Queen City Striders,Cumberland,Md
3rd Annual
Run to Read Half-Marathon
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Run to Read Half-Marathon
Saturday, January 5, 2008
QCS Striders Invade Prickett's Fort
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McCollam fades, Hawkins claims victory as Al Co runners invade West Virginia
By Kevin Spradlin
FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Prickett's Fort was originally built in 1774 as a place of refuge for early white settlers against Indian attack. At the 3rd annual Run to Read Half-Marathon on Saturday at Prickett's Fort State Park, Jaron Hawkins found a safe place to be - and that place was in front of 185 other runners while cruising to a winning time of 1 hour, 13 minutes and 18.3 seconds.
David McCollam, 28, of Phillippi, W.Va., stopped the clock in second at 1:14:09.7 before three more Allegany County runners rounded out the top five. Daniel DeWitt, 22, Cumberland, was third in 1:14:49.3, David Mertz, 22, of Cumberland, was fourth in 1:17:30.7 and Jeremy Rice, 25, of Frostburg, finished fifth in 1:18:55.3.
But it was Hawkins, 25, of Frostburg, who perhaps knew the competition best. Not knowing what to expect of himself in the middle of an 118-mile training week, Hawkins eyed McCollam - last year's winner in 1:13:34.3 - before the start and thought he'd try to keep pace with him. The strategy worked through the first three-quarters of the race until McCollam ran out of gas.
Meanwhile, Hawkins, running for the Hagerstown-based Cumberland Valley Athletic Club, just got faster as he ticked off each mile and closed mile 13 in about 5:30. The Frostburg State University graduate averaged 5:36 over the 13.1 mile course, which was comprised of 4.5 miles on the paved West Fork River Trail before finished the final 8.6 miles on the Mon River Trail, surfaced with crushed limestone.
Three other county runners finished in the top 50. Rob Smith, 43, of Cumberland, finished below his goal pace of 7:00 per mile in 1:31:05.1 (6:57) after a weeklong battle of mucus-filled lungs. Kevin Spradlin, 28, of Ellerslie, was 22nd overall in a personal best time of 1:31:54.6 (7:01) while Luke Smith, 14, was 45th in his half-marathon debut in 1:39:05 (7:34). Edward Lipski, 63, of Cumberland, was 181st overall in 2:51:50.4 (13:07).
Rob Smith took first in the men's 40-44 age group while his son, Luke, took second in the boys Under-14 division. Lipski and Spradlin each placed fourth in their respective age groups. Hawkins, as winner, along with DeWitt, Mertz and Rice were eliminated from age group awards as they each earned top five finishes.
Chelsea Jarvis, 17, of Clendenin, W.Va., won the women's title in 1:26:01.1 after a slow start. Katie Wolpert, 26, of Belington, W.Va., was second in 1:29:27.7 while Bonnie Latham, 20, of Beaver Falls, Pa., was third in 1:34:43.7.
Three other county runners finished in the top 50. Rob Smith, 43, of Cumberland, finished below his goal pace of 7:00 per mile in 1:31:05.1 (6:57) after a weeklong battle of mucus-filled lungs. Kevin Spradlin, 28, of Ellerslie, was 22nd overall in a personal best time of 1:31:54.6 (7:01) while Luke Smith, 14, was 45th in his half-marathon debut in 1:39:05 (7:34). Edward Lipski, 63, of Cumberland, was 181st overall in 2:51:50.4 (13:07).
Rob Smith took first in the men's 40-44 age group while his son, Luke, took second in the boys Under-14 division. Lipski and Spradlin each placed fourth in their respective age groups. Hawkins, as winner, along with DeWitt, Mertz and Rice were eliminated from age group awards as they each earned top five finishes.
Chelsea Jarvis, 17, of Clendenin, W.Va., won the women's title in 1:26:01.1 after a slow start. Katie Wolpert, 26, of Belington, W.Va., was second in 1:29:27.7 while Bonnie Latham, 20, of Beaver Falls, Pa., was third in 1:34:43.7.
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Rob Smith
Daniel DeWitt
Jeremy Rice
David Mertz
Luke Smith
Kevin Spradlin
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Edward Lipski
Photos Set1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5
'This weather was perfect for running’
By Mary Wade Burnside
Times West Virginian
'This weather was perfect for running’
By Mary Wade Burnside
Times West Virginian
“The weather was perfect for running”
Race Recap Running USA
Race director Jim Woolfitt was covering tubs of bottled water
positioned at the finish line around 10:30am the morning of the
race to keep it away from the bright sunlight. Before the January 5,
2008, noon start for the 3rd annual Run to Read Half Marathon, the
bright sunlight turned to a mist. Most of the record 185 runners
(186 including a bandit) didn’t seem to mind the 40 degree
temperatures. Six runners broke 1:20 (compared to 4 last year), 20
runners broke 1:30 (including 2 women for the first time) and 10
ladies broke 1:40 (only 2 did so in 2007.)
