.m. with the Cherry Blossom Run over
for the 46 running of The Runners the memory of Kinion’s outstanding on race day year after year largely 20 years ago, and was active until he
th
Rite of Spring®. service to the Cherry Blossom Run. due to the loyalty and respect she has passed away in July 2014 at the age of
A very deep and hungry field of In his presentation remarks, Race earned from each and every one of 78.

elite runners had trained hard for Director Phil Stewart said: “Les them.” Since 2002, the Credit Union Cherry
the PRRO and RRCA Championship Kinion was very much at the heart Indeed, Jean Arthur exemplifies the Blossom 10 Mile and 5K Run-Walk

events that would be held as part and soul of the Cherry Blossom race dedication to service that previous have raised over $8 million for the
of this year’s Credit Union Cherry committee for over 20 years. He Kinion Award recipients Irv Newman Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Blossom Ten Mile. Race organizing coordinated the screen printing of the (2015), George Tarrico (2016) and The 2018 event marks the 17 year
th
committee members had reconfigured t-shirts, packaged and delivered over Michelle Carter (2017) have been of title sponsorship by Credit Union
the event’s staging area on the 150 separate packets for committee recognized for in years past. Miracle Day.

Washington Monument Grounds to members and others, and worked By trade, Les Kinion was a
avoid areas that are being refurbished, all race weekend long—always Baltimore fire fighter with Engine Past Award Winners

just as they had revised and recertified with a smile and effusive spirit that Company 43. By passion, he was first 2015 - Irv Newman
both the Ten Mile and 5K Run-Walk rejuvenated even the most tired a runner and then a running club 2016 - George Tarrico

courses to avoid construction on among us. There wasn’t a single thing officer and race director. In 1970, 2017 - Michelle Carter
Memorial Bridge. And Credit Union that Les wouldn’t do to help out the Les co-founded the Baltimore Road 2018 - Jean Arthur
dignitaries were excited to share race.” Runners Club, one of the earliest

the news of $380,000 having been Stewart went on to add: “This year’s chapters of the Road Runners Club
raised for Children’s Miracle Network Kinion Award recipient, Jean Arthur, of America. In 1973 he helped

2018 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run 11