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Saturday, June 7, 2003 -- Masontown - Morgantown, WV
Deckers Creek Trail Half Marathon
(iPO Event Id#: 5509)
Story and photos by Don Parks
[Details]
[Coverage]
[Overall Results]
[Results by Class]
Pictures:
[Set 1]
[Set 2]
[Set 3]
[Set 4]
[Set 5]
[Set 6]
[Set 7]
[Set 8]
[Set 9]
[Set 10]
[2001 Event Coverage]
[2002 Event Coverage]
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Soaking up some fun on the rail-trail
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Runners getting up early on National Trails Day 2003, and heading out
for the Deckers Creek Rail-Trail, where greeted by a steady rain and
cool temperatures. But the 140-plus who made their way to the soggy
start of the annual Half Marathon where thankful. Happy it was not a
repeat of last year's stifling heat and humidity. And then, less than
an hour into the race, the rain ceased and the sun even worked to make
its way out. At the finish folks only commented on how good the
conditions were for a long race.
Right from the start it was Jaron Hawkins pushing the pace and
gunning for a sub-1:10. It seems obvious that someone from Frostburg,
Maryland, would be quite use to a little nasty weather.
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Jaron Hawkins storms into Ruby McQuain Park
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By mile four it was Hawkins well off the front followed by a spread
out group of chasers. Holding on to second was E.J. Linger, a
local Morgantown runner who finished third at Deckers the last two
years. Next was Weston, West Virginia's masters stalwart Murshid
Latif in third. Rounding out the top five at this point were
Jared Smith (Danville, WV) and John Colavincenzo
(Beaver, PA), respectively.
The runners would stay in this order until well into the race, but as
the miles piled up, things began to get interesting. Hawkins, who was
on his goal pace through nine miles, was seriously slowed by a bought
of intestinal troubles. By mile eleven, Linger had hit the wall and
would slow to 7-minute miles. Late race cramping had Smith constantly
fighting to keep up his pace.
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Bob Baker, coach, timer, runner, etc.
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What about Latif and Colavincenzo? They took advantage of their
opportunities and surged ahead to move up in the standings. The only
one they wouldn't be able to catch was Hawkins.
After running just under 1:15 at the Yough Trail
Half Marathon in April, Hawkins had hoped to at least improve on
that performance. He hit the line at Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront
Park in a time of 1:15:03. A first overall finish certainly must be
some consolation, and still with two minutes to spare.
In the battle for the rest of the top five men's podium spots, the
consistent Latif came around Linger soon after he had crashed, and
took second. To add insult to Linger's injury, Colavincenzo would
also go on to pass him, inside the last half-mile, and take
third. Colavincenzo had already passed Smith, and that left Linger in
fourth and Smith in fifth. The tale at the tape: Latif (2nd - 1:17:07),
Colavincenzo (3rd - 1:17:52), Linger (4th - 1:18:15), and Smith (5th -
1:18:38).
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Lisa Morris finishes quietly in fourth
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For the women, Pittsburgh's Tina Bailey stayed well ahead of the
competition and finished with a time of 1:28:41, a full mile ahead of
the battle for second.
But it was a good battle for second. When Williamsport,
Pennsylvania's Cindy Bubb would slow for an aid stop, she was
getting passed by Morgantown's own Nicole Dorinzi. But in the
end the experience of the 36 year-old Bubb got the better of 18
year-old Dorinzi. Bubb took second at 1:36:08 with Dorinzi taking
third at 1:36:28.
The last of the 2003 Half Marathon finishers found their way into the
downtown park for the Trails Day festivities. And certainly the Mon
River Trails Conservancy (MRTC) thanks all those who participated and
volunteered in every capacity. It will all go to help their mission
"to develop and maintain the Mon River Trail and other connecting
trails for conservation and for pedestrian and cyclist use."
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