On the Parkersburg Half Marathon Website:
PARKERSBURG-When putting together the men's elite field for the 24th annual The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon race director Chip Allman had to ask himself two questions.Would it be better to see three-time champion Alene Reta make history by becoming the race's first four time winner? Or would it be better to put together the toughest field ever for the Road Runners Club of America National Championship?"In the five years that I have been doing this, this is the toughest field I've seen," said Allman. "(Alene) Reta has to be considered the favorite. He's just that good of a runner."But, with the field we've assembled, it wouldn't surprise me if someone beat him."Reta, who has become a fixture of the 13.1-mile race since it became the RRCA championship, cruised to a 46-second victory over Kenyan Kennett Kiptoo a year ago, winning with a time of 1 hour, 4 minutes and 15 seconds-more than two minutes off of his winning time in 2007 (1:02:39) and nearly two minutes slower than his winning time in 2006 (1:02:52)."He just knows when and where to surge on the course," explained Allman. "He really wasn't pushed last year and that explains his time."That should be the case at 8 a.m. on Saturday as the men's field of 36 elites is composed of 15 athletes which have covered the half marathon distance in 65 minutes or less. Five have posted times under 63 minutes...
PARKERSBURG-When putting together the men's elite field for the 24th annual The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon race director Chip Allman had to ask himself two questions.Would it be better to see three-time champion Alene Reta make history by becoming the race's first four time winner? Or would it be better to put together the toughest field ever for the Road Runners Club of America National Championship?"In the five years that I have been doing this, this is the toughest field I've seen," said Allman. "(Alene) Reta has to be considered the favorite. He's just that good of a runner."But, with the field we've assembled, it wouldn't surprise me if someone beat him."Reta, who has become a fixture of the 13.1-mile race since it became the RRCA championship, cruised to a 46-second victory over Kenyan Kennett Kiptoo a year ago, winning with a time of 1 hour, 4 minutes and 15 seconds-more than two minutes off of his winning time in 2007 (1:02:39) and nearly two minutes slower than his winning time in 2006 (1:02:52)."He just knows when and where to surge on the course," explained Allman. "He really wasn't pushed last year and that explains his time."That should be the case at 8 a.m. on Saturday as the men's field of 36 elites is composed of 15 athletes which have covered the half marathon distance in 65 minutes or less. Five have posted times under 63 minutes...
The last time that an American runner has crossed the Market Street finish line ahead of the pack occurred in 2001 when Colorado-native Dan Browne beat the field with a time of 1 hour, 3 minutes and 55 seconds.
On a side note, a runner with a new "PR" jersey will make an appearance...
Kick some ass Babe! wish i could be there :)
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