PARKERSBURG - Parkersburg High School junior Madison Trippett ran her first Parkersburg News & Sentinel Two-Mile Race when she was 10.
On Saturday morning, the 16-year-old finally experienced the feeling of crossing the finish line first with a time of 11:22 - almost 40 seconds faster than last year and 15 seconds faster than Madison Sury's top time from 2017.
"This is a real confidence boost," said Trippett, who is one of the state's top high school long-distance runners. "This race has become a part of my routine."
Article Photos
Photo by Jeff Baughan
Madison Trippett crosses the finish line as the two-mile run women’s champion at the Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon Saturday.
Trippett said she has been close in the past, but couldn't hold onto the lead. This year was different.
"Last year, I was in the lead through the first mile, but I got passed up and couldn't get back in front," she said. "This time, when I got past 1 miles and I didn't see anyone pushing me, I knew I had it and I wasn't going to back off at all."
Despite cloudy skies and a temperature around 72 degrees, the conditions were not ideal.
"The air was heavy and you could feel it as you were breathing," Trippett said.
The feel and context of the race have changed a bit for Trippett over the years.
"As a 10-year-old, this race seemed so huge and that I'd never run in front of this many people again," she said. "As I've gotten older, the race seems smaller and not as overwhelming."
But the Parkersburg native loved winning the race in front of friends and family. Her father, Kevin, won the Male Master 40-49 group in the two-mile run with a time of 12:46, while her mother Deborah was in the crowd.
"It is special to win in our town with all of these people here cheering us on in downtown," she said. "My family is here, and my teammates are here, and a lot of people that I know."
Coming in second was Jessica Cantrell of Singers Glen, Va., with a time of 12:06, closely followed by Olivia Collett of Parkersburg in 12:07.
Rounding out the top 10 was seven Parkersburg natives: Abigail Herring (13:16), Payton Harvey (13:26), Shannon Ruble (13:36), Emily Cunningham (13:49), Ava Barton (13:52), Allie Felker (13:59) and Erin Schumacher (14:03).
Harvey was the top finisher in the 10-14 female group. Shelly Kirk of Winfield came in at 15:30 to claim both the Female Grand Master 40-49 and the 45-49 age group, while Anna Vanderlaan of Ravenswood had a time of 15:43 to claim the Female Grand Master 50-59 and the 50-54 group. Kathy Barton of Greenville, Ohio, won the Female Grand Master 60+ and the 60-64 group with a time of 18:06.
Other group winners from the 283 women were: Jalyn Eddy of Parkersburg in 18:27 (1-9); Jennifer Parsons of Parkersburg in 14:21 (20-24); Jennifer Huber of Parkersburg in 16:27 (25-29); Jessica Brewer of Vienna in 17:19 (30-34); Shelene Shrewsbury of Mineral Wells in 16:17 (35-39); Elizabeth Marks of Washington in 17:00 (40-44); Rosie Courtney of Poquonock, Conn., in 18:22 (55-59); Barbara Jackson of Charleston in 21:35 (65-69); and Peggy Grimm of Marietta in 23:08 (70+).