At 40, Pointer isn't slowing down

Getting older never has been better for Maurice Pointer.

Since the Baltimore runner turned 40 on Sept. 9, he has been off and running.

That day, he finished third in the Baltimore Road Runners Club's cross country 3-miler at Baybrook Park in 16 minutes, 43 seconds.

The next day, he finished first overall in the Maryland Relay 4-miler at the Bay Cafe in 21:24.

The next weekend, he was fourth overall -- and first masters -- in the Pennant Race with Tim Bishop 5K at Camden Yards in 16:54 and seventh overall -- and first masters -- in the Down Syndrome 5K at Linthicum in 16:32.

Saturday, he ran fourth -- and first as a masters -- in the College of Notre Dame Centennial 5K in 16:24, and Sunday, he was fourth overall -- and first in the 40-to-44 age group -- in the Zoo Zoom 5-miler in 27:10.

"I'm looking to run a number of races this month and October and November as well," says Pointer, who says he has won about 50 races since he began running competitively in 1978. "I'm hoping if I can run well from here on out, I'll be considered one of the area's premier runners."

By keeping his goals simple, he should be on the road to accomplishing that.

"There are several masters, such as James Pryde, Bill Gale, Bill Moore, Ken Miller and Cass Washington, that if I'm able to hold my own against those runners, that's the key right there," says Pointer, who has worked at Allied Signal Aerospace in Towson for 12 years. "They are the ones who have proven themselves over the years, who have established their credentials."

If Pointer continues as he has begun his masters run, he shouldn't be long in establishing his.

Briefly

Chet Coates finished the People Encouraging People

Half-Marathon in Leesburg, Va., Sunday in 1:39:26. . . . The week's top finishers:

SATURDAY

Notre Dame Centennial 5K

At College of Notre Dame

Males: 1. Craig Woshner, 26, 15:08; 2. Neville Anderson, 33, 15:48; 3. Aaron Walter, 31, 16:15; 4. Maurice Pointer, 40, 16:24; 5. Mark Rosasco, 36, 16:41; 6. Bill Nesbitt, 39, 17:44; 7. Chris Sinclair, 28, 17:53; 8. Kent Greenberg, 40, 17:59; 9. Robert Nash, 32, 18:02; Rick Thomas, 42, 18:18. Masters: 1. Pointer.

Females: 1. Bea Marie Altieri, 28, 17:24; 2. Carole

Rosasco, 36, 18:35; 3. Ellie Murphy, 41, 19:13; 4. Nelda Clelland, 37, 19:55; 5. Yolanda Washington, 36, 20:22; 6. Suzanne Gemignani, 31, 20:53; 7. Wendy Zane, 22, 21:19; 8. Joya Fritsch-Fields, 33, 21:24; 9. Peg Webber, 45, 21:32; 10. Kathy Richardson, 18, 22:57. Masters: 1. Webber.

RASAC St. Mark's 5K Run

At Bel Air

Males: 1. James Pryde, 16:20; 2. Jeff Hinte, 16:58; 3. Donnie Mickey, 17:14; 4. Ron Sayers, 17:39; 5. Nick Sayers, 19:00; 6. Mike Martinek, 19:11; 7. David Huber, 19:21; 8. Ed Geisendaffer, 19:26; 9. Steve Boutilier, 19:28; 10. Jim Dougherty, 19:36.

Females: 1. Margaret Starnes, 18:57; 2. Kacie Remeto, 22:45; 3. Francis Gibbons, 22:48; 4. Amy Datsko, 23:28; 5. Nicole McGraw, 23:43; 6. Barbara Stroud, 23:56; 7. Melissa Bystry, 24:51; 8. Terri Boermm, 25:03; 9. Kathleen Sayers, 25:27; 10. Rachel Simon, 26:45.

SUNDAY

Zoo Zoom 5-miler

Baltimore Zoo

Males: 1. Neville Anderson, 26:11; 2. Harry Goodman, 26:57; 3. Paul Hannsen, 27:05; 4. Maurice Pointer, 27:11; 5. Jeff Hines, 27:28; 6. Dave Goucher, 28:19; 7. Timothy Wright, 28:33; 8. Robert Torchia, 28:56; 9. Alex Taylor, 28:59; 10. Kevin Boyle, 29:03. Masters: 1. Goodman.

Females: 1. Stacey Nicholson, 29:17; 2. Maureen Hall, 29:24; 3. Randon Fritsch, 31:29; 4. Christy Klima, 32:32; 5. Gwen Torchia, 32:39; 6. Lauri Goddcite, 33:20; 7. Patti Stirk, 34:32; 8. Yolanda Washington, 34:49; 9. Sherene Clayton, 35:07; 10. Kim Altenburger, 35:16. Masters: 1. Fritsch.

Coming events

Thursday, Gas Mask Dash 2-miler, Aberdeen Proving Ground-Edgewood Area, 5:30 p.m., [phone].

Saturday, Cardinal 5K Run, Calvert Hall College High School, 8 a.m., [phone].

Saturday, RASAC Harford Glen Scramble 5-miler, Bel Air, 8 a.m., [phone].

Saturday, Shooting Star 5K Run, Easton, 9:30 a.m., [phone].

Saturday, BRRC cross country 5-miler, Baybrook Park, 10 a.m., [phone].

Saturday, Mile On Fifth Avenue, New York City, 10:30 a.m., [phone].

Sunday, Renie Amoss Memorial 3-Mile Run, Goucher College, 9 a.m., [phone].

Sunday, Tri-Maryland Triathlon Club Watershed Biathlon (2.5M run, 13.1M bike, 2.5M run), Half-Marathon, Loch Raven High School, 8 a.m., [phone].

Sunday, Paolo's 5K, Towson, 9 a.m., [phone].

Sunday, Pets on Wheels Dog-A-Thon 2-miler, 5K, Memorial Stadium, 10 a.m., [phone].

Sunday, HCS 2M, 5M, 8M, Jeffers Hill Neighborhood

Center, 2 p.m., [phone].

Oct. 7, Race for the Cure, Inner Harbor, 8 a.m., [phone].

Oct. 8, BRRC Championship Series Metric Marathon, Ashland Trail.

Oct. 8, Howard County Striders' Columbus Chase 10K, Howard CC, 8 a.m.Oct. 8, Annapolis Striders' Metric Marathon, Southern (AA) High School, 8 a.m., [phone].

Oct. 8, Twin Cities Marathon, Minneapolis/St. Paul.Oct. 14, Benjamin Banneker Memorial 5K, Oella, 8 a.m., [phone].

Oct. 14, Autumn Glory 5K, Oakland, 8:30 a.m., [phone].

Oct. 14, BRRC Cross County 5-miler, McDonogh School, 10 a.m.Oct. 15, WRRC Bachman Valley Half-Marathon, Westminster, 8:30 a.m., [phone].

Oct. 15, Tri-Maryland Triathlon Club Ride, Roll & Stride Triathlon (4M skate, 12M bike, 2M run), Columbia, [phone].

Oct. 15, 8K Race to Save Open Space, Wye Research and Education Center, 10 a.m., [phone].