Saturday, August 4, 2001 -- Hinton, WV
4th Annual Dam Race 5K Run & Walk (iPO Event Id#: 4050)
Story and photos by Ariana Kincaid

[Details] [Coverage]
Results: [5K Overall] [5K by Class] [Walk & Fun Run]
Pictures: [Set 1] [Set 2] [Set 3] [Set 4] [Set 5] [Set 6]
[1998 Coverage] [1999 Coverage] [2000 Coverage]

Getting an early start

Last year's winner defended his title, and may have the makings of his own dynasty. It happened at the fourth annual running of the best dam race in West Virginia, at Bellepoint Park in Hinton, in the shadow of Bluestone Dam. Sponsored by the Southern West Virginia Road Runners Club, and part of the West Virginia State Water Festival, The Dam 5k Run and Walk, and Fun Run for Kids, drew over 150 participants on a day that stayed appropriately damp, even after the fog and mist cleared away.

Finishing at 16:01, Jason Wall defended his title from Larry Adkins, finishing at 17:49, and Thomas Meadows, at 18:18. Wall has consistently made a fine showing at The Dam Race, finishing second the first two years of the race, and of course, finishing first this and last year. According to Wall, "These festival races are fun. It's good to see and compete against the same people year after year."

One woman was just looking for a race near her family's summer place, and wound up besting the field! Jennifer Halch, 34, of Greensboro, NC, drove in from Hillsville, VA, to take first place for women in 20:00. She was followed by Holly Wall (Jason's better half), who finished at 20:54. One casualty of the deep field of competitors was Martha Drinkard, who was last year's first place female finisher-even though she finished at 22:28, several seconds faster than last year, it was still only good enough for third place.

The humidity was felt by everyone

For the 5k Walk, Betty Toney completed the course in 40:15, followed by Betty Burgess at 40:51, and Nicole Bias at 43:32. And once the 5k was wrapped up, a fun run for kids was held, with Noah Smith taking first at 3:41. Levi Arthur finished second, making uncle Jason Wall very proud of his time of 4:47. Third place went to Andrew Lockhart, with a time of 4:19. The first place female finisher in the fun run was Hilaire Halch, daughter of Jennifer, at 8:00-but give her a break, she also ran the 5k! Rounding out the top females in the fun run were Margaret Lazenby and Cesiah Wicker. The youngest "runner" of the day was T.J. Archer, at 14 months-also a member of Jason Wall's family!

The humidity was cited by all as a factor in their time-hey, it's not called the Water Festival for nothin'! Holly Wall said she was disappointed with her performance, which was a minute slower than her last race. Jason Wall agreed, adding that the humidity made it, "A slow day." Halch also added that the loops in the course also made it a little slow, but was all-in-all, a nice and pretty one.

Thanks to the Southern West Virginia Road Runners Club, Shirley Aycoth, and Paul Hodges for showing one and all . . . get ready to groan . . . a fine dam time!