Sunday, March 30, 2008 -- Morgantown, WV / Coopers Rock State Forest
Cooper's Rock 10K - MAGP Endurance #2 (iPO Event Id#: 10757)

2008: [Photos] [Details] [Coverage] [Overall Results] [Results by Class]

Coverage: [1999] [2000] [2001] [2002] [2003] [2004] [2005] [2006] [2007]

Bolyard and Maxwell Repeat

Photos by and article by Julie Black

The crowd at Coopers

"Run-the-Rock" has been around perhaps as long as the West Virginia Track Club. The race has traditionally been an event that presents the most peculiar weather during the race season . . . rain, snow, hale, sun, wind, just about anything goes during this early spring event. This year was rather mild as compared to previous years, but the crowd never is.

Everyone's favorite S.O.B. (Sweet Old Bob), was set for timing with his faithful track crew. Soup from Back Bay Restaurant remained hot in its container, ready for finishers, as well as a plethora of cookies.

More than 120 participants lined the start/finish and I waited on top of a rock around the corner ready to snap photos from an elevated angle.

Larry Taylor and Derek Bolyard pulled out in front very early, followed by Ryan Hanlon, Murshid Latif, and Ed Frohnapfel.

Bolyard, who finished 3rd overall in the Grafton 5-miler, the first MAGP Endurance Series race, added another top three finisher's title on Sunday.

He entered the last mile and 1/2 dodging walkers. Latif and Frohnapfel were in sight, but Bolyard pulled away close to the finish to cross the line with a time of 35:52. In the end Derek Bolyard bested his competition by little over a minute to finish first overall for the day.

Frohnapfel (left), and Latif battle

Murshid Latif, and Ed Frohnapfel were locked in their own battle, with each other. Nearly stride for stride about 1 mile out from the finish, Frohnapfel used the uphills to distance himself and claim 2nd overall (36:14.18). His finish placed him at the top of the points race in the Endurance Series with 193 points.

Murshid (36:24.69), finished third, earning him a 2nd place overall points spot with 181 points, tied with Jim Banks.

Amanda Maxwell claimed another overall women's title, as she did in Grafton. She improved her overall finisher's place, crossing 12th with a time of 41:28.74. Maxwell also improved her overall Endurance points rank, set in 3rd with 161 points tied with Lynne Ryan who is in 2nd.

Local runner Erika Thompson, of Morgantown, WV, finished 2nd for the women with a time of 41:59.67. She was 14th overall. Angela Zambito claimed 3rd in 42:25.79.

Keith Bailey walked his way to a fast 5K finish, 36:05, which earned him first overall in the walk.

Hey to my fans out there

Post-race refreshments were served as racers finished. The crowd cheered on fellow racers and enjoyed the warm food. The chicken noodle soup was amazing!

The next MAGP Endurance race will be warm. Join us at the Deckers Creek Trail Half Marathon on June 7th. Run downhill from Masontown to Morgantown and enjoy the perks at Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park afterwards.

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Thank You Overall Series Sponsors

This year's MAGP Series has been made possible by Dynamic Physical Therapy, offering "health in motion" at four office WV locations; Westover, Fairmont, Jane Lew, and Mannington.

And by We-Shred Document Shredding & Storage Company, providing the most secure, efficient and cost effective means for destroying confidential information and storing confidential information.