THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604280192
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Bart Sellers did not complain about the gloom and wind Saturday morning. Actually, he was ecstatic about the weather during the 18th annual Rally's Elizabeth River Run.
``This was great,'' the 33-year-old Virginia Beach resident said. ``It was nice and cool with a tail wind at your back that made it easier to run.''
The wind, instead of the forecasted rain, allowed Sellers to pull away from the competition for a winning time of 30 minutes, 41 seconds in the 10K (6.2-mile) race. Another Virginia Beach resident, Mike Harrison, