Saturday, September 5, 1998 -- Charleston
26th Annual Charleston Distance 15 Mile & 5K Run

[More Pictures]

Results: [15M Overall] [15M Awards] [5K Overall] [5K Awards]

It's time to race in Charleston, only 15 Miles to go

The Charleston Regatta kicks off its Labor Day Weekend annually with the Charleston Distance Run. It is the only 15-mile race in the country, which has prompted its officials to name it America's 15-miler. In addition to the distance run, in recent years they have added a 5K for those that want to participate but don't want to go the distance.

Saturday, September 5, 1998 was a perfect day to run. The weather was cool and the sky overcast. The course is run through the streets and hills of Charleston. The start is on Virginia Street and proceeds through the city, down the boulevard, up "Capital Punishment hill", and ends at Laidley Field where the runners lap the field before crossing the finish line.

Monica and Bill made a guest appearance

Andrew Musuva, from Kenya, placed first with a time of 1:14:01 keeping his fellow countryman Gideon Mutisya from winning his fifth straight title. Mutisya placed second with a time of 1:14:24. Julius Rotich from Cambellsville, KY came in third with a time of 1:17:49. Also from Campbellsville, KY, James Birir finished fourth with a time of 1:17:50. Fifth was Francis Wanderi, from Homewood, Ill., with a time of 1:18:34.

Leading the women's division, and 19th overall, in the run was Danuta Bartoszek from Toronto with a time of 1:30:05. From Washington, D.C., Naoko Ishibe finished second, 20th overall with a time of 1:32:27. Tammy Slusser, from Monroeville, PA, placed third with a time of 1:32: 54. Fourth was Susan McGhie from Barboursville, WV with a time of 1:32:28. Fifth was Christina Rawshall from Sanford, NC with a time of 1:39:47.

Frequently runners will dress in costume for races and this run was no exception. Two runners dressed as President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky were seen running the course.

It was a big race, but there was room for everyone

While Melissa Castleberry, from Charleston, was waiting for her husband to finish the distance run, she participated in the 5K. Saturday was Melissa's 30th birthday and to celebrate, she and friends Renee Casto, from Memphis, TN and Kristi Fisher, from Charleston ran their first race ever. Happy Birthday Melissa!

Larry Taylor, from Fayetteville, broke the 5K record with a time of 16:11. Second was Chris Parsons from Huntington (16:15), third was Brooks Crislip, from Charleston (16:34), fourth was Terry McLaughlin, from Spotsylvania, VA (16:39), and fifth was George Howe, from Raleigh, NC (17:04).

15 Miles is a race for animals (and it looks like the 5K was, too)

In the women's division, Jessica Taylor, Larry Taylor's daughter, broke the women's record with a time of 19:17. Second was Kelly McGraw, from Charleston (19:41), third was Rene Showalter, from Charleston (20:33), fourth was Dorothy Hafertepen, from Taylor Mill, KY (20:37), and fifth was Robin Barnett, from Ripley (21:17).

After the races many of the runners hightailed it to Morgantown to watch the Mountaineer-Ohio State game. Unfortunately the game ended in defeat for the Mountaineers. One runner sporting an Ohio State shirt was booed as he crossed the finish line. It appears as though he got the last laugh.