record

Local ‘Sport Stacking’ Champ Sets More Records

By ARLnow.com

Last time we checked in with William Polly, the 10-year-old Penrose resident had just set a new sport stacking world record and was showing off his skills on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Polly, now 11, is still up to his winning ways in the world of sport stacking — a competitive sport that involves stacking cups in set formations — or “sequences” — as quickly as possible.

Last month Polly set a new world record in the “individual cycle” competition. Unfortunately, his record was quickly broken by fellow young sport stacking phenom, William Orrell.

Then, at a national competition in Colorado Springs last weekend, Polly tied a world record in the 3-6-3 sequence (see video, above) and set a record with three fellow stackers in the 3-6-3 relay.

Polly now has his name on three of the five sport stacking world records.

Reagan National Airport Sets Passenger Record

By ARLnow.com

Reagan National Airport has set a new air service record.

The airport served a record-breaking 18.8 million passengers in 2011, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. That’s a nearly 4 percent increase over 2010, which compares favorably to the national passenger growth average of 1.5 percent.

The growth may continue in 2012, thanks to new and expanded service that’s coming to DCA starting on March 25.

US Airways is in the process of adding non-stop service to 11 new cities via Reagan National. And JetBlue is increasing service to its existing destination, while providing new daily service to Tampa.

“Even during these challenging times for the aviation industry, we are very pleased that in 2011 we were able to not only continue to provide excellent air service for the region but also to attract new airlines and service,” MWAA President and CEO Jack Potter said in a statement.

Flickr pool photo by BrianMKA

Absentee Voting on Pace to Break Records

By Katie Pyzyk

(Updated at 11:10 a.m.) Absentee voting for Tuesday’s election has been higher than expected, and is on pace to exceed the numbers from previous off-year elections.

So far, 1,227 votes have been counted, with 1,186 of those being from domestic absentee voters. At this same time in 2007, only 913 domestic absentee ballots had been cast. Arlington County Treasurer Frank O’Leary predicts that by election day, 1,827 absentee ballots will have been cast. That would be a record number, and would likely mean a record number of overall voters.

O’Leary says absentee votes have been disproportionately high from voters in the 31st Senate District, with the heated race between Democrat Barbara Favola and Republican Caren Merrick. It has provided more than 64% of the absentee votes so far.

In-person absentee voting continues through tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. at the Arlington County administrative building in Courthouse (2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 320).

Michael Wardian Sets World Indoor Marathon Record

By ARLnow.com

An 82-year-old world record was broken in Arlington last night.

Michael Wardian, an Arlington resident and one of the country’s premiere distance runners, crushed the world record for an indoor track marathon, completing the 26.2 miles in 2:27:21. The old record was 2:34:54, set in Boston back in 1928.

Wardian set the record at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center, which has a 200-meter soft urethane track. To complete the marathon, he had to run 211 laps.

Wardian, who works as an international shipbroker in Georgetown, is no stranger to setting records. He set the world records for fastest marathon while pushing a baby stroller and fastest marathon on a treadmill, but both of those records have since been broken (“I hope to get them back soon,” he told us).

Wardian says he enjoyed setting this record so close to home.

“It feels great and I was so happy to be able to do it at Thomas Jefferson Community Center… close to my house in front of my family and friends,” he said.

Pool photo taken last night by Chris Rief.

Arlington Runners Dominate At Weekend Marathons

By ARLnow.com

Two Arlington runners cleaned up at marathons in Delaware and Pennsylvania on Sunday.

Arlington resident and international shipbroker Michael Wardian, coming off his fourth National Marathon win in March, ran the fastest Delaware Marathon ever with a time of 2:26:22.

After finishing the race Wardian, who is training for an ultra marathon in South Africa, decided to keep going.

“I’m going to go do another hour, hour and a half run right now,” the 36-year-old told the Wilmington News Journal.

In York, Pa., Arlington resident Toni Diegoli was the fastest woman in the Bob Potts Heritage Rail Trail Marathon by more than 11 minutes.

Diegoli, 31, finished with at time of 3:06:08, or 11th overall. The next-fastest woman finished in 3:17:14.

Diegoli talked to the York Daily Record after the race and tried her best not to gloat.

“I started out pretty well and didn’t really see any other women,” said Diegoli, who won the North Central Rail Trail Marathon in Maryland in November. “I don’t mind, because I kind of like running alone. Besides, there are always some guys around you.”