T-L Photos/GAGE VOTA Racers takE off from the starting line at the inaugural Run For Justice 5k race in St. Clairsville on Saturday morning at the Belmont County Divisional Courthouse.

The first ever Run for Justice 5K winner John Tully crosses the finish line at the Belmont County Courthouse in downtown St. Clairsville.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Multiple Belmont County organizations came together Saturday to launch the inaugural Run for Justice 5K race.

The purpose of the race was to raise funds to supplement legal and government education programs. It started at the Belmont County Divisional Courthouse at 52160 National Road and the finish line was at the main Belmont County Courthouse at 101 W. Main St. in downtown St. Clairsville. The route was a perfect fit for the event, lead organizer Northern Division Judge Adam Myser said.

“What is really nice about this route is it’s a 5K for justice and it’s the perfect distance. We are able to go from the Divisional Courthouse complex to the main courthouse complex – from courthouse steps to courthouse steps it’s exactly 5K.”

Local law enforcement closed that section of National Road to ensure the safety of the participants.

Myser hopes the race will continue with the same route next year.

“As long as we can continue to keep the runners safe and provide a minimal impact to the traffic locally,” he said.

The race had over 40 sponsors with the title sponsor being WVU Medicine. A few of the other sponsors were Belmont College, Belmont County itself, Neurobehavioral Medicine Consultants, Belmont County NAACP, World Gym Bellaire, Riesbeck’s, Print N Copy, Kirke’s Homemade Ice Cream, West Texas Roadhouse and more.

“We had financial sponsors and in-kind sponsors and without question we could not have done this without those individuals,” Myser said.

Over 200 people signed up to run or walk in Saturday’s race. Myser said 72 individuals signed up to run the race, and 138 individuals signed up to walk it.

Out of those 72 runners, the overall winner of the race was John Tully from Bridgeport. He was followed shortly behind by second-place finisher Cedrick Robinson from Martins Ferry. Robinson was followed by Colerain’s Casey Morrison in third place. Technically Cedrick Robinson crossed the finish line first but it was due to confusion in the race’s route.

“It was a really nice outcome for the first year. We’re just looking to grow the event in the future,” Myser said of the turnout and overall success of the event.

While speaking on the importance of the race he said,

“We didn’t have a race in town and it gave up an opportunity to raise money and reach a walking and running community that didn’t really have an event for them locally.”