Saturday, January 15, 2005 -- Charleston, WV
Martin Luther King Jr. 5K Run (iPO Event Id#: 6593)
Story and photos by George Gannon

[Details] [Coverage] [Overall Results] [Results by Class]
[Pic Set 1] [Pic Set 2] [Pic Set 3]

Uphill with a smile

Youth was served at Saturday's Martin Luther King Jr. 5K in Charleston. Fourteen-year-old Chelsea Jarvis of Clendenin, a track star at Elkview Middle School, took top honors for the women finishers. Jarvis, along with about 90 other runners, braved frigid temperatures on a course that sneaks and snakes through the capitol city's downtown streets. The out-and-back course starts at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center and winds its way back on what is considered to be a fairly fast track.

A track that Jarvis conquered more than a minute faster then the next closest female finisher. With her long blond ponytail bouncing around her shoulders, Jarvis took the lead about two miles in a never looked back.

A chilly day in Charleston

"I got an urge to go," she said, adding that she feels stronger the longer she runs. The courses' occasional inclines weren't problem for Jarvis. She said she trains on hills and when she starts fighting gravity, it only makes her stronger. Jarvis finished the course in 21:16, a personal 5K record. Taking second place was Sarah Sturgill (22:28). Finish just behind Sarah for third overall was Christine Azevedo with a time of 22:40.

For the men, 19-year-old Adam Coon crossed the finish line first. A Boone County native and Concord College student, Coon said he got out early and never looked back.

"It was all done from the beginning," he said.

The winter weather didn't stop him from crossing the finish line in 16:20, but the cold was a factor. "It hurt my chest a little bit," he said. Matthew Brite came in second (16:53). Jose Schultz took third place (24:04). Cold temperatures couldn't stop some hit runners nor could it take the icy shine off a great race.