Stewart, Murdock top 5K walk
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WHEELING - Both Dan Stewart and Kelly Murdock were the first male and female, respectively, to break the tape in the 5K Twin Pops Walk for Health presented by Ziegenfelder Saturday morning at the Ogden Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine.
Stewart clocked in at 32 minutes, 58 seconds, which was more than two minutes ahead of second-place Bob Galbreath of Triadelphia who finished in 35:29.
"That was a personal best for me," said Stewart, who grew up in Youngstown but has called the Ohio Valley home the last 12 years. "I walked here last year but I wasn't as fast. I think I may have finished in the top five.
"I want to thank all the fast walkers for entering the half marathon and opening up the 5K for me."
Stewart said the conditions were ideal.
"You couldn't ask for better weather. The sun was shining and it was a great day to take part in an event like this," he added.
The third place finisher was Robert Typek, of Aliquippa, Pa. His time was 36:40.
Murdock is no stranger to the winner's circle as she was timed in 32:58.
"I actually came here last year and got the overall walk winner, so I thought I would come back and try and defend my title," Murdock, of Washington, Pennsyvania, said. "I went to Trinity High School where I ran cross country and indoor and outdoor track.
"After I graduated I did some 5Ks. I usually run a lot during the week."
She said the conditions were vastly improved from a year ago.
"Last year it was rainy and cloudy," she recalled. "Today it was sunny with a cool breeze."
She also wanted to thank God for her good health."
Katherine Ervin, of Norwich, Ohio, finished second in 33:05. Wheeling's Heidi Ferns took third in 35:15.