Saturday, June 7, 2003 -- Masontown - Morgantown, WV
Deckers Creek Trail Half Marathon (iPO Event Id#: 5509)
Story and photos by Don Parks
[Details]
[Coverage]
[Overall Results]
[Results by Class]
Pictures:
[Set 1]
[Set 2]
[Set 3]
[Set 4]
[Set 5]
[Set 6]
[Set 7]
[Set 8]
[Set 9]
[Set 10]
[2001 Event Coverage]
[2002 Event Coverage]
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Right from the start it was Jaron Hawkins pushing the pace and
gunning for a sub-1:10. It seems obvious that someone from Frostburg,
Maryland, would be quite use to a little nasty weather.
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The runners would stay in this order until well into the race, but as
the miles piled up, things began to get interesting. Hawkins, who was
on his goal pace through nine miles, was seriously slowed by a bought
of intestinal troubles. By mile eleven, Linger had hit the wall and
would slow to 7-minute miles. Late race cramping had Smith constantly
fighting to keep up his pace.
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After running just under 1:15 at the Yough Trail Half Marathon in April, Hawkins had hoped to at least improve on that performance. He hit the line at Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park in a time of 1:15:03. A first overall finish certainly must be some consolation, and still with two minutes to spare.
In the battle for the rest of the top five men's podium spots, the
consistent Latif came around Linger soon after he had crashed, and
took second. To add insult to Linger's injury, Colavincenzo would
also go on to pass him, inside the last half-mile, and take
third. Colavincenzo had already passed Smith, and that left Linger in
fourth and Smith in fifth. The tale at the tape: Latif (2nd - 1:17:07),
Colavincenzo (3rd - 1:17:52), Linger (4th - 1:18:15), and Smith (5th -
1:18:38).
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But it was a good battle for second. When Williamsport, Pennsylvania's Cindy Bubb would slow for an aid stop, she was getting passed by Morgantown's own Nicole Dorinzi. But in the end the experience of the 36 year-old Bubb got the better of 18 year-old Dorinzi. Bubb took second at 1:36:08 with Dorinzi taking third at 1:36:28.
The last of the 2003 Half Marathon finishers found their way into the downtown park for the Trails Day festivities. And certainly the Mon River Trails Conservancy (MRTC) thanks all those who participated and volunteered in every capacity. It will all go to help their mission "to develop and maintain the Mon River Trail and other connecting trails for conservation and for pedestrian and cyclist use."