Turning to the recap found on the Queen City Striders webpage:
“Prickett’s Fort was originally built in 1774 as a place of refuge for
early white settlers against Indian attack. At the third annual Run
to Read Half Marathon…at Prickett’s Fort State Park, Jaron
Hawkins found a safe place…and that place was in front of 185
other runners while cruising to a winning time of 1:13:18.3.”
“David McCollam, 28, [a former Alderson Broaddus cross country
runner] of Philippi, WV, stopped the clock in 1:14:09.7 before
three more Allegany County [MD] runners rounded out the top 5.
Daniel DeWitt, 22, Cumberland, was 3rd in 1:14:49.3. David
Mertz, 22, of Cumberland, was 4th in 1:17:30.7 and Jeremy Rice,
25, of Frostburg, finished 5th in 1:18:55.3.”
“But it was Hawkins, 25, of Frostburg, who perhaps knew the
competition best. Not knowing what to expect of himself in the
middle of an 118 mile training week, Hawkins eyed McCollam,
last year’s winner in 1;13:34.3, before the start and thought he’d
try to keep pace with him. The strategy worked through the first 3
quarters of the race until McCollam ran out of gas.”
“Meanwhile, Hawkins, running for the Hagerstown based
Cumberland Valley Athletic Club, just got faster as he ticked off
each mile and closed mile 13 in about 5:30. The Frostburg State
University graduate averaged 5:36 per mile over the 13.1 mile
course….” (http://www.qcstriders.org/./Halfread07.html for the
full story)
Hawkins finished 3rd overall at the recent Marine Corp Marathon
with a time of 2:25 and change.
Chelsea Jarvis, who runs for the Wapiti Runners from Kanawha
County’s Elk River Valley, won the ladies title after finishing 2nd
last year and winning in 2006. The 17 year old Jarvis, who runs
cross country at Capital High School, has dramatically improved
her times going from 1:42:50 to 1:33:07.8 to this year’s 1:26:02.1.
Fellow Wapiti runner Jordan Burgess has likewise shown
significant improvement in 3 years going from 1:34:32 to 1:29:16
to this year’s 1:20:28.9. Burgess, 17, was 7th overall and took age
group honors in the 15-19 age group. Other Wapiti Runners
included Christine Azevedo, 17,who won the 19 & under age
group in 1:39:33.4, 13; year old Makayla Shamblin who ran
1;43:35.3 in her very first half marathon, Chris Jones, 16, who
finished in 1:33:15.1 and Luke Teel, 14, who won the men’s 14 &
under. in 1:36:07.2. Teel, like Azevedo, a 3 year Run to Read Half
Marathon veteran has also shown steady improvement going from
1:47;39 to 1;40:48 to this year’s 1:36:07.
Both Jarvis & Burgess had top 15 finishes at last fall’s state cross
country meet competing for Capital High School.
The women’s runnerup, Kaite Wolpert, 26, formerly ran cross
country and the steeplechase at Carnegie Mellon University. With
a time of 1:29:27.7, she and Jarvis were the first females to break
1:30 at our event. (An interesting side note, both runners-up,
McCollam & Wolpert, reside in Barbour County.) 20 year old
Bonnie Latham of Beaver Falls, PA, took 3rd running 1:34:43.7.
Jennifer Sirockman, a varsity runner for University High’s 2007
state champion cross country team, finished 4th with a time of
1:35:55.3. Kathy Timperman, last year’s Run to Read Half
Marathon winner, was 5th this year finishing in 1:36:22.
Race organizers thank Marion County Parks and Recreation for
clearing the trails of snow and ice. The MCPARC crew also helped
set up water stops and helped to direct parking prior to the race. A
big thank you to Dan Talbot, Michael Kuhn, Steve Davis, Wes
Talbot (a volunteer) and to the other guys.
We also thank the Prickett’s Fort Historical Society, Tree of Life
Church, the Marion County Rescue Squad, Speedway Market, the
Mon River Trails Conservancy, and McDonald’s of Fairmont. A
very special thanks to all the volunteers who helped with food,
registration, water stops, awards, and clean up.
74 of the 185 finishers were female and the 20 to 29 age group
outnumbered the men 22 to 17. With the increased numbers in
many age groups, look for more 5 year interval age groups next
year. The race may very well be included again in the Morgantown
Area Grand Prix, too.
The 4th annual Run to Read Half Marathon is scheduled for
January 10, 2009, and the 10th annual Run to Read Races (15K, 5K
or run both) are scheduled for June 21, 2008, at the Marion County
Adult Ed Center.
Feel free to email race director Jim Woolfitt at
run2read@yahoo.com with any suggestions or concerns.
We appreciate all the runners and volunteers who helped make this
event successful. Morgantown’s Maurice Miller, 78 years young,
was the oldest finisher, while the previously mentioned 13 year old
Makayla Shamblin of Clendenin, was the youngest finisher.
Race Recap Running USA
Race director Jim Woolfitt was covering tubs of bottled water
positioned at the finish line around 10:30am the morning of the
race to keep it away from the bright sunlight. Before the January 5,
2008, noon start for the 3rd annual Run to Read Half Marathon, the
bright sunlight turned to a mist. Most of the record 185 runners
(186 including a bandit) didn’t seem to mind the 40 degree
temperatures. Six runners broke 1:20 (compared to 4 last year), 20
runners broke 1:30 (including 2 women for the first time) and 10
ladies broke 1:40 (only 2 did so in 2007.)
