Saturday, August 8, 1998 -- Elizabeth
Little Kanawha 5K Run/Walk

[More Pictures] [Results]

Eight-Thirty and it's time to race

It was beautiful Saturday morning at the 12th Annual Little Kanawha Road Run and Fun Walk. The event was held in conjunction with the Wirt Count Fair, on the Camp Barbe 4-H Grounds, near the town of Elizabeth. The scenic 5K loop was somewhat hilly, and the weather was a little warm. But that's about par for the course in West Virginia on an August morning.

Emily Butcher races toward a first place women's finish

The race began promptly at 8:30am, and the competitors had little time to get set in their pace before climbing the first hill. It did not take long for Jim Ruble, Mike Taylor and Jimmy Westfall to move to the front. This lead group of three runners stayed together for the first mile and a half of the race before Jimmy Westfall, finishing third overall in 18:36, dropped off the pace. Jim Ruble and Mike Taylor continued to run together until around the two mile mark, where Jim decided to pick up the pace a bit. Mike was unable to keep up and Jim was able to extend a lead to the finish. Mike took first overall in 17:35, twenty seconds ahead of Jim's time of 17:55, second overall.

Cheryl Bennett and R.C. Harkness enjoy a morning walk in rural Wirt County

In the race for the fastest female, Emily Butcher led the race from start to finish, with a winning time of 22:51.

The walking race (fun walk for many of the participants) was completed by John Mike Nichols in a winning time of 32:01. The second and third place duel was between Allan Butcher and Bernie Fries. In the end, it was the younger Allan (well, under 50 anyway) taking second in 32:15, with Bernie Fries finishing a close third in 32:17. Finishing fourth overall, and the first female walker, was Martha Marks with a time of 35:47.