Saturday, April 25, 2009 -- Morgantown, WV
Parents Place 5K Run & Walk (iPO Event Id#: 11990)

[Details] [Coverage] [Photos] [Overall Results] [Results by Class]

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Families Enjoy Good Weather for a Great Cause

Photos by Maria af Rolen with story by Jason Chastain

Happy runners of all ages

This annual event, which features activities for all ages, was sponsored by Morgantown, WV's, Parents Place, a local non-profit organization that is a preschool and parent support group.

Before the race began, many children were busy taking advantage of the Jack Roberts Park playground and free activities booths. The race started in front of the park. Participants ran and walked a wide loop from Jack Roberts Park, out to White Park, and then back through the local neighborhood streets.

The weather was quite pleasant, in the 70's with an intermittent breeze to offset the slightly muggy air

Ages varied in the race for first overall runner. James Work (40), from Fairmont, WV, battled 37 year old Aaron Banks. Finishing within 2 seconds of each other, Work separated himself to claim first with a time of 20 minutes. Banks crossed for second. Also from Fairmont like Work, 25 year old Mike Kelles finished 4 seconds behind Banks in third.

Maryland runner and third place overall winner in the 2008 Morgantown Area Grand Prix (MAGP) endurance series, Jen Sober, finished fifth overall with a time of 20:20. She took home the women's first place overall prize.

Kelly Zundell of Morgantown kept Sober in her sights, five seconds behind her. Zundell was sixth overall and the second woman. Also local, Tammy Turner(20:15) was third.

Taking off at the start

Keith Bailey was the first walker with Stephen Griswold striding in 3 seconds behind him. Eleven year old Nate Williamson was third. Great job Nate!

Winslow Galloway was the first female walker to finish and forth overall.

Honorable mention goes out to the Dering family, who participated in the race with their son Freddie. He finished first in his age group. Great job Freddie! They said the course was nice and they enjoyed the rolling hills.

At post-race time I had the opportunity to talk to some of the neighbors who came out to support the local 5K. One woman remarked, "I'm very happy that this park exists in my neighborhood. After the school that originally inhabited this site was torn down, it was possible that it might be used for a new housing development." Lucky for this resident, Morgantown kept the green space as a lovely little park that is maintained by the Morgantown Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners (BOPARC).

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About the Sponsor

Recognized this year by The Dominion Post as one of Morgantown's "100 Most Influential," Parents' Place is a unique parent run, non-denominational, non-profit organization open to all parents and their infant to pre-school age children. While children attend classes, the parents all gather in a separate meeting area, "the parents room," to socialize and or hear from a host of notable speakers. Find out more at: www.parentsplacewv.com