Local News

Top finishers plan return to The News and Sentinel Half Marathon

PARKERSBURG -- The top two finishers in The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon in 2022 will return in August for the 2023 edition of the annual 13.1 mile race.

Joshua Park of Athens finished No. 1 with a time of 1:09:20, 3 minutes ahead of Breydon Gates who came in second with a time of 1:12:19. Park will defend the title and Gates will return to challenge on Aug. 19, race day in downtown Parkersburg.

"I'll definitely be there," Park said.

The News and Sentinel Half Marathon is among the nicer races, Park said. While it's well organized, the atmosphere around race day, the community, the volunteers and the crowd are enjoyable, he said.

The course has its challenges with rolling hills, urban and country settings, he said.

"The Parkersburg Half is one of my favorite races," said Park, who recently returned from Colorado where he trained. "The atmosphere of the race is fantastic."

Gates' first time running the half marathon was in 2016 when he finished 20th overall with a time of 1:21:46. He finished 20th in 2017 with a time of 1:14:46, 22nd in 2018 with a time of 1:20 and 13th in 2019 with a time of 1:16:09.

Experience makes running the race a little easier, according to Gates. Familiarity with the course prepares him for the difficult parts that are ahead, such as the 13th Street hill, he said.

He plans to intensify his training regimen in the weeks before the race.

"I've done quite a few halfs," Gates, a Belpre High School graduate, said.

"I think the Parkersburg Half Marathon is the hardest one I've done."

Sarah Biehl, the woman's winner in the 2022 Half Marathon, has moved to Colorado in part for her running career. She finished the race with a time of 1:17:39, which also put her in fourth place overall.

Ellie Hines, the 2022 woman's top finisher in The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Two Mile, plans to return to defend her title.

"I'm going to do it again," said Hines, who will be a junior this fall at Parkersburg High School where she runs track and cross country.

Hines came in first place in the women's competition in 2022 with a time of 13 minutes. She hopes to set a personal record this year in the Two Mile.

"I want to break 12 minutes," Hines said.

Hines has been training for the race and for her running career at PHS, running a lot since the middle of June. Her race strategy may be to find someone to keep pace with, then break out of the pack. That's what she did in 2022, finishing 38 seconds ahead of No. 2 woman Kim Poling of Parkersburg.

"I kind of picked someone at random to pace with," Hines said.

Her time of 13 minutes put her 25th in the overall race times. Hines in 2019 came in fourth place in the Two Mile with a time of 13:30.

The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon and Two Mile races are scheduled the morning of Aug. 19. The starting line is at Third and Juliana streets and the finish line is under the train trestle on Market Street where runners and walkers are greeted with fanfare and regalia from the crowd.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of the races in 2020 and 2021.

The Two Mile in 2022 was won by Logan Arnold, 26, of Morgantown. He has yet to commit to running in the 2023 contest.

"I'm undecided at the moment," Arnold said, citing matters unconnected to the race.

Arnold has run the Two Mile at least three times and the Half Marathon in 2015. The race is well planned and a pleasure in which to participate, he said.

"The race is always well organized and there's good crowd support," Arnold said.