PARKERSBURG - Are you a runner or walker and want a way to beat the summer's heat?
Join more than 200 other runners and walkers at 9 p.m. Saturday for the 2nd Kicks for Kids 5K Road Race sponsored by the River City Runners & Walkers Club.
"Last year's event was so successful that we decided to do it again," explained race director Andy Nestor. "We had more than 200 enter last year and we've already have 175 registered for this year's race."
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Photo courtesy Darren Barton
The 2nd Kicks for Kids 5K Road Race & Walk will take place beginning at 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 28. Interested runners and walkers can register at 7:30 p.m. at the Farmer’s Market. Cost is $15.
Individuals interested in competing in the 3.1-mile race can still register beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Farmer's Market located at Bicentennial Park across from the Wood County Courthouse.
The race will begin at the junction of 9th Street and Market Street across from the race's newest sponsor, Verizon, and will end at the Farmer's Market. The course is generally flat with a slight downhill as runners reach the finish line on Market Street.
"The course is pretty much the same as last year's," added Nestor. "We've move the start line back and we took out a little dog-leg that was confusing to some of the runners."
Winning the overall titles at the inaugural race was Nick Wilson from Fleming, Ohio, and Jocelyne Majoy from Vincent, Ohio. The 21-year old Wilson used a late kick down Market Street to edge out Belpre's Breydon Gates (16:51.69) by nearly 13 seconds, winning with a time of 16 minutes and 28.07 seconds. Parkersburg's Josh Harmon finished third with a time of 17:26.50.
Majoy (21:34.57), who will be looking for her first Grandmasters' championship when the 26th annual News and Sentinel Half Marathon starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18, cruised to a 62 second victory over Parkersburg's Lindsay Wimer (22:36.55) with St. Marys' Phyllis Brown coming in third in 22:47.91.
Taking first places in the walk division was Jay Smith from Beverly, Ohio, with a time of 30 minutes, 33.05 seconds and Belpre's Tena Harper (33:45.36).
"Everybody that competed last year said they really enjoyed the run and thought running a race at night was a great idea," said Nestor. "Throw in the fact that it helps us raise money to help kids get shoes and it makes it even better."
