The "Ogden Ironmen Club" welcomed home a new member on Saturday and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy than Dave Fiorilli.

After competing in the first 14 Wheeling distance races through 1990, Fiorilli had entered the 1991 classic in January of that year. However, fate stepped in and he was recalled for active duty in the Navy to serve in Desert Storm.

His devotion and dedication to the race led to Tony Purpura running the race in his name, which Dave felt was a wonderful gesture. "I wanted to keep the streak going at least as far as my name being part of the 20K," he said after receiving the good news during Saturday's post-race banquet at WesBanco Arena," Fiorilli said.

"This means a lot to me," Fiorilli added. "It feels good to be part of that group again. And it means even more because it was the other members of the group that initiated the move to have me reinstated."

Race Director Howard Corcoran also was much in favor of reinstating Fiorilli. "A person should not have to miss out on something because he was called away to serve his country in time of danger," Corcoran said.

After introducing the initial 15 "Ogden Ironmen Club" members, Corcoran then presented Fiorilli the Race Chairman Award while revealing the decision that met with a huge round of applause from the runners, committee members and guests in the audience. When he took his place for the picture with the other "Ironmen" Fiorilli was greeted with hugs and handshakes.

The group now includes nine Wheeling residents in Fiorilli, Larry Jones, Steve Habursky, Tim Cogan, Bruce Kirby, Paul Exley, Ted Rouse, John Holloway and Pat Cronin. The others are the Rev. Robert "Bob" Cole of Lost Creek W.V., Mike Lemaster, from Columbus; David Claypool of Zanesville; St. Clairsville resident Joe Kubick; Frank Monteleone of Dover; Mitch Toto, Belmont; and Grant Marks, Glen Dale.

Fiorilli, 213th overall in the time of 1:40:21, had a picture of his daughter, Ashley, pinned to his 9/11 shirt that he wore on Saturday. Ashley, a 23-year-old Wheeling Park High School student, is in the Air Force and currently serving her second tour of duty in the Middle East.

"She's due to come home next month," Dave explained. "Since this is the Memorial Day weekend, I ran the race in her honor and to honor all of the servicemen and women, along with the police and fire personnel who keep us safe," he said.

At age 55, Habursky proved once again in yesterday's Ogden Classic that he still can navigate the gruelling 20K course in good time. Habursky was clocked in 1:28:22, third best in his age group and 72nd overall.

Monteleone, age 52, was next among the "Ogden Ironmen" in 1:35:41, followed by Fiorilli and the 50-year-old Pat Cronin (1:40:48). Dr. Holloway, age 50, turned in a 1:40:59 effort.

Other times by the members of this exclusive group included: Rouse (43), 1:43:41; Marks (59), 1:43:43; Claypool (58), 1:51:16; Lemaster (43), 1:53:43; Exley (50), 1:56:53; Kirby (63), 1:58:40; Jones (57), 1:59:35; Toto (66), 2:09:45; Cogan (56), 2:18:39; Cole (69), 2:19:56; and Kubick (2:24:13).