Saturday, August 15, 2009 -- Elkins, WV / Davis & Elkins College, Elkins, WV
Kenneth Cunningham 5K Memorial Cross-Country Run (iPO Event Id#: 11816)

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

This is Where the Love of the Run Begins

Story by Wendy Cunningham-Morgan

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The 11th Annual Kenneth Cunningham 5-K Memorial Cross-Country Run was held on Saturday, August 15, 2009 on the Davis & Elkins College cross-country course, which was the previous site of West Virginia's State High School Cross-Country Championship.

This race is held in memory of Ken Cunningham who had an extreme passion for cross-country and road races, especially at the middle school and high school levels.

After heavy rains from the night before, over 120 athletes came together to enjoy fellowship and participate in the day's events, which included a 2-mile Trail Walk, a 400 meter Fun Run for kids 7 yrs. and younger, a 1/2 mile Mini-Cross Country Run for kids 8 to 11 yrs. of age, and the 5-K race.

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The 5-K race featured individual male and female finishes where the results were based on pure talent and fire from within, and included an additional twist consisting of a "team" concept with men and women's teams being randomly chosen after "last minute registration" closed. It was noted that athletes who are members of a middle school or high school cross-country team are unable to participate in the random fun teams.

Lucas Warner, Hendricks, WV, was the first place overall male winner, with a time of 19:25 and Justin Miller, Buckhannon, WV, was the second place overall male winner. The first place overall female was Letitia Propst, with a time of 22:06, and second place overall female was Tenny DeMarco, both of Elkins.

The 1/2 mile Mini-Cross Country Run was won by Riley Queen in the female category, and Dalton Hamrick in the male category.

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In the 2-mile Trail Walk, the overall female was Mary Smakula with a time of 28:48; there were no male walkers. The random men and women's fun team winners were the "Mean Green Team" and the "Pink Ladies", respectively.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their faithful support of Ken's Race:

• United Parcel Service and Employees,
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters – Local 175, Rose Summit Stock Farm,
• Days Inn, Elkins Physical Therapy & Sports Injury Clinic, Davis Electric,
• Mike Ross, Inc., Crazy Harry's Country Market & Amish Crafted Furniture,
• Wendy's, Sports Unlimited, Edward Jones Investments, Propst Realty,
• Investors Capital Corporation, Tomblyn Funeral Home, The Animal Care Center,
• Frank L. Mams, DDS and Marciea A. Evick, DDS – General Dentistry, and Busch,
• Zurbuch & Thompson, PLLC.
• Door prizes were provided by Davis & Elkins College Bookstore,
• Dollar General Store, Davis & Elkins College Advancement Office, Auto Zone,
• Krogers, Ladies Eagles Club, Broughtons,
• Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO,
• Davis & Elkins College Admissions Office, PaPa John's,
• Crystal Springs DVD and Games, Graceland Inn & Conference Center and.
• Tony's Classic Tees, and TD's Classic Tees.

Thank you also to Davis & Elkins College for use of their wonderful cross-country course.

Once again, a very special thank you to John Eye for taking photos of the days activities.

And, last, but certainly not least, a HUGE thank you to our families and great friends – if it were not for these loving people, this race could not happen.

All proceeds benefited the Elkins Middle School High School cross-country teams.