The first two local runners across the finish line for the Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic on Saturday defined determination by showing an unwavering energy even after the long, wet race.

Moore, 24, of Wheeling, who placed second overall in Saturday's race, the highest finish ever by a local runner, said he was glad to be able to run the race after several years of scheduling conflicts with collegiate events and have such a good showing in front of his friends, family and local businesses that sponsored his training fund so he could race professionally on a full-time basis. Saturday's finish was his best out of the three times he's participated in the event.

"It's awesome," Moore said after crossing the finish line with a time of 1:04:18.

Hetzel, 25, a Wheeling native and former Wheeling Central Catholic High School and Wheeling Jesuit University runner, finished seventh in the women's Open Division and 66th overall among all runners.

Moore didn't appear to be overly fatigued after the event, considering that over the past year he's been plagued with chronic strep throat and flu. He missed the outdoor track season this year, he said, and didn't begin to intensively train for the Ogden 20K Classic until April.

"It's great," Moore said of his finish. "This was my first race back after being sick."

For most of the race, Moore was with a pack of two other men - winner Julius Kibet and eventual third-place finisher Isaac Arusei. The three broke from the field around 29th Street Hill, Moore said, and spent the remainder of the race by themselves along the course.

"The rain played havoc with us. After the first 10K, my legs were like jelly (due to the dampness and cool temperatures)," Moore said. "Other than that, it was a good race."

At some point after the three broke from the pack, around Bridge Street Middle School in Elm Grove, Kibet "made a move" and Moore couldn't catch up to him. Kibet beat Moore by more than a minute with a time of 1:03:04. Arusei came in at 1:04:57.

Saturday's Ogden 20K Classic was the first of the annual events Moore has run since 2001, due to his participating in NCAA events previously. Moore was a four-time state champion at Wheeling Park High School and an All-American in NCAA Division II. He graduated from Wheeling Jesuit University last year.

Doing well in local and college events isn't going to be enough to satisfy Moore, though - he's looking forward to the 2008 or 2012 summer Olympic Games.

"It's just a matter of getting stronger," he said.

Hetzel, who just finished graduate school in Arizona, said she was pleased with her performance given the level of competition in the women's field.

"It was a good race. ... I feel very good with my performance," she said.

Hetzel also commended the organizers and volunteers who put together the Classic each year, calling the event a "class act."

"I think the Ogden race is just amazing. It is so well organized. It was fun to be part of the event," she said.