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Wrecks and rain fail to derail race

WHEELING — Some who planned to participate in the 2017 Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic on Saturday may have gotten stuck in traffic due to a pair of morning accidents that temporarily halted westbound traffic on Interstates 70 and 470 in Ohio County.

Nevertheless, those who made it to the area of the start/finish line at the intersection of 14th and Main streets likely saw the closest climax in the event’s 41-year history, as Teferi Bacha Regassa broke through the tape precisely one second before Hillary Too managed to do so.

Rain and storms early in the race created a different running environment from the one competitors usually see at the Ogden, which often features sunny skies and warm temperatures. The rain failed to dampen the spirits of those who finished the challenging course, however.

“Once it stopped raining, the conditions were ideal for me,” said Wheeling resident Terry Whitecotton.

Whitecotton won his first event after 37 years of competing in the Memorial Day weekend race, as the 63-year-old city resident was the first male finisher in the 5K Walk.

“I started out as a runner years ago, but then got into walking as I got a little older,” Whitecotton said. “It’s not as easy as some people think.”

Other 5K Walk competitors, including Tereasa Gaiser of McMechen and Jennifer Johnson of St. Clairsville, said the rain did not impact their performances.

“I was glad the lightning stopped,” Johnson added. “That’s never good.”

Although they were not quite as fast as lightning bolts, Regassa and Too blazed their way through the rigorous half marathon course. Regassa recorded a finish time of 1:14:21, barely besting that of 1:14:22 registered by Too.

“The weather was cool, which is good for a runner,” Regassa said.

The top local finisher was 26-year-old St. Clairsville resident Kyle Timko, who crossed the line in 1:18:12. Other Upper Ohio Valley residents running well Saturday included Follansbee’s Russell Kocher, Wheeling’s Sean Flanagan, Jason Bennet and Andrew Giljahn, Martins Ferry’s Cedric Robinson and St. Clairsville’s R.J. Nolte.

Monroeville, Pa., resident Tammy Slusser claimed the race championship on the female side, finishing in a blistering 1:34:19.

“It gets harder each year because I’m 52 now,” she said. “I didn’t expect to win this race as a 52-year-old.”

While the serious competitors pressed toward the finish line Saturday, dozens of young children dashed ahead during the annual Ogden Tiny Tot Trot. Older children enjoyed the non-competitive Fun Run, despite the rainy weather.

All runners on the main course saw some unusual sights in the downtown area this year. Due to an ongoing stormwater separation project, part of Main Street was closed off in front of the Robert C. Byrd Intermodal Transportation Center between 14th and 16th streets. A flashing arrow directed runners to the left portion of the street.

Though the race ended without any major problems, the day got off to a somewhat inauspicious start as storms rolled through the area. The rainy conditions may have contributed to a pair the accidents that restricted traffic flow on the interstates. In the I-470 event, a tractor-trailer jackknifed while traveling down the hill toward Center Wheeling, causing motorists behind the truck to be stranded for about an hour.

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