PARKERSBURG-Veteran runner Jocelyn Majoy felt both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat following her finish at the 26th annual News and Sentinel Half Marathon.
"I think I am finally the bride," explained the Vincent, Ohio, resident after crossing the finish line in 1 hour, 32 minutes and 16.3 seconds.
Those hopes vanished moments later, however, when it was discovered that 50-year-old Sherri Martin from West Alexander, Pa., had crossed the finish line more than two minutes earlier to capture the Grand Masters championship with a time of 1 hour, 32 minutes and 28.5 seconds.
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Photos by Jeff Baughan
Irina Permitina became the fith Russian in the past seven years to win the women’s Masters title at the 26th News and Sentinel Half Marathon by clocking a course-record time of 1 hour, 16 minutes and 52.5 seconds.
"I never saw her," said Majoy. "That is part of the problem when you compete in a race like this. If you don't recognize your competition early, then you never really know who you have to race against."
A feeling echoed by Martin.
"You never really know (if you won) until the results are released," said Martin, who competed in the Ogden Half Marathon earlier in the year. "When I run I try and run at at pace with some of the guys from home that I compete with in our local races.
"I know that if I can keep up with them, then I will be up there somewhere."
For her victory ,Martin takes home the $750 first place prize while Majoy, who finished second to Lee DiPietro in 2010 and Ramilia Burangulova last year, accepted the $400 runner-up award for the third straight year.
"Today wasn't my best race," continued Majoy. "But I'll be back again next year and hopefully it will be my turn to finish first."
Winning the Masters title was 44-year-old Irina Permitina from Russia. She became the fifth Russian to take home the $750 first prize over the past seven years, joining Titiana Titova (2006, 07), Albina Gallyamova (2009) and Burangulova (2010).
Her time of 1 hour, 16 minutes and 52.5 seconds bettered the course record of 1:17.09 established by Burangulova in 2003. Tammy Slusser, who captured the Masters' title in 2005, finished second in a time of 1:30:36.6.
Taking home the $1,000 prize for finishing as the first American in the race was 30-year old Emily Chaney from Huntington. Her time of 1 hour, 22 minutes and 29.9 seconds was nearly seven minutes faster than runner-up Brittany Schob (1:29:06.3) from Vienna.
"This was my first time running this race," said Chaney. "I really liked the course and the weather was just great. I'm really happy with my time and excited about winning. You never really know if you are going to win when you are in a race with so many runners from other countries."
Other locals that were presented plaques at the awards ceremony included Sharon Marks (Race Director's Award), Emily Chaney (Norma Phillips, First West Virginia Award), Brittany Schob (First Wood/Washington County Award) and Kelly Harris and Deana Farrah (First Rick Brown River City Runners and Walkers Club Award).