WHEELING — After a one-year hiatus, Tammy Slusser returned to the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic with a vengeance Saturday.

A veteran of the Memorial Day weekend staple, Slusser secured her second female half-marathon run championship with a time of 1:34.19.

”It gets harder each year because I’m 52 now,” the Monroeville, Pa. resident said while partaking in the event’s postrace refreshments.

”I didn’t expect to win this race as a 52-year-old.”

Experience triumphed over youth at the top of the results as Slusser was followed across the finish line by 57-year-old Mariann Tullius. The Wexford, Pa. runner posted a time of 1:38.57.

Mary Welch, of Parkersburg, was third in 1:40.51, followed by Cambridge’s Rachel Jamiel, who recorded a 1:42.38.

The first local female to cross the finish line was Bellaire’s Aimee Vavrek. She posted a time of 1:43.43 and finished sixth. St. Clairsville’s Hannah Surface was seventh in 1:46.03

Slusser first competed in Wheeling on the former 20K course in 1990. Since then, she learned all the ins and outs — and ups and downs — the challenging course provides. Her experience paid off with her first championship three years ago. And Saturday, the weather conditions were just right for another.

”I love this weather,” she said. It’s perfect for me. I love overcast days. I just love it.”

Downtown Wheeling was a monsoon shortly before racing began. But by the time the horn sounded to start the half marathon, thunderstorms that had rolled through at dawn gave way to light showers, providing runners with a little comfort from the somewhat humid conditions.

Slusser missed last year’s race with a case of Lyme Disease. Saturday, she had little competition, breaking the tape almost four seconds faster than her nearest competitor.

”I was just running like there was someone behind me the whole time,” she said. ”That’s what you do. I recognized the person in front of me and was just trying to keep him in sight. He was a faster runner and I knew if I could keep him in sight I was doing well.”

Slusser was 12th overall.

”You can never relax on this course because of that hill at the end,” Slusser said. ”It wasn’t really until I got to the top of that hill where there’s a mile to that I could relax and go ‘OK.”’

Slusser’s half marathon showing capped a busy four weeks. She competed in the Pittsburgh Marathon three weeks ago and also participated in the Knoxville Marathon last month.

”What I ran (Saturday) was just about what I ran two years ago (1:32.26),” she said. ”When you get older, it gets harder and harder. But I’m happy with it.”