Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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September 29, 2009

Throng supports good cause

By TOM BONE

BLUEFIELD — Despite a wintry chill, 113 runners and 52 walkers pounded the pavement through Bluefield State College and environs on Tuesday evening, raising scholarship dollars in a highly successful fourth annual Brian A. Delp Memorial 5K Run and 2-Mile Walk.

The overall winner was Nick Whited of Richlands — just as he had done in the other three runs. He crossed the line with a time of 16:59, fighting off a challenge by Brent Roark.

“He really stuck to me,” Whited said. “He’s a lot younger than I am, and he’s just fast!”

The race raises funds for the Delp Memorial Scholarship at BSC, named for a deceased student who was active in many fields of endeavor at the school. Members of his family helped again this year with race logistics.

Whited took the lead about a mile into the run while crossing the Mercer Street bridge. The course then turned onto Bluefield Avenue — and into a stiff, cold wind.

“I could see in the reflective glass (of the JanPak building) that Brent was really close to me, so I really pushed going down the avenue,” Whited said. “But the wind was blowing so hard ... coming right at us, so I couldn’t run as fast down there as I wanted to.”

He again saw Roark narrowing the gap on his return trip across the bridge. “I ran as hard as I could run, all the way back,” Whited said.

He said with that win, he would step aside from competing in the Delp Run and would volunteer to help race organizer Vonda Wilson of the BSC athletic office.

He “retired” satisfied. His time was just 2 seconds off his personal best for a 5K, set 10 years ago when he was 21. He said he would not be able to continue racing “if it weren’t for God; if it weren’t for my fianceé Maria; and if it weren’t for my chiropractor ... .”

The race drew students, faculty, athletes, coaches, and community members including Delegate John Shott.

Bluefield State Vice President for Student Affairs John Cardwell said, “It was a great turnout, especially with the weather.” He noted that the run had been scheduled as part of BSC homecoming, “a time when the students and the faculty and the staff all get together and enjoy. It’s great.”

Asked about his finish in the race, he said, “I finished toward the front. For an old man, not bad.”

The first three female finishers in the 5K were Graham High School cross-country runners. Jessica Woodie, a sophomore, came in just ahead of seniors Ariel Sitler and Jessica’s sister Lauren.

Jessica said she was glad to get started running. “I was freezing at the starting line,” she said. She wanted to be in the lead because, she said, “if I get a little tired, I like to be able to walk a little.” She didn’t do that on Tuesday.

The winning walker was BSC freshman Cory Evans of Dublin, Va.

“This is actually the first walk I’ve done,” he said. He used to play soccer, and chose power walking as a way to get back into shape. He was also walking “on behalf of my fraternity,” he said. He is pledging Lambda Chi Omega.

The top combined times for a male Greek organization was secured by Lambda Chi Omega, and the top female Greek group was Delta Chi Omega.

Bluefield State alumna Ruth Brown of Northfork was among the throng of participants, wanting to help “a great cause,” she said. “I think that’s a wonderful reason to have a race.”

Whited agreed, and was happy with the number of racers. He said “to have that much of a (turnout) is good. I think that says a lot for what Vonda does and what the Delp family does to get the word out.”

— Contact Tom Bone at

tbone@bdtonline.com

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