Shirts are optional at the start of The Dam Race 5K

Saturday, August 1, 1998 -- Hinton
The Dam Race 5K

[More Pictures] [Results]

A beautiful morning greeted a nice crowd of over 80 racers for the first running of the "Best WV 5K By a Dam Site!" That site would be the Bluestone Dam, in Bluestone State Park, on the outskirts of Hinton, WV. The out-and-back course began at the foot of the Dam and took the racers out along the New River, past the anglers enjoying a slightly more relaxed sport, and on into the town of Hinton, before reversing direction back toward the Dam.

The future champions get started on their run

A group of young racers set the pace for the day with the average age of the top eight finishers averaging just over 20. The battle for first, on a rather level and fast course, was between Brent Carter and Jason Wall. Jason made his best effort at the finish to take the lead from Brent, but came up a second short with a time of 15:54 to Jason's 15:53. Their sub-16 minute times were good enough to out distance the rest of the field by over 30 seconds. The third place finisher, Mark Rumple, came across the line in 16:27.

Katie Wagner shows a little smile for a great day of racing

In the competition for the fastest Dam female (sorry, you just can't help the puns with this race) Ellie Sloan (21:15) was a full minute faster than the second place female, Marianne Lawerence (22:15).

Following the 5K run was a 1/2 Mile Kids Fun Run for the future champions. The three boys (Andrew Aycoth, Taylor Linkous, and Chad Lipscomb) were out numbered by the five girls (Lori Stump, Alex Senay, Katie Wagner, Kristen Williams and Hillary Smith), but it was age that made the difference. The oldest boy, 10-year-old Andrew (3:32), and oldest girl, 11-year-old Alex, had the fastest times for the kids who ranged in age to as young as 3-years-old.