Published: October 04, 2008 01:01 am      

Half marathon: Top four finishers to get prize money

Runners and walkers in the annual Beckley Half Marathon move at a brisk pace.

Except for registration.

As of Friday afternoon, only 128 had registered for the 11th version of the 13.1-mile half marathon and 5-kilometer run and walk, which will get under way at 8 a.m. today at Mountain State University.

But Kip Buchanan, from the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, isn’t concerned.

He’s seen it all before.

“Whatever you have the day before, you double that for the race,” said Buchanan, a longtime organizer of the event. “We’ll probably register 50 more (Friday night) and 70 (today).”

Last year, 318 runners and walkers entered the events, a record.

A change in monetary awards might keep some people away, but will draw others.

The top prize money for the overall male and female winners is down because it’s being spread out among more runners.

Last year, the chamber began awarding cash to the top two 50-and-over male and female finishers.

“We got so many compliments, we’ve decided to do the top four,” Buchanan said.

The top senior finishers in the Half Marathon will earn $100, $75, $50 and $25.

The top overall winners, male and female, will win $250, $100, $75 and $50.

Winners in the 5-K run will get $100, $75, $50 and $25.

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

Buchanan said he’s not sure if the defending champions will return for today’s race.

Activities will start in front of Mountain State University’s Learning Resource Center on South Kanawha Street.

The Half Marathon will head down Johnstown Road and Eisenhower Drive out to the YMCA sports complex on Grey Flats Road. It returns via Rails-to-Trails to downtown Beckley.

The 5-K Run/Walk will continue along South Kanawha to Black Knight Country Club before doubling back.

Both the Half Marathon and 5-K events will conclude behind MSU on Minnesota Avenue.

Festivities will continue from 5 to 9 p.m. downtown with Chili Night.

— E-mail:

dstillwell@register-herald.com