Photo by Scott McCloskey
More than 550 runners head up 14th Street Saturday morning during the start of the 31st Annual Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk.

Alene Reta had never seen the course for the 31st annual The Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk until he joined the throng at the starting line Saturday morning in downtown Wheeling.

But once the cannon sounded to send the runners on their way, nobody saw much of Reta again until he stepped up onto the podium to receive his award at the post-race banquet.

Despite bright sunshine and oppressive humidity, the 25-year-old Ethiopian broke away from the pack in the early stages and sprinted away to a crushing victory in a new course record time of 1:00:59.

“I’d never seen the course,” said Reta, who didn’t even arrive in town to enter the race until Friday afternoon. “All I’d seen was a map.”

That proved to be more than enough.

Reta hit the finish line more than a minute ahead of runnerup McDonald Ondara (1:02:13) and his winning time shaved more than two minutes off Julius Kibet’s 2005 course record of 1:03:04.

The course was altered prior to the 2005 race due to road construction along the original layout.

Richard Kimeli was third in 1:03:18 while former Oak Glen High School star Josh Simpson was the first American and first local finisher, placing fourth in 1:04:37.

Jim Jurcevich of Columbus, Ohio was fifth in 1:05:57 with Wheeling’s Ricky Moore — the top American finisher each of the last two years — hitting the line sixth in 1:07:30.

“I’m really happy to finish fourth and be the first American at this year’s race,” said Simpson, a former high school All-American who is training to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials.

“Most of the time in conditions like this, the time I ran today would be pretty good. I figured 1:03 or 1:04 would be right there but those guys ran the first four miles in 19:40 going up that (29th Street) hill.

“They were so far ahead, I never saw them again. I think I ran by myself from the 5-mile mark on.”

Moore, who recently resumed a full training schedule after recovering from a Top 10 finish in the City of Los Angeles Marathon, said he got a different perspective of the race this year.

“Those guys took off and ran the first two miles in 9:30 so I just settled in and had a blast.

“I felt good and ran the second half of the race faster than the first half but this year I had time to enjoy the fans and soak in the atmosphere.

“I had so many people out there cheering for me. My family all got together and made T-shirts. I’d love to have been in top form for this race but it was still a great day.”

Two other local runners also cracked the top 10. West Liberty cross-country coach Colin Wine was eighth in 1:13:50 while New Martinsville’s Matt Quinet finished 10th in 1:16:46.

While Reta ran away with the men’s 20K crown, the women’s 20K run was a battle all the way to the tape.

Russia’s Tatiana Chulakh and Caroline Cheptanui of Kenya battled for the lead from start to finish before charging down 14th Street to the tape.

Chulakh won the sprint to the finish, stopping the clock at 1:13:29. Cheptanui was second in 1:13:30 while Maria Busienei — who had stayed with the frontrunners most of the way — settled for third place in 1:14:18.

Susan Graham-Gray of Greencastle, Pa. was the first American finisher and fifth overall in 1:19:48. Wheeling’s Becky Droginske finished 10th and was the first local finisher.

Tim Monfre of Butler, Pa. won the male Masters Division in 1:17:50 while the female Masters Division champion was Laura Nelson of Woodstock, Va. in 1:31:47.

The male Grand Masters champion was Terry McCluskey of Vienna, Ohio in 1:18:50. The female Grand Masters champion was Shelley Ralston of Uniontown, Pa. in 1:36:32.

Susan Randall of Beavercreek, Ohio won the women’s 20K walk in a time of 1:57:41. The men’s 20K walk winner was Don Slusser of Monroeville, Pa. in a time of 1:59:06.

Wheeling Park High School standout Ryan Beabout won the male 5K run in 15:48 while Wheeling Central cross-country coach Heather Wayt ran 19:12 to win the female 5K run.

Mouse Yoker of Barton, Ohio was the male 5K walk winner in 28:03 with Donna Graham of Lowell, Ohio taking home the female 5K walk crown in 31:45.