Turning to the recap found on the Queen City Striders webpage:
“Prickett’s Fort was originally built in 1774 as a place of refuge for
early white settlers against Indian attack. At the third annual Run
to Read Half Marathon…at Prickett’s Fort State Park, Jaron
Hawkins found a safe place…and that place was in front of 185
other runners while cruising to a winning time of 1:13:18.3.”
“David McCollam, 28, [a former Alderson Broaddus cross country
runner] of Philippi, WV, stopped the clock in 1:14:09.7 before
three more Allegany County [MD] runners rounded out the top 5.
Daniel DeWitt, 22, Cumberland, was 3rd in 1:14:49.3. David
Mertz, 22, of Cumberland, was 4th in 1:17:30.7 and Jeremy Rice,
25, of Frostburg, finished 5th in 1:18:55.3.”
“But it was Hawkins, 25, of Frostburg, who perhaps knew the
competition best. Not knowing what to expect of himself in the
middle of an 118 mile training week, Hawkins eyed McCollam,
last year’s winner in 1;13:34.3, before the start and thought he’d
try to keep pace with him. The strategy worked through the first 3
quarters of the race until McCollam ran out of gas.”
“Meanwhile, Hawkins, running for the Hagerstown based
Cumberland Valley Athletic Club, just got faster as he ticked off
each mile and closed mile 13 in about 5:30. The Frostburg State
University graduate averaged 5:36 per mile over the 13.1 mile
course….” (http://www.qcstriders.org/./Halfread07.html for the
full story)
Hawkins finished 3rd overall at the recent Marine Corp Marathon
with a time of 2:25 and change.
Chelsea Jarvis, who runs for the Wapiti Runners from Kanawha
County’s Elk River Valley, won the ladies title after finishing 2nd
last year and winning in 2006. The 17 year old Jarvis, who runs
cross country at Capital High School, has dramatically improved
her times going from 1:42:50 to 1:33:07.8 to this year’s 1:26:02.1.
Fellow Wapiti runner Jordan Burgess has likewise shown
significant improvement in 3 years going from 1:34:32 to 1:29:16
to this year’s 1:20:28.9. Burgess, 17, was 7th overall and took age
group honors in the 15-19 age group. Other Wapiti Runners
included Christine Azevedo, 17,who won the 19 & under age
group in 1:39:33.4, 13; year old Makayla Shamblin who ran
1;43:35.3 in her very first half marathon, Chris Jones, 16, who
finished in 1:33:15.1 and Luke Teel, 14, who won the men’s 14 &
under. in 1:36:07.2. Teel, like Azevedo, a 3 year Run to Read Half
Marathon veteran has also shown steady improvement going from
1:47;39 to 1;40:48 to this year’s 1:36:07.
Both Jarvis & Burgess had top 15 finishes at last fall’s state cross
country meet competing for Capital High School.
The women’s runnerup, Kaite Wolpert, 26, formerly ran cross
country and the steeplechase at Carnegie Mellon University. With
a time of 1:29:27.7, she and Jarvis were the first females to break
1:30 at our event. (An interesting side note, both runners-up,
McCollam & Wolpert, reside in Barbour County.) 20 year old
Bonnie Latham of Beaver Falls, PA, took 3rd running 1:34:43.7.
Jennifer Sirockman, a varsity runner for University High’s 2007
state champion cross country team, finished 4th with a time of
1:35:55.3. Kathy Timperman, last year’s Run to Read Half
Marathon winner, was 5th this year finishing in 1:36:22.
Race organizers thank Marion County Parks and Recreation for
clearing the trails of snow and ice. The MCPARC crew also helped
set up water stops and helped to direct parking prior to the race. A
big thank you to Dan Talbot, Michael Kuhn, Steve Davis, Wes
Talbot (a volunteer) and to the other guys.
We also thank the Prickett’s Fort Historical Society, Tree of Life
Church, the Marion County Rescue Squad, Speedway Market, the
Mon River Trails Conservancy, and McDonald’s of Fairmont. A
very special thanks to all the volunteers who helped with food,
registration, water stops, awards, and clean up.
74 of the 185 finishers were female and the 20 to 29 age group
outnumbered the men 22 to 17. With the increased numbers in
many age groups, look for more 5 year interval age groups next
year. The race may very well be included again in the Morgantown
Area Grand Prix, too.
The 4th annual Run to Read Half Marathon is scheduled for
January 10, 2009, and the 10th annual Run to Read Races (15K, 5K
or run both) are scheduled for June 21, 2008, at the Marion County
Adult Ed Center.
Feel free to email race director Jim Woolfitt at
run2read@yahoo.com with any suggestions or concerns.
We appreciate all the runners and volunteers who helped make this
event successful. Morgantown’s Maurice Miller, 78 years young,
was the oldest finisher, while the previously mentioned 13 year old
Makayla Shamblin of Clendenin, was the youngest finisher.