Saturday, October 9, 1999 -- Wheeling
YMCA Corporate Team 5K
Story & photos by Julie Bertsch

[Coverage] Pics: [Set 1] [Set 2] [Set 3] [Set 4] [Set 5] [Set 6] [Results]

500+ participants start the 5K!

The chance of rain and cloudy weather didn't keep many runners and walkers inside early Saturday morning in Wheeling. The unusual warm October weather turned into a cool breeze just before race time, as over 550 people gathered in front of Wheeling Park High for the YMCA Corporate Team 5K!

The race has become one of the premier fall events in the Ohio Valley. The purpose of this unique race is to place an emphasis on physical fitness in the work place. The race tries to relay the message that physically fit individuals are more productive in all phases of their lives. This year, over 30 companies from the tri-state area had employees running or walking in the 5K.

Blake Headen runs with a smile for Team Wesbanco

As the mass crowd of runners and walkers headed towards the first loop of the course, it was hard to tell who would be coming back first. At the end of the first mile loop, a runner with long strides rounded the turn heading into Wheeling Park. Winner of the Marland Heights 5K Classic back in August, Shane Murphy used those strides to pull ahead early in the race and finish 1st Overall with a time of 16:07.

Dick Lambie (17:35), kept a 9 second lead ahead of Barry Mittermeier (17:44), to take home the 2nd place Overall trophy. Mittermeier finished 3rd Overall respectively.

Christine Lewis keeps a fast pace to the finish line

In the women's race for 1st place, Christine Lewis held onto a strong lead until the finish to stay more than a minute ahead of all the other women competitors. She finished 24th Overall, and completed the 5K as the 1st woman with a great time of 20:36.

S. Voltz and Susan Mortakis were running fast to finish 2nd in the women's category, but it was Voltz who took home the 2nd place trophy with a 7 second lead over Mortakis, and a time of 21:47. Mortakis took 3rd with an excellent time of 21:54.

Walking to promote fitness in Wheeling with friends is fun!

This year's race was a great success with many enthusiastic runners, but let's not forget the happy walkers! Many people walked the 5K course with friends from work wearing T-Shirts from whatever company they worked for. It was a good time for all the participants and their families.

After the race everyone grabbed a plate and headed to the Wheeling Park High School cafeteria for an amazing spread! Thanks to Mick Gregoric and the Wheeling YMCA, there was plenty of food, plenty of volunteers, and plenty of fun!