Saturday, June 14, 2008 -- Clarksburg, WV / Downtown
Cecil Jarvis Greater Clarksburg 10K (iPO Event Id#: 11047)

[Details] [Coverage] [Photos] [Overall Results]

Coverage: [1998] [1999] [2000] [2001] [2002] [2003] [2004] [2005] [2006] [2007]

Celebrating Twelve Years of Running Love

Photos by Maria af Rolen with story by Jason Chastain and Julie Black.

The 10K Start

This year marked the 12th anniversary of the Greater Clarksburg 10K (iPlayOutside has been to 10 of them.) The race's history is stunning, boasting of a $20,000 prize purse in the 90's and thousands of runners.

Though the event has changed, becoming more of a down-home pride event, it still continues to attract big names and over 700 racers. As the WV 10K State Championship, the event offers over $10,000.

For the past two years, the event has been dedicated to J. Cecil Jarvis, a local Publishing Co. president and well-known public figure in the town.

West Virginia University's newest Mountaineer, Ronald McDonald, and Eat'n Park's Smiley cookie were on hand to greet and cheer the racers on. On-lookers lined the sidewalks as racers filled the streets.

Ready for my close-up

Before the race began, participants released more than 100 balloons into the air, a long-standing tradition of the 10K.

Kenyan runners dominated the field claiming the top 7 places overall. Residing in West Chester, Pennsylvania, 25 year old Valentine Orare is from Kenya. With a recent 3rd place win at WV's Ogden 20K Run in Wheeling, Orare separated himself from his countrymen in Clarksburg. Keeping a blistering pace, he finished 1st overall in 29:05.

Philiph Koech, also of Kenya, was 2nd, and Wegayehu Tefra, 19, Ethiopia, finished 3rd. The first woman overall was Florence Chepsoi (34:55), also from Kenya. Seblelede Klmariam, Ethiopia, was 2nd.

Josh Simpson of Morgantown, WV claimed the WV 10K State Championship win with a time of 31:04. Simpson's twin brother Justin was the second West Virginian to finish the race. He had a time of 33:31.

Jennifer Davis, sponsored by Saucony, claimed the first WV Woman award making her the female 10K state champ in 39:05. Jennifer resides in Star City, WV.

Kids K down main street

In an article by Leann Ray, Clarksburg Exponent Telegram, she states, "The field for the 2-mile run was the second largest since the event began, with 172 registered. The most ever was 174. Many families participated in the 2-mile together. Some who ran in the 10K ran with their child in the 2-mile. As the runners crossed the finish line, they received a medal."

Clarksburg's Joshua Gray claimed the overall 2-mile win in 10:53. Thirteen year old Reba Cutright(13:28), from Buckhannon, WV finished as the first woman.

The kids were next. Wearing the official, bright yellow Clarksburg Kid's K T-shirts, groups of kids ran in heats according to their age. I'm not sure who smiled more, the kids or the parents.

Race organizers were please with the numbers. Participants were pleased with the continued dedication from Carl Hatfield and staff.