PARKERSBURG - The women's field is set for the 24th running of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon.
It does not include one runner who finished among the top five in last year's race, but that does not concern race director Chip Allman as he prepares to kick off the race at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
"In the five years that I have chaired the committee, this is the best field I have seen," said Allman. "I ended up taking about 10 more elite runners than I wanted to take, but they had some very impressive credentials and it should lead to a very exciting race."
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For the first time since 2006 a Kenyan runner will not be the favorite among the female entries when the 24th annual The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon begins at 8 a.m. Saturday. Ethiopian Mare Dibaba comes to Parkersburg for the first time with a personal best time of 1:07:13.
American Libbie Hickman still holds the course mark of 1 hour, 11 minutes and 1 second when the Fort Collins, Colorado-native crossed the Market Street finish line ahead of the pack in the 2000 race.
Ethiopian standout Mare Dibaba could challenge that mark as the 20-year old has posted a personal best of 1 hour, 7 minutes and 13 seconds at the 2010 RAK Half Marathon-an Ethiopian National Record-and made her professional debut by posting a third place effort at the Rome Marathon in a time of 2 hours, 25 minutes and 38 seconds.
"Her (Dibaba) agent has always brought us some very talented runners," continued Allman. "I would have to believe that the race is going to come down to her and (Buzunesh) Deba."
The 22-year old Deba, also from Ethiopia, has posted a personal best 1 hour and 12 minutes in the 13.1-mile distance.
Others expected to make a run at the Road Runners Club of America National Championship will be 26-year old Russian Ludmila Stepanova, who has posted a personal best 1:14 in the half marathon, 29-year old Everlyne Lagat from Kenya and 28-year old Ethiopian Yihunilish Bekele.
Bekele has run a personal best 2:35:57 in the marathon while Lagat posted a 1:12:25 in a half marathon in Philadelphia in 2009.
Also look for 24-year old Ethiopian Aziza Aliyu (1:12.27) to be in the hunt for a Top 5 finish.
Making the field even more interesting in 2010 will be the addition of an extremely strong, and talented, group of runners in red, white and blue.
"Our American field is as strong as I've ever seen it," continued the director. "Whether or not it is strong enough to run with the Kenyans, Ethiopians and Russians is yet to be seen, but it could be interesting to watch."
Headlining the group is former-Doddridge County High School all-state performer and 6-time All-American at West Virginia University Clara Grandt. The 23-year old runner is coming off of an impressive victory at the West Virginia 10K Championship in Clarksburg, but will be running in her first half marathon on Saturday.
Joining her will be Strongsville, Ohio-twins Tara and Kara Storage, 21-year old Molly Pritz and 34-year old Melissa Rittenhouse from Harrisonburg, Va., and 26-year old Becki Ordway. Tara Storage has run a personal best of 1 hour, 12 minutes and 47 seconds while Pritz' best time at the 13.1-mile distance is 1:15.
Looking to repeat her title as Grand Masters Champion will be 52-year old Lee Dipietro while 45-year old Tammy Slusser will look to better her second place effort in the Masters Division a year ago.
While attaining the title of RRCA National Champion, the first place runner also will take home the $3,000 first place prize. Second place receives $2,000 while third gets $1,500, fourth $1,000 and fifth $500.
The first American runner, as well as the Masters and Grandmasters Champions, will receive $1,000 purses. Second place in each division receives $500 while the third American to cross the finish line will get $300.