Published: September 29, 2008 11:54 pm         

11th annual Beckley Half Marathon set for Saturday

Beckley might be a small West Virginia city, but it definitely knows how to put on a proper running event.

Over 250 people are expected to compete in the 11th annual Beckley Half Marathon and 5k Run/Walk Saturday.

The event, sponsored by the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, precedes the always-popular Chili Night downtown.

People from throughout West Virginia and surrounding states come to Beckley and make a weekend of it.

“If we were a bigger city, we’d have a lot more (people) to draw from, but the Half Marathon has grown very well,” race director Jim Phillips said. “It’s been a nice addition to the area hotels and restaurants, and it helps to complement other activities, such as Chili Night.”

The Half Marathon, which begins at 8 a.m. at Mountain State University and winds its way through Beckley before returning to MSU, was Phillips’ idea.

He doesn’t take credit for its success, however.

“I pushed it, but it’s been a great team effort, working with the Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA and MSU,” Phillips said. “The city has also been very helpful in making it successful. Mayor (Emmett) Pugh has always been ready to jump in and help us with whatever we need.”

The 13.1-mile race begins near MSU’s Learning Resource Center and heads out to the YMCA’s soccer complex, following the Rails to Trails path. It continues back to downtown before concluding at the Learning Resource Center.

The Half Marathon has age divisions from under-19 through 70-over. The 5K Run/Walk features under-9 through 70-over divisions.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top four in both the male and female divisions of the Half Marathon, to the top four males and females 50 years and older in the Half Marathon and to the top four males and females in the 5k run.

The Bodyworks Corporate Cup event is a relay run on the Half Marathon course, evenly divided into four segments. Teams will consist of four members and must have corporate sponsorship. Individual trophies and a Corporate Cup will be awarded.

Registration will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday at the Learning Resource Center. A pre-race dinner will also be held.

Registration will also be held from 6:30-7:30 a.m. Saturday.

“We’re keeping everything the same,” Phillips said. “The facilities at MSU make it really nice.”

Kenya’s Jynocel Bas-weti won the Half Marathon last year with a time of 1:07.29. Irene Magaka, also form Kenya, completed the race in a time of 1:17.46 to become the top woman finisher.

The day will conclude with the downtown becoming one big restaurant from 5-9 p.m. for Chili Night.

— E-mail:

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