Saturday, October 9, 1999 -- Parkersburg
G.E. Race for Safety 5K
Story and photos by Pam Anderson

[Coverage] [Pic Set 1] [Pic Set 2] [Pic Set 3]
[Overall Results] [Results by Class] [Kids Results]

Taking off at the GE Race for Safety

The overcast gray and rainy day didn't dampen the beauty of the fall colors or the spirits of runners and walkers participating in the GE Race for Safety 5K in Parkersburg. This community event was sponsored by GE Plastics to help promote community involvement and safety. The race course, a certified course by the USA Track and Field, started in the Parkersburg City Park, looping around the park and past the pond in a flat circle with a short run up a rolling hill.

Sprinting to the finish line with a first place male overall win was Tony Basta (16:08) of Parkersburg. Tony has been running for five years with the River City Runners Club. He said, "The course was pretty nice and mostly flat." Taking the second place male overall was David Miller (16:27) of Athens, OH and third place male overall was Don Putka (16:58) also of Athens OH.

Capturing first place female overall was Rachel Fox (21:28) also of Parkersburg. Rachel attends Parkersburg South High School where she runs for the schools track team. Rachel, among many other honors, placed second in the MSAC Conference last year. She commented that the course was a mostly flat, fast moving course. Cheering her on today was her biggest fan, her mother Donna Fox. Taking second place female overall was Robin Barnett (21:46) of Ripley WV and with a third place overall, Melissa McCune (22:24) of Athens OH. Also participating in today's event from the Parkersburg South High School Cross County Track team was Justin Kesterson, Forrest Boggess, Phil Sexauer, Patrick Mulcay and Jeremy Willis.

Close competition in the Kid's race

John Mike Nichols (29:32) of Parkersburg eased into first place male overall finish in the walking division. John has been Race Walking in various events for the past ten years. He placed 5th in the US Men's National Invitational 5K Race Walk and also is president of the Race Walk Federation out of Charleston WV. Walking her way to a first place female overall finish was Eli Moore (32:38). Eli has been Race Walking for the past four years.

Also in today's list of events was the kid's race. Kids ten years and younger raced to the finish line with family and friends cheering them on to victory. Competing in the first Kids race, the 9-10 year olds (800 yards) was Tony Auth (3:18) with a first place finish and Luck Costlow (3:22) with a second place finish, both of Parkersburg WV.

Another winner in Parkersburg

In the 6-8 year old division (400 yards), edging his competition out by a second was Tyler Green (1:28) of Washington WV. Zachary Evans (1:29) also of Washington completed his run with a close second place overall male finish. Ian West (1:36) of Parkersburg WV captured third place male overall finish. Sprinting to a first place overall female finish was Kayla Barton (1:47) and an impressive second place overall female finish was Andra Brearton (1:49), both of Washington WV. Sydney Nichols (1:52) of Vienna WV finished with a third place female overall.

In the Little Tyke division (5 and under, 200 yards) with an awesome time was Morgan Davis (0:30) who dashed his was to a first place male overall finish. Not far behind him was Jacob Wilcox (0:32), second place overall and Steward Jacob (0:36), third place overall. Sarah Evans (0:28) with a burst of speed captured the first place female overall, with Gabrielle Ruble (0:33) taking second place female overall and Rebecca Myers (0:34) finishing with a third place female overall.

A fun filled morning of running came to a close with a delicious brunch sponsored by GE Plastics and the kids running to the play ground still full of energy. Congratulations go out to all winners and participants and a big thanks for a job well done by the helpers, volunteers and race directors of the day.