Saturday, April 26, 2003 -- Jane Lew, WV
18th Annual General Lightburn 5K Run (CARS #2) (iPO Event Id#: 5530)
Story and photos by EJ Linger

[Details] [Coverage]
[Overall Results] [Results by Class]
Pictures: [Set 1] [Set 2] [Set 3] [Set 4] [Set 5]
[1999 Coverage] [2000 Coverage] [2001 Coverage] [2002 Coverage]

Out-running the rain in Jane Lew

On the last Saturday in April, the Annual General Lightburn 5K and 1 mile run was held in Jane Lew, West Virginia. The temperature was great, but with a threat of rain. With an early start, the rain held out until the very end of the race. Someone must have known when it was going to rain!!

The one mile run was up first with 22 people competing. The top three finishers set a fast pace. Burning up the road was Donald Navarini with a winning time of 5:04. Chasing Donald, in close second place, was Jason Legebere in a time of 5:09. Michael Petrella was not giving Jason any ease coming in third, just one second behind with a time of 5:10.

Battling to the finish

For the women runners, Sarah Casey took the top honors with a time of 7:03. Coming in a close second was Sarah Ray with a time of 7:09. Bringing up the third overall finish was Laura Mason with a time of 7:30.

Some runners used the mile as a warm up for the 5K race. That is a tough double in one day.

After the mile came the main event, the General Lightburn 5k. Taking the lead and never looking back was Ron Weist with a winning time of 16:16. He won by nearly a minute over second place finisher Zac Newman who had a time of 17:14.

Coming in a close third was the local standout runner Murshid Latif with a time of 17:23. Watch out for Murshid this summer, he's just getting started after a long winter.

A race for all ages

Taking the women's win was Jill Goodwin in a time of 20:32. Watch for her in the high school meets, she might surprise some people. In second place, another 15 year-old runner, Maribetti Jones, took the honors with a time of 21:35. Wow, another high school runner to look out for in the coming years. And rounding out the top three was Amy Fleming with a time of 23:21.

Special thanks go out to the Jane Lew Volunteer Fire Dept., the Jane Lew Police, the dozens of local volunteers, and race director Joe Turner. See you next year!