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Saturday, June 19, 2010 -- Clarksburg, WV / Downtown Clarksburg
Cecil Jarvis Greater Clarksburg 10K (iPO Event Id#: 12467)

2010: [Details] [Coverage] [Photos]
Results: [Overall 10K] [By Class 10K] [Overall 2M] [By Class 2M]

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WV Runner Clara Grandt Wins 10K Overall Female

Story and Photos by Julie Black.

Nearly 600 participants and more than 200 spectators enjoyed the annual Cecil Jarvis Greater Clarksburg 10K.

    Quoted in an article by Katie Smith of Channel 12-WBOY, race director Carl Hatfield said, "It was almost like a business model where you set up a mission and goal and we've tried to stick to that. Besides fitness for the general population we've also added, we try to cater to the family and the community."

Hatfield knows all about fitness. He's a former National Marathon Champion, was the winner of the first Pittsburgh Great Race, a qualifier for four Olympic Trials, and has won over 500 other road races throughout the country. You can't find a more experienced race director in the Clarksburg area.

Clarksburg 10K start
The Clarksburg 10K start.
See more Clarksburg race photos.
Now in it's 14th year, the event still attracts professional runners, but most interesting is that not only is it the WV 10K State Championship, but it also awards the top West Virginia male and female finishers with prize money. The 10K is the main attraction, but the 2-Mile Run and Kids-K have good showings as well.

Many locals use the 10K or 2-miler as an 'excuse' to get into summer swimsuit shape. Ronald McDonald is always on hand, ready to pose with many children who run or watch the Kids-K.

The streets of downtown were lined with onlookers and the racers readied themselves as volunteers held balloons for the start. Once the National Anthem was sung, local heroes honored, and the pace car was in place . . . the start was upon us.

The 10K course, certified and sanctioned by USA Track and Field, looped twice through the traffic controlled city streets. Pacers held signs as they ran to let participants know where they were in the thick of things. The professional runners kept in a tight pack through the first loop with some locals and tri-state area favorites pushing the leaders.

The top story and perhaps surprise of the day was Clara Grandt of West Union, WV, who was all smiles as she neared the finish. Not only was she the first WV female to finish, she was also the first overall woman finisher! Grandt's winning time was 35:42, keeping a steady 5:45 pace.

Clara Grandt, Clarksburg 10K
Clara Grandt smiles to the finish.
See more Clarksburg race photos.
A member of the West Virginia University Women's Cross Country Team, Clara Grandt is described on MSNsportsNet.com as a tough, determined runner with national running experience and a leader on the team. Improving her status and abilities every year, Grandt finished as the 1st overall female in the 10K and 10th overall, beating out professional runner Maria Busienel, originally from of Kenya now residing in Charleston, WV.

Busienel's battle was with Morgantown, WV runner, Jennifer Davis, who lapped at her heels 7 seconds behind. Busienel kept Davis trailing and took home second in 37:09. Maria Busienel tore up the national circuit in 2007 and then took time off to start a family. Jennifer Davis, who seems to be getting stronger with every race, crossed with a respectable 3rd place time of 37:16.

The first male WV runner was Josh Simpson of Morgantown. Simpson has been a mainstay in the running world of the mountain state, finishing in the top spots for more than 5 years. He's had his name posted in the national scene as well, running at the USA Championships, and representing the USA in the NACAC Championships, among other national accomplishments. Simpson held out for 4th overall in this year's Clarksburg 10K, finishing with a time of 32:21.

Julius Kongo, also originally from of Kenya like Busienel, trains in New York City and trains/lives in the Durham/Chapel Hill area of North Carolina. Kongo's listed 10K PR time on IAAF is 28:19. In 2009 he won the Virginia 10 Miler and took 3rd in the HCA Virginia 8K. In Clarksburg, Kongo crossed the line in first with a time of 29:19, and a pace of 4:43.

Clarksburg Kids-K start
The Clarksburg Kids-K start.
See more Clarksburg race photos.
The battle for second was between Jeff Weiss of Avella, Pennsylvania and George Towett of Kennesaw, Georgia. In the end Towett widened the gap by 50 plus seconds to take the prize in 30:03. Towett's other notable accomplishments are finishing first in the Naples Daily News Half Marathon and Birmingham's Vulcan Run two years ago. Third place finisher Jeff Weiss, is a former Slippery Rock University runner, a PA AA Champ, and Foot Locker Finalist. Weiss also placed 1st collegiate invitational in 2005.

In the 2-Mile Run, Laurel Highlands runner, Sterling Snyder, dominated the field with a sub 10-minute finish of 9:57. Out of Bridgeport, WV, 14-year old Matthew Dearth, finished second (11:26). Longtime WV racer, Josh Weekly, rounded out the top male spots with a time of 11:34.

For the women, another fast 14-year old from Bridgeport lead the pack. Rachel Fulks finished in 14:09 as the first female and 14th overall out of 237 runners. Rebecca Grove was second (14:27), followed by Lakin Nose (15:16), both from WV.

Local celebrities raced too, such as Larry Mazza, the CEO of MVB Bank, and Justin Rose, a reporter for WVNS-Channel 59 News.


Don't miss the next big event in the mountain state, the Debbie Green Memorial 5K Run and Walk for Leukemia in Wheeling, WV on August 7. It's the 2010 USATF Three Rivers 5K Championship!

Thanks to the 2010 Clarksburg 10K Sponsors!

Clarksburg