State 5k Championship to be in Huntington

HUNTINGTON — Huntington is hosting the first West Virginia 5K Championship Race in about a decade.

The announcement was made Wednesday afternoon at the United Way of the River Cities headquarters in West Huntington.

“We’re going to expect a number of West Virginia’s best 5K runners,” said Tom Plummer, the vice president of the USA Track and Field-West Virginia Association, which authorized the race as a state championship. “This seemed to be a good fit, a good time to say yes.”

Any times run on the course, he said, can go into a national database for records.

Race director and Cabell County resident Pat Riley said he hopes to get 1,000 walkers and runner to complete 3,000 miles for the event, which will start at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 6. He said he’s already getting interest from people in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.

The race’s title sponsor is The Herald-Dispatch. Robert’s Running & Walking Shop and Mizuno are gold sponsors. First State Bank is the silver sponsor. The United Way, Huntington Roadrunners Club and Pepsi are the community sponsors.

Riley started planning the event in the fall after Huntington was dubbed the fattest city in America in an article by The Associated Press.

“Hopefully we take (the article) as motivation to become healthier,” Riley said. “We encourage everyone to show up.”

The proceeds will go the United Way of the River Cities to help support health and wellness initiatives, Riley said.

The course will start between 8th and 9th streets on Veterans Memorial Boulevard. It will head west on the boulevard and turn left on 1st Street. From there the course goes up two blocks before making a left onto 5th Avenue. Runners will travel to Hal Greer Boulevard and turn left toward 3rd Avenue and follow to the finish line on Veterans Memorial Boulevard just past 10th Street.

Jason Pyles, a former Marshall University runner and coach, has supported Riley’s ambition. He said he’s excited to see what comes from the event.

“It’s cool to have a big event in Huntington to gear up for,” said Pyles, who runs 5K races all around the country.

There are multiple age and team divisions, including those for churches, men or women in uniform, businesses and Road Runners Clubs. Pre-registration by May 31 is $15, and race day registration is $25.

More information can be found at www.TriStateRacer.com/WV5K.

Other sponsorships for the race are being accepted.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Tom Plummer speaks during a press conference Wednesday, April 8, 2009, to announce that the first-ever West Virginia 5K Championship Race will be held in Huntington this year. Proceeds from this first race will benefit United Way of the River Cities.