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Saturday, May 1, 2010 -- Point Marion, PA / Friendship Hill National Historic Site
Friendship Hill 5-Mile Trail Run - MASS Event #3 (iPO Event Id#: 12614)
Part of the Morgantown Adventure Sports Series (MASS)

[Details] [Coverage] [Photos] [Overall Results] [Results by Class]

The Path Less Traveled

Story and Photos by J.R. Petsko

I am almost embarrassed to say that Saturday was my first ever trip to Friendship Hill National Historic Park, but it was. On this 370 acres you can find some beautiful and little used trails in the forest.

Friendship Hill 5-Miler photo by J.R. Petsko
See more race photos.
Round number three of the Morgantown Adventure Sport Series (MASS) was lucky enough to have the opportunity to hold their event at such a wonderful location.

The racers prepared themselves at the start line for 5 miles of trail running which included one section that contained 125 steps.

After the gun, it was Sean Hopkins (Star City, WV) and Dennis Fisher (Morgantown, WV) off to an early lead. Fisher had placed third and fourth in the first two events and looked to improve on those performances while this was Hopkins' first MASS event.

The two men pushed the pace and continued to move away from the rest of the field. For the women however the race was going to be a tight one. Rebecca Grove (Alum Bridge, WV), Sandy Offutt (Core, WV), Sarah Burgess (Star City, WV) and Holly Fillpovick (Morgantown, WV) were all fast enough to win the event and the pressure was on.

At the finish Sean Hopkins proved to be the fastest men's runner on the day winning the overall in a time of 30:33. Fisher was holding down second firmly in his time of 32:22.

Friendship Hill 5-Miler photo by J.R. Petsko
See more race photos.
Caleb Crosby (Uniontown, PA) took home third by crossing the finishing line in 35:10 with John Bozek and Judd Michael round out the top five men's field.

The women's victory went to Rebecca Grove in a great time of 42:18. Grove was able to hold off second place finisher Sandy Offutt who crossed the line in 44:51. Sarah Burgess took home third in 45:53. Holly Fillpovick was fourth overall in 46:12 followed by Heidi Everson in 48:37.

Once again, the folks of the MASS Series put on another great event. It was a very nice event in a super nice location. Don't miss MASS #4, The Big Bear Lake Off-Road Triathlon.


More About Friendship Hill National Historic Site . . .

If you're looking to take a nice hike, try the trails at Friendship Hill. It's just a twenty minute drive from Morgantown and well worth it. It's also full of history.

Friendship Hill is the former home stead of Albert Gallatin. Gallatin is best remembered for his thirteen year tenure as Secretary of the Treasury during the Jefferson and Madison administrations. In that time he reduced the national debt, purchased the Louisiana Territory and funded the Lewis & Clark exploration.

Gallatin used his early salary to purchase 370 acres of land in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, near Point Marion. Gallatin honored his friends by naming the new property Friendship Hill and moved there in 1784. Gallatin's accomplishments and contributions are highlighted at Friendship Hill, his restored country estate.

For more information see www.nps.gov/frhi/.