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SPORTS
Bun Run sets Huntington 5K record
The Bun Run 5K distance run at Big Sandy Superstore Arena on Saturday, July 26, 2008. The event was part of the annual West Virginia Hot Dog Festival.
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HUNTINGTON -- Hold on to your buns. There is a new top dog on the Huntington running circuit.
The Bun Run 5K set a Huntington 5K record with 350 finishers Saturday morning, making it the biggest 5K event in the city's history.
"Lots of new. That's what we love," race director Sharon Stanton said. "Lots of new runners and walkers. It's a great turnout and a great competition. I'm just excited."
Nearly 400 runners registered for the event and 350 crossed the finish line near Big Sandy Superstore Arena, eclipsing the old mark of 348 set by the 2005 Marshall Alum Run 5K.
When all was said and done, a pair of familiar faces to the Huntington 5K circuit came away with victories.
Eric Putnam, men's cross country coach at Shawnee State University, just missed breaking the event record when he crossed the finish line in a time of 15 minutes, 21 seconds -- four seconds behind the record set in 2006 by Huntington's Jason Pyles.
Former Cabell Midland standout runner David Bias finished second in a time of 15:44 followed by a pair of Shawnee State representatives -- assistant coach Blake Jones (15:51) and Chuck Wentz Jr. (15:58). Pyles rounded out the top five in 16:03.
On the women's side, Marian Pyles claimed her second Bun Run 5K title, finishing the course in 18:27. Marshall University recruit and former Spring Valley High School standout Kylie Lemons finished second in 19:44 while 13-year-old Brooklyn Bowen placed third in the women's division in 20:42.
While the top-tier runners made for fast times and exciting competition, the big numbers and variety of backgrounds is what made Saturday's race special, Stanton said.
"It's exciting to see the elite runners that are here and finishing in 15:00, but it's great to see those who set PRs (personal records) or those that come out and it's their first race," Stanton said. "It's a friendly course for everybody -- the elite or people who are just out here to do their best. We're excited about bigger and better."
While the event took Stanton and West Virginia Hot Dog Festival directors Kym York-Blake and John Mandt months to organize, the racers made for a quick morning. All 350 finishers completed the course in under an hour with the subsequent awards ceremony taking just a few minutes.
York-Blake, who was busy running her own personal 5K between the registration tables and various ongoing events, said that with such a successful turnout for the Bun Run 5K, she would like to incorporate more sports activities into the Hot Dog Festival.
"Every year, we try to find different ways to expand the festival," York-Blake said. "Next year, we are looking at maybe running a bike race, maybe even utilizing the course before or after the Bun Run. We will continue to add more activities for people in our community who want to have a great time and help a great cause."
Proceeds from Saturday's Bun Run 5K are going to the Joan C. Edwards Children's Cancer Clinic.
