Saturday, August 18, 2007 -- Elkins, WV / Davis and Elkins College
9th Annual Kenneth Cunningham 5K XC Open (iPO Event Id#: 10178)

2007: [Photos] [Details] [Coverage] [Overall Results] [Results by Class]

Challenging Cross-Country in Elkins

Story by Wendy Cunningham Morgan with photos by John Eye and Joel Turley

Photos by John Eye and Joel Turley

With summer quickly coming to a close, over 100 athletes turned out for the 9th Annual Kenneth Cunningham 5-K Memorial Cross-Country Run that was held August 18, on the Davis & Elkins College athletic field in Elkins, WV.

This course has a challenging upper trail which turns and winds throughout a cool, shaded, wooded area, and the lower part of the course has two wide streams to cross. It has been the site of West Virginia's State High School Cross-Country Championship.

The day's events included a 2-mile Trail Walk, a 400 meter Fun Run for kids 7 yrs. and younger, a 1/2 mile Mini-Cross Country Run for kids 8 to 11 years of age, and featured the 5-K race with an individual/team concept of men and women's teams being randomly chosen

Photos by John Eye and Joel Turley

It was noted that athletes who are members of a middle school or high school cross-country team are unable to participate in the "Fun Teams," however on an individual basis the overall male and female winner is based on pure talent and fire from within.

Alex Zurbuch, Elkins, WV, was the first place overall male winner, with a time of 19:10 and Lucas Warner, Hendricks, WV, was the second place overall male winner. The first place overall female was Letitia Propst, with a time of 22:52, and second place overall female was Maddy Basil, both of Elkins.

The random men and women's fun team winners were "The Terminators" and "Babe Runners," respectively. The 1/2 mile Mini-Cross Country Run was won by James Fedder. Amiah Price and Nathan Simmon were the overall female and male athletes in the 2-mile Trail Walk.

This race is held in memory of Ken Cunningham who had an extreme passion for cross-country and road races, especially at the middle school and high school levels.

Photos by John Eye and Joel Turley

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their faithful support of Ken's Race: United Parcel Service and Employees, International Brotherhood of Teamsters - Local 175, Rose Summit Stock Farm, Days Inn, Elkins Physical Therapy & Sports Injury Clinic, Davis Electric, Mike Ross, Inc., Crazy Harry's Country Market, Sports Unlimited, Edward Jones Investments, Propst Realty, Pro TV & Audio, and Tomblyn Funeral Home. Door prizes were provided by Davis & Elkins College, Elkins T-Mart, Matt Price, TD's Classic Tees, Valley Health Care, Tractor Supply, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Big Lots, Sports Chalet and Leslie Equipment.

Also a special thank you to John Eye and Joel Turley for taking photos of the days activities.

All proceeds benefit the Elkins Middle School and Elkins High School cross-country teams.