By RONDA GREGORY
News & Journal Staff Writer
The annual Cecil Jarvis Greater Clarksburg 10K will hit its stride for 20 years running Saturday, June 18 with three races scheduled.The featured 10K race–6.2 miles–begins at 8:30 a.m. At 10 a.m. the 2-mile Walk/Run begins, followed by the Kids K at 10:30 a.m. The Kids race is no longer than a quarter of a mile and is open to children 10 years old and under.
An awards ceremony will be presented at 11:30 a.m. at the Harrison County Court House Square. There will be more than $10,000 available in prizes.
“The races start and finish on Main Street,” said Carl Hatfield, Race Director for all of its 20 years. “Most start near the Fire Department and finish at Court House Square.”
The Greater Clarksburg 10K course is sanctioned and certified by the USA Track and Field.
“We’re anticipating between 1,000 and 1,500 participants for all races,” Hatfield reports. “We’d like to invite all runners and walkers to participate in either the 10K or the 2-mile Walk/Run because we are again focused on heart health. We have teamed up with The American Heart Association and The United Hospital Center. Portions of all race entries will be donated to help locals receive needed heart screening. So we are all joined together to help West Virginia citizens live a healthier lifestyle.”
Hatfield also wants to encourage all in the community to come out and cheer on all the participants.
“We would hope that everyone would come and be a fan or a spectator,” he said.
It is a major event, organizers stated. “From Day 1, we have been one of the top 10Ks in the United States in road events,” Hatfield explained.
Hatfield, who has been a runner for 51 years, was actually just on his way out the door to run three miles when he was contacted to be interviewed for this story. As a two-time All-American in track and field and cross-country at West Virginia University, he is a member of The WVU Sports Hall of Fame.
Running runs in the family. His wife, former runner Georgia Hatfield, along with Larry Mazza, was a co-founder of this 10K.
Hatfield reports the race will also be celebrating its 20th with an anniversary banquet on Tuesday, June 14 at Maple Lake Clubhouse in Bridgeport.Hatfield said they’re very pleased that U.S. Olympian runner Jeff Galloway will be the guest speaker at the banquet.
“Jeff is one of the most noted expert running authors in the country and has written seven books on running,” Hatfield stated. “He is also founder of the Galloway Run Walk Run Method.”
Galloway will also present a running clinic at 5 p.m. Monday, June 13 at Robert C. Byrd High School in Clarksburg.
Hatfield said people can register right up until the time a race begins, but it’s best to get a head start.
“We encourage folks to register early,” he stated. “And we want to remind them that we do give out age-group awards and T-shirts to all registered participants.”
For more information about the event and registration fees or to register, visit GreaterClarksburg10K.org or iPlayOutside, or call Hatfield at (304) 848-3080.
