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Saturday, May 3, 2008 -- Bruceton Mills, WV / Big Bear Lake WV
Big Bear Lake 20K-MSTR #2 (iPO Event Id#: 10811)

[Details] [Coverage] [Photos] [Overall Results] [Results by Class][2007 Coverage]

Leaders
Michael Bee chases Tadd Morris through the woods
Article and photos by Don Parks

The second annual Big Bear Lake 20k Trails race was once again the second race in the WV Mountain Trail Runners Series. The weekend weather provided a nice race day for the runners as they headed out the road towards the trails atop Big Bear Lake's mountain.

Tadd Morris (1:15:13) and Michael Bee (1:15:50) quickly made it a two man race and they would battle back and forth most of the way. Morris finally pulled away in the last mile to take the win.

Michael's twin brother David Bee (1:28:05) was next to cross the line for third overall. Dad Lowell Bee would've placed high had he not taken a wrong turn in the woods and gotten lost. He sent the race director into a quiet panic but eventually he made his way out of the woods and was not worse for the wear other than some leg cramps.

Teresa Ray
Teresa Ray runs through "The Pines" at Big Bear Lake
The women's race was decided early on when defending 12 hour duo champ Erika Thompson took the lead on the road and never looked back with a 1:34:07. Bruceton Mills local trail runner Stacey Levendorf followed in second with a time of 1:44:57. MSTR series leader Cynthia Sanchas ran 1:51:58 for third.

Pint glasses were provided to the runners instead of the usual Race T-shirt and hand made pottery by Anna Brown of Morgantown made for the overall and age group awards.

The race provided a little course preview for the upcoming 12 hour Trail race scheduled for July 19th at Big Bear (more info). Do you have your team yet?