Wardian wins Parks marathon

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Two weeks ago, Michael Wardian selflessly paced teammate Heather Hanscom to victory and an Olympic marathon trials "A" standard at the Marine Corps Marathon.

Yesterday, he ran for himself.

In his fourth marathon in six weeks, the 29-year-old Arlington runner dominated the fourth annual Marathon in the Parks in Montgomery County. He covered the 26.2-mile course -- much of it through the Maryland parks system -- in 2 hours, 28 minutes, 21 seconds.

"I wanted to run under 2:30," said Wardian, who on Oct. 5 secured a trip to the Olympic marathon trials with a 2:21:48 qualifying time in Detroit.

Defending women's champion Denise Knickman of Baltimore was projecting a sub-3 hour finish. The 35-year-old physical therapist was successful, winning again while completing the trip from the Shady Grove metro station to downtown Bethesda in 2:56:07.

"I usually wax and wane throughout the race," said Knickman, who ran 2:59:20 last year. "This time it just got worse and worse."

Wardian and Knickman, teammates on the Pacer's racing team, each earned $1,000 for their efforts.

The field this year lacked the depth of the previous two years.

Knickman was never challenged, firmly in the lead by the first mile and 2:35 ahead of runner-up Heather Davis of Raleigh, N.C., when she passed the halfway mark in 1:25:10. Even though Knickman slowed during the second half, Davis continued to lose ground. Her time was 3:03:41, way off her 2:57:27 effort at Shamrock in Virginia Beach in March.