High marks of all kinds were reached for this year's CherryBlossom Run and the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals it helpssupport nationwide.

For one, Credit Union Miracle Day organizers kicked off theweekend by announcing Friday that $483,000 had been raisednationwide in the annual effort, including $112,000 alone byrunners in the Washington race on Sunday and their families andfriends.

“We are very proud of how credit unions and their businesspartners, including our lead partner, PSCU, and runners have allunited and collaborated to raise funds for Children's MiracleNetwork Hospitals under the umbrella of Credit Unions for Kids,”CUMD Chairman Juri Valdov said.

More than $6 million has been raised in the past 12 years andCUMD is slated to sponsor the race through 2016.

Speaking of the race, more than 15,000 runners competed undersunny skies amidst the cherry blossoms of the nation's capital,with U.S. Olympian Janet Bawcom of Flagstaff, Ariz., setting a newAmerican record of 53:28 for the 10-mile run.

Kenyan Caroline Rotich won the women's race with a time of 52:46while countrymen Daniel Salel and defending champion Allan Kiprono finished one-two in the men'sdivision with Salel coming in at 46:06.

This year 161 members of Congress from 39 states, AmericanSamoa, D.C., Guam and Puerto Rico served as honorary race chairs and nearly 800 congressional stafferscompeted in 70 teams. Companion events were held in Sacramento, Calif., and Kuwait with another set for later thismonth in Germany.

The Washington race itself was sanctioned by the USATF as theUSA Women's 10 Mile Championship with sponsorship from CUMD, CUNAand NAFCU.

From left, Tom Lazour, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals;Charlie Mallon, Congressional FCU (CUMD secretary and chair of CUCherry Blossom Race Committee); Theresa Mann, The Partnership FCUand CUMD Vice Chair; Bob Hess, CUMD Ex-Officio Board; Juri Valdov,CUMD chair, Jan Roche, State Department FCU and treasurer of CUMD;Fred Becker, NAFCU president/CEO; Casey Duplantier, CUMD Board;Bill Cheney, CUNA president/CEO; Fredda McDonald, PSCU senior vicepresident and CUMD Board; Patty Jasper-Zellner, Children's MiracleNetwork Hospitals; Pat Wesenberg, Central City CU and CUNA chair;Chris Roe, CUNA Mutual, CUMD Board; Larry Buel, CUMD ex-officioboard; and Bill Brooks, CUMD ex-officio board.

Caroline Rotich of Kenya wins the women's division of the CherryBlossom Run.

NAFCU President/CEO Fred Becker and Kenya Ambassador ElkanahOdembo at the race dominated by world-class Kenyan distancerunners.

Wheelchair contestant prepare to race at the Cherry Blossom Runon Sunday in Washington.