Homage will be paid to the rich history of The Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk when the event is held for the 30th time on Saturday, May 27, in Wheeling.

"We are bringing back the masters divisions for both men and women as one way to honor people who have been part of the race all these years," said race Director Howard V. Corcoran.

"To hold a race like this for 30 years is quite a milestone. Very few running events of this stature have lasted this long. It's a tribute to the runners and, in recent years, the walkers who have participated in the 20K Classic. Certainly, the biggest debt of gratitude goes to the race sponsors from the very beginning in 1977 to the present."

Corcoran said that the Wheeling distance race started under the sponsorship of First National Bank and Elby's. Then it became the Elby's Big Boy Classic and now the Ogden Newspapers serves as the main sponsor.

Other major sponsors for this year include Wheeling Hospital, Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center, Mason Rehab Center, United Bank and the Ohio County Commission, which has come on board for the first time this year.

The 2006 race will include a 20K masters division for men and women ages 40-49 and a 20K grand masters division, which will be made up of men and women ages 50 and above.

"Many of the runners in the grand masters division will feature men and women who were in their 20s and 30s when the race first started," Corcoran pointed out.

Cash prizes totaling $3,000 will be paid in each of the masters divisions with the men's and women's winners receiving $350, the runners-up being paid $250 and third-place receiving $150.

Because of the hillside conditions on Wheeling Hill, the race committee already has decided to use the same 20K course that was utilized last year because of the construction along National Road. "It's a matter of safety for the runners," stressed Corcoran. "We were concerned about the possibility of heavy rains the week before the race creating more slides on Wheeling Hill and making it dangerous for the participants. We also believed it would be a good idea to let the runners and walkers know early so that they can have time to train on the altered course."

While the location of the start and finish lines situated adjacent to WesBanco Arena remain the same, the changes begin at 33rd Street in South Wheeling. The runners and walkers will continue south to 39th and Chapline streets, turn left to Wood Street, take another left to 33rd, turn left to Eoff Street and take a right on Eoff to 29th Street. There, the runners and walkers will begin their climb and descent along 29th Street Hill.

At the bottom of the hill, the course goes past Bridge Street Middle School and then swings left over the hump bridge onto National Road. When the competitors reach the Junior Avenue bridge, they turn left again, cross the bridge to Lava Avenue, take a right there and travel on that road until passing the site of one of the event's major sponsors, Mason Rehab Center. The course swings right onto the city's Heritage Trail and continues to the exit at 14th and McColloch streets in East Wheeling. The field then travels down 14th Street until reaching the finish line.

The race committee again has labeled the Ogden 20K Classic as a "destination weekend" for runners and walkers throughout the United States. While Saturday is the big day for the 20K and 5K runs and walks, the festivities actually get under way Friday, May 26, with a full slate of activities.

The Friday schedule begins at 6:45 p.m. with the Ogden Tiny Tot Trot, sponsored by Ohio Valley Parent Magazine. This event welcomes youngsters ages 5 and under to take part in a dash to the finish line over the last 100 yards of the 20K course.

At 7 p.m., the Fun Run begins at the top of Wheeling Hill and covers the final mile of the 20K layout. Also a non-competitive event, the Fun Run is for children 12 and under. No prizes are awarded and the $5 entry fee includes a race T-shirt. Parents are encouraged to run with their children at no cost or pay $5 and also receive a T-shirt.

Capping off the festivities on opening night will be the annual Ogden Mile, starting at 7:15 p.m. at the top of Wheeling Hill. This downhill course is regarded as the fastest mile layout in America and has featured sub four-minute miles nearly every year the Ogden Mile has been held.

The top three male and female runners in the Ogden Mile receive cash awards of $200 for first, $150 for second and $100 for third place. Trophies will be presented to the top two men and women masters runners.

On Saturday, the starting times are 7:30 a.m. for the 20K Walk; 8 a.m. for the 20K Run; and 8:15 a.m. for the 5K Run and Walk.

The addition of the paid masters division elevates the total cash awards for this year's Ogden 20K Classic to $28,900. Of that total, $11,000 is to be distributed among the top male and female place-winners in the 20K Run. The men and women open division 20K winners will earn $2,000 each with $1,500 each going for second place, $1,000 for third place and $500 for fourth place. Runners finishing fifth through eighth will collect $125 each.

In the 20K Open Walk, the first three males and females receive $350, $250 and $150.

Cash awards of $75, $50 and $25 have been provided for the top three 20K Run and Walk participants in the following age groups: 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 and 70 and over.

Age group awards of $40, $30 and $25 are to be awarded to the first three male and female finishers in the 5K Run and Walk.

The top male and female run finishers from West Virginia and the city of Wheeling will receive awards sponsored by Legg, Mason, Wood, Walker Inc.

Prizes will be presented at the annual post-race banquet, which begins at noon Saturday, May 27, at WesBanco Arena.

Once again, the Ogden 20K Classic will pay a special honor to the 16 members of the "Ogden Ironmen Club" - runners who have participated and finished each and every one of the Wheeling distance races.

Members of this celebrated group include: Larry Jones, Steve Habursky, Tim Cogan, Bruce Kirby, Paul Exley, Mitch Toto, John Holloway, Pat Cronin, the Rev. Bob Cole, Mike Lemaster, David Claypool, Joe Kubick, Frank Monteleone and Grant Marks.

The 2006 race will also see the induction of the third class into the Ogden 20K Classic Hall of Fame. Established in 2004, this highly coveted honor has already been shared by some of the greatest names in the road racing world such as Bill Rodgers, Patti Catalano Dillon and Tom Fleming and newspaper legend, the late Bill Van Horne.

Voted into the inaugural Hall of Fame Class were Rodgers, Catalano Dillon, Van Horne, Habursky, Toto, Joe Sarver, Lance Tarr, Mike Hudimac, Bruce Smith and Becky Droginske. Last year's enshrinees were Dr. Lee Jones, Leo Miller, Fleming, Wayne Barte, Cole, Monteleone, Marti Stephan, Susan Mortakis, Ike Calissie and Herb Baker.

"Our 2006 classic will also be representative of people that have meant so much to the success of the race since the beginning," said Corcoran, who has been involved in the Wheeling distance event for 28 of the first 29 years. This will be his third year as race director.

Entry blanks are being printed once again and will be available soon. Also, runners can register online by visiting the race Web site: www.ogden20k.com.