The runners take to the streets of Huntington

Saturday, September 12, 1998 -- Huntington
Healthy Heart 5K Run/Fun Walk & 1 Mile Fun Walk

[More Pictures] [Results]

What is a "Healthy Heart Event?" Well, of course it starts with a run and walk. The 5K race is actually held in conjunction with the St. Mary's free health fair. A variety of free screenings, from carpel tunnel to lung capacity, along with many other services, were provided for the public.

Chris Parsons clocked the fastest 5K in 16:17

The course took the racers on a fairly flat course through the streets of Huntington. The runners took to the streets at 9:00am, in the cool shade of a few trees, but it didn't take long for the road, and the race, heat up. It quickly became a race between coaches Chris Parsons, Cabell-Midland High School track and cross-country Coach, and David Letendre, Assistant track coach at Moorehead State University in Kentucky.

Parsons and Letendre ran together for the first mile and built a lead on the rest of the field. Around the mile and a half mark, Parsons decided to surge, and Letendre did not follow. Once a solid lead had been established, Parsons continued to push hard to ensure he would maintain the advantage. He crossed the line first with a time of 16:17, averaging 5:15 per mile. It took Letendre another 22 seconds to find the finish line at 16:39.

Nine-year-old Jarod Stouffer concentrates on a 14 and Under first place finish

On the women's side, another coach was running a very impressive race. Susan McGhie, former All American and former Asst. Coach at Marshall, who is now an Assistant with the basketball program, ran her own race to finish in a time of 18:15. Her average of 5:53 per mile was good enough for 4th overall as well as 1st female.

In the battle for the fastest master's (40 and over) runner, Greg Bridgewater (18:21, 5th overall) took the win over Daryl Kinch (19:29, 8th overall) by almost a minute. Likewise, the fastest female masters was won by Mindy Patrick (23:03), over a minute ahead of second place Jean Fry (24:12). But Patrick did have the advantage of having legs that were 14-years younger.

Casey Robinson runs past Huntington Police Reserve Sgt. Ermal Lam, in Car 54

There were plenty more great finishes and everyone enjoyed a morning celebration of a healthy heart. Thanks go our to all the sponsors: St. Mary's Regional Heart Center, Ultimate Health Services, Huntington YMCA, Greater Huntington Park & Recreation District, Cabell Huntington Hospital, Pleasant Valley Hospital, Boehringer-Mannheim, Cellular One and the West Virginia American Water Company. Many more thanks go our to the all the volunteers and the tireless efforts of the 1998 Healthy Heart Event Planning Committee: Rick Abel, Linda Black, Patti Casto, Kim Chinn, Kathy Cosco, Chip Evans, Janice Glenn, Brenda Hawthorne, Jeff Hiflin, Fred Herr, Binnie Howard, Connie Keyser, Chris Martin, Tom Nash, Julia Noland, Tom Plummer, Jane Sanders, Jeanie Shato, Linda Stover, Jack Taylor, Vickie Taylor, Jane Whaley and Mona Wilson.