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SPORTS
Record time set in Marshall Marathon
Jason Pyles (2323), Chuck Engle (1414), and Jared Smith (blue) lead the start of the 26-mile Marshall University Marathon on Sunday in Huntington.
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON — They call him the “Marathon Junkie” for good reason.
Running the grueling 26.2-mile race is more than a recreational outlet, it’s his job. Chuck Engle, a 36-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, works for MarathonGuide.com, a Web site devoted to the sport. And, he runs lots of marathons everywhere.
Just a few months ago Engle pulled an incredible weekend double. Engle ran the Tupelo (Miss.) Marathon on a Sunday and the Heart of America Marathon the next day in Columbia, Mo. He won both times.
He’s entered at least 15 marathons this year with seven wins, according to his Web site, www.chuckengle.com. He finished 52 marathons in 2006, winning 34.
Engle came to town Sunday morning and set a course record with an unofficial time of 2 hours, 34 minutes while winning the Marshall University Marathon.
“I come out, talk to guys like Tom (Dannals) and do races,” Engle said.
Race director Tom Dannals from HealthyHuntington.org said the event had about 850 total participants in the marathon, half-marathon, half-marathon relay and 5-mile walk.
The marathon course begins at Marshall, winds through downtown, the west end and Ritter Park before finishing on the goal line inside Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Engle found the flat, USATF-certified road course very much to his liking.
“I enjoyed it,” Engle said after crossing the goal line far ahead of 426 other marathon runners on the starter’s list. “It’s a deceptively fast course. Everybody thinks West Virginia has a lot of hills. This is flat.”
Engle said Sunday marked his 116th marathon.
David McCollam was a distant runner-up with an unofficial time of 2:39. Jeff Mires unofficially placed third and Terry Wyatt was fourth.
Unofficially, the first female finisher was 25-year-old Amanda Luksetich.
Former Marshall University runner Jason Pyles, 26, was the unofficial winner of the half-marathon with Cabell Midland High School’s David Bias the runner-up. David Szeremet placed third followed by Jerry Rief and Jamie LoFiego.
Tammy Tribett, 35, was unofficially the first female half-marathon finisher.
Engle said he didn’t know who was behind or him, or how far back they were.
McCollam said the only time he saw Engle during the race was when they crossed paths and the leader was headed in another direction.
The outcome was never in doubt.
“I pretty much knew unless he totally fell apart,” McCollam said.
