WHAT YOU NEED NOW - CONTENT UPDATED THROUGH THE DAY
July 29, 2005
SPORTS-Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon to Draw Thousands Aug. 20
By HNN Staff
Parkersburg, WV (HNN) – Thousands of competitors will take to the
streets for the Road Runners Club of America National Championship when Parkersburg
hosts the 19th running of the News and Sentinel Half Marathon on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2005.
More than 1,000 runners are expected to register for the 13.1 mile race
that begins at 8 a.m. Participants can also register for running, walking,
or wheelchair divisions.
Last year, Isaac Arusei of Kenya won the half marathon with a time of
1:04:12. The first local finisher was Tony Basta of Parkersburg who
finished in 1:17:45.
Top finishers win cash prizes and all finishers receive a medal.
Race organizers are expecting more than 1,800 participants in all four
races and registrations are ahead of last year.
In addition to the half marathon, more than 600 are expected in the Two
Mile Race which begins at 8:05 am.
On Sunday, children of all ages can take part in the Junior Races and
Tiny Tot Trot beginning at 1 pm in the Parkersburg High School Stadium. The
Junior Races are age and gender based races for kids ages 6-11. The
Tiny Tot Trot, for ages 5 and under, is a 100 meter race.
Participants in all races receive a t-shirt.
Racers in the half marathon are treated to a pasta dinner on Friday
night and a pizza lunch following the race in the Bureau of Public Debt
Cafeteria. The pasta dinner has become one of the outstanding features of the
weekend.
The weekend will be jam-packed with activities for the race and the
Parkersburg Homecoming Festival. There are also many attractions in
the Mid-Ohio Valley that are sure to interest the entire family.
Major sponsors of the event include the Parkersburg News and Sentinel,
Camden Clark Memorial Hospital, Mountain State BlueCross BlueShield,
Simonton Windows, Wood County Commission, Waste Management, and River
City Runners.
For more information or to register online, visit
www.NewsandSentinel.com or
call 800-642-1997.
Contact:
Katherine Gessner
Half Marathon Coordinator
Parkersburg News and Sentinel Races
Half Marathon - Two Mile Race - Junior Races - Tiny Tot Trot
519 Juliana Street
Parkersburg, WV 26101
1.304.485.1891 ext. 459
Fax :1.304.485.5122
Visit http://www.newsandsentinel.com/halfmarathon for additional
information or to register online
