Saturday, August 8, 1998 -- Clarksburg

It's a crowded place to be at the start of the Clarksburg 10K

Greater Clarksburg 10K
[Pic Set 1] [Pic Set 2] [Results]

The streets of downtown Clarksburg were transformed into a sea of pandemonium early Saturday morning as spectators and racers gathered for the 2nd annual Greater Clarksburg 10K Run. One of the largest races in the state, the event drew over 1,100 runners. Local, national and international racers alike gathered on the sunny, humid morning to compete for the $20,000 purse. The course took the runners for two

Simon Morolong takes it easy after winning in a close finish

laps through the rolling hills of downtown Clarksburg. Excitement wasn't limited to the race course though as thousands of spectators showed up with music, balloons, and cameras, to cheer on the runners.

The start of the race saw the runners heading up Main Street. As with most big races, those not lucky enough to start near the front had to contain their enthusiasm until the pack began to thin. By the second lap, a four-person pack had forged a lead that kept them a safe distance ahead of the other runners for the rest of the race. Fans watched in awe as the four leaders battled towards the finish, hammering out the last 100 yards to finish within just six seconds of each other with South Africa's Simon Morolong bringing home the glory. Morolong paced himself, choosing to stay at the back of the lead pack for the majority of the race, biding his time before

Catherine Ndereba celebrates a short lived victory

sprinting to the front during the last kilometer of the race. Morolong's finishing time of 28:32 was just one second better than that of second place finisher John Gwako of Kenya. Morolong's tied the course record and earned him $4,000 in prize money. Finishing third, with a time of 28:37 was Kenya's John Kariuki followed closely by Ondoro Osoro, also of Kenya, with a time of 28:38.

They love the locals in Clarksburg, "Run, Bob, Run!"

While the men were fighting for their titles, the women were doing the same. Adding to the day's excitement, Catherine Ndereba crossed the finish line first only to be disqualified for an illegal start. Ndereba later admitted to beginning the race with a 140 yard head start, claiming that the dense crowds kept her from returning to the her place at the starting line before the gun went off. The controversial finish allowed Deliah Asiago, of Kenya, to capture the Women's 1st place title with a time of 33:02.

Racers round a corner in downtown Clarksburg

While the close finishes were exciting, it was also satisfying to see so many hometown and regional racers come out to join the fun. While some racers relaxed after their 10k jaunt, many were treated to a crowd pleasing 1K Kids' race. The over 200 participants coupled with the relatively short distance made for a very competitive race which was fun for both the kids and the spectators. What a way to top off the day's events! Like we said, pure pandemonium.

The kids get their chance to impress the crowds