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Saturday, September 25, 2010 -- Clarksburg, WV
FBI Jerry Dove Memorial 5K Run/Walk & Kids-K (iPO Event Id#: 12799)

2010: [Details] [Coverage] [Photos] Results: [Overall Results] [Results by Class] [More Results]

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Bigger and Better Every Year

Story and photos by J.R. Petsko.

FBI Jerry Dove
Crowds show up to race the FBI Jerry Dove 5K.
Photo by J.R. Petsko
Late September marked the 10th year for the FBI Jerry Dove Memorial 5K. Well ya know the old saying things get better with time? That is definitely the case with this event. On Saturday over 350 racers showed to take part in the event. That is HUGE!

Besides the large crowd the course is exciting in its own right. Most of us never get the chance to go on the FBI property; it kinda makes you feel like you James Bond or something, on a secret mission.

As the racers prepared for the start I noticed tensions seemed to be running a bit higher than normal. Maybe this had to do with the large turnout, but everyone looked very serious for the start.

At the gun fourteen year old Matthew Brafford from Charleston, WV jumped out to a quick lead. The youngster had to have surprised running veteran, Michael Bee, with his quick start. As the runners made their way down the long hill on the course, Brafford looked to be extending his lead even more over the field. He sure was giving it his all.

FBI Jerry Dove
Michael Bee Photo by J.R. Petsko
Since I was taking photos, I was only allowed to go so far onto the property. I found a good spot and took photos about a mile into the course and waited for the leader to return to my location on the out and back course.

When the first runner appeared it was Bee who took over the lead.

The long time West Virginia runner had waited for just the right time and made his move around the younger Brafford who was still holding down second place. Gerod Green was following in third and would take advantage of any mistakes by the two runners in front of him. Luckily for Bee and Brafford that never happened.

Bee crossed the line first with a time of 17:26. It was a race time for a course that is known to be very challenging. Brafford held on to second coming through the finish shoot in 18:09. Gerod Green took home third in a time of 18:31. Fourth went to Mark Offut in 19:29, while Brian Menzies took fifth overall in a great time of 19:45.

FBI Jerry Dove
Happy runners. Photo by J.R. Petsko
On the women's side Sandy Yocum made a rare 5k appearance to take the overall win. Yocum finished the course in an impressive 22:38.

Second for the women was Nicole Tingler who finished in a time of 23:07. Christine Ruberto of Fairmont, WV was third for in 23:45. Also this year the race included a Law Enforcement class, Congratulations to Kyle Sappington of the Morgantown PD for taking that award by finishing in 23:27.

The kids races had over 60 children, wow! Like I said, this event just keeps getting better and better every year! What will they have in store for us next year?!