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Saturday, September 17, 2011 -- Clarksburg, WV
FBI Jerry Dove Memorial 5K Run/Walk & Kids-K (iPO Event Id#: 13374)

2011: [Details] [Coverage] [Photos] [Overall Results] [Results by Class]

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Honoring Jerry Dove with the Largest Crowd Yet

Story and photos by Julie Black.

FBI Jerry Dove Memorial 5K photo by Julie Black
See more FBI Race photos.
With so many races to choose from in mid-September in the area, it's amazing that many of them get the great turn-outs that they do, but the FBI Jerry Dove 5K is never lacking. In fact, this year marked the largest crowd they've ever had. More than 389 participants headed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) Complex Visitors Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

The annual event attracts many locals, and not just because it's one of the few times outsiders are allowed anywhere near the complex grounds, but the 5K also boasts of much more including Kids-K Races, lots of refreshments, local vendors, and more.

As a rainbow and slight storm faded into the fall morning, race directors Julie and John Minnocci were busy helping their race crew get everything ready, even WDTV-Channel 5 was there!

As the many runners and walkers took time to face the flag and listen to our national anthem as it was sung live, the lead cars set their place along Jerry Dove Drive, named in honor of the late Special Agent (SA) Jerry Dove, a native West Virginian.

The runners may have been packed together at the start, but nearing the end of the 3.1 mile trek they were quite spread out.

FBI Jerry Dove Memorial 5K photo by Julie Black
See more FBI Race photos.
All of the top three male finishers were age 21 or younger. T.J. Abel, age 21, was the first to finish rather uncontested with a time of 17:33. Matt Dearth (age 16), had gapped Aaron Saymansky (age 12) by a minute or so. Dearth finished second in 17:45 and Saymansky claimed third in 19:27.

The top women's times were also spread out. Danielle Fenstermacher (22:14) was first and 20th overall, B.M. Childs (22:34) was second. Blanca Skaggs was the third female who finished with a time of 23:19.

The Kids-K was exciting as usual! After it was all over, everyone enjoyed refreshments and an excellent awards ceremony.

Thank You Sponsors

Thank you to all of the sponsors listed below, as well as all the businesses who donated door prizes (too many to name!). Ideal Innovations, Magic 106.5, MVB Bank, Justice Federal Credit Union, Culligan, Pepsi, Kroger, McDonald's, Chick-Fil-A, Winner's Choice, iplayoutside.com, Panera, Creations by Short, smileymiles.com, Burnside Funeral Home, Davis Funeral Home, Tolley Electric, McCarty's Portable Toilets, Freedom KIA, Fusion Technology, CSC, Family First Chiropractic, and Harrison County Emergency Squad.