Saturday, October 17, 2009 -- Wheeling, WV / Warwood Middle School
11th Annual Auggie's 5K Run & Walk (iPO Event Id#: 12017)

2009: [Details] [Coverage] [Photos] [Overall Results] [Results by Class]

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Record Numbers for Auggie's

Story and photos by Julie black

See more Auggies photos

A cold, fall morning greeted more than 250 runners and walkers Saturday morning for the 11th running of the Auggie's 5K Run and Walk. Many boys from the Wheeling Central Basketball Team, young men and women from local track teams, and of course members of the Ohio Valley Runner's and Walkers Club lined up at the registration table in the Warwood Middle gym. "I ran out of shirts!" said surprised race director, Tom Rownd. The number of people who showed up to race was a bit surprising given the frigid temperatures and cloudy day.

Team Morgantown Running was in full force, with owners Kevin and Erin Roush on the trail. Kevin Roush took home the overall win with a time of 17:09 and his wife Erin finished as the second overall female with a time of 20:27. Morgantown Running is a new store in Morgantown, check them out online at morgantownrunning.com.

Local Wheeling runner, Heather Wayt, won the 2007 edition of Auggies with a 19:35. She repeated this year claiming the first overall female win again, this time in 19:47. Debbie Connor drove more than an hour from Dunbar, PA. Connor crossed as the third woman (20:30) and 20th overall.

Fairmont State track star Jacob Lefferre strided ahead of Wheeling Park Cross Country Team runner, Jason Bennett. Lefferre sprinted in at 17:27 in second. Bennett followed in third with a time of 18:08.

More than 100 walkers, including quite a few race walkers, headed out the opposite end of the Heritage Trail. Tony Purpura has been walking Auggie's 5K since 2005. He finished first overall in 2006 and 2007, but didn't walk the event in 2008. This year Purpura returned to claim his title, finishing the walk first in 30 minutes and 31 seconds. Tony is a local from Wheeling.

See more Auggies photos

David Workman of Bellaire, Ohio has also been in the top spots at Auggie's for years. This he finished with his highest place yet, second overall (31:15).

Another local, Ron Calissie, was third with a time of 31:51

Donna Graham (32:14) of Lowell, Ohio was the first woman to finish the walk.

Upon finishing the 5K, runners and walkers were treated to tons of free Domino's Pizza, beverages, and a wonderful raffle that was followed by the awards ceremony.

As always, the event proceeds went to benefit the programming of the Ohio County Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Donate more to this cause by racing the Webark 5K Run and Walk in early April 2010. Find out more at www.ovrunnersandwalkers.org.