Some of the hundreds of people who took part in the News and Sentinel Half Marathon race down Fifth Street during the 2008 event. To view hundreds of additional photos, view CU.

'07 champ repeats victory in '08 Half Marathon
PARKERSBURG— Ethiopian Alene Reta made it two-in-a-row here Saturday morning with a 32-second victory over Kenya's Orose Valentine in the 22nd News and Sentinel Half Marathon.

Reta, who was the race's runner-up in both 2005 and 2006, covered the 13.1-mile race in 1 hour, 2 minutes and 52 seconds — 27 seconds off the course mark of 1:02:25 set by Kenya's Steve Kogo in 1990.

Finishing in third was Kenyan Reuben Chebit (1:04:19) while the remainder of the top five included Tesfaye Girma (1:04:51) and American Steven Crane (1:05:32).

In the women's race 25-year old Kenyan Angelina Mutuku overcame a 300-yard deficit midway through the race to beat countrywoman Jane Muia to the finish tape.

Mutuku covered the race in 1 hour, 12 minutes and 48 seconds while Muia held on for second place with a time of 1:13:37. The remainder of the top five included a trio of Ethiopian runners — 24-year old Mamitu Dasku (1:13:56), 22-year old Teyba Naser (1:13:57) and 28-year old Alemtsehav Misganaw (1:14:59).

Winning the Men's Masters Division was 41-year old Gideon Mutisya of Eufaula, Ala. with a time of 1:09:32 while the women's Master's title went to 40-year old Susan Graham Gray of Greencastle, Pa. (1:22:43).

The Grand Masters Division saw a couple of new course records as 51-year old Thomas Dever of Terre Haute won with a time of 1:13:33 while Ruxton, Maryland's Lee Dipietro lowered the mark for the women with a clocking of 1:27:07.

The race is the national championship half marathon for the Road Runners Club Of America.

Winning the Half Marathon Walk races were Don Slusser of Monroeville, Pa., with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes and 5 seconds and Quaker City, Ohio's Kathy Ervin in 2:17:21.

Questions or Comments about the 08 races?
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Half Marathon Coordinator
Hilary Heinzman will be happy answer any questons of hear your comments about the race.