Saturday, September 26, 2009 -- Clarksburg, WV
FBI Jerry Dove Memorial 5K Run/Walk (iPO Event Id#: 12093)

2009: [Details] [Coverage] [Photos] [Overall Results] [Results by Class]

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Participants Abundant at Jerry Dove Race

Story and photos by J.R. Petsko

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This past Saturday runners and walkers from all around north central West Virginia headed to the FBI Center in Bridgeport, WV for the Jerry Dove Memorial 5k. As most of you already know the FBI center is located off of Exit 124 Jerry Dove Drive (off I-79). Who was Jerry Dove?

In remembrance of Jerry Dove, an FBI agent who lost his life during a gun battle with robbery suspects in Miami, Fl. S.A. Dove was born in January of 1956 in Charlestown, West Virginia. He earned degrees from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, and West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Organizers have been hosting this 5K event in his honor. This year over 238 participants raced on the private roads of the FBI Centers property.

The course starts out by dropping into a nice wooded valley that the center sits in. That sounds wonderful except for the second half of the race really tests it runner because it all up hill.

Alex Peter, a local from Bridgeport, was able to tame the feared final hill to take the overall victory for the day. As Alex crossed the line his mother stated, "That's my boy!" Peter finished with a time of 19:46.

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In second was Richard Everley, Jr. from nearby Clarksburg who finished the 5K in 20:03. Third went to Fred Smart, also from Bridgeport, who crossed the line in 20:09. Jeff Efaw of Mannington improved on his placing and time from 2008 to take fourth overall in a time of 20:15. Rounding out the top five was Brian Reider of Clarksburg in 20:21.

The women's race was one of the closest I think I have even seen in over my one hundred races reporting for iPlayOutside. The top five women all finished within seconds of each other and each of them were seen really digging deep to hold their position.

First overall went to Sadie Brookmerry of Morgantown, WV. Sadie crossed the line for the win in a time of 24:22.

Second place found Brandy Baileys of Fairmont just two seconds back with a final time of 24:24. Third was Barbara Childs of Morgantown who crossed the line in 24:34. Childs was followed by Blanca Skaggs of Flemington in fourth. Skaggs was just edged out at the line being less them one second behind the third place runner. In fifth it was Mandy Anderson just one tenth of a second behind Skaggs.

Just in case you missed that third through fifth overall were separated by less than one second. Wow!

The rain held off for the entire race and it turned out to be a great morning of racing. I look for 250 racers in 2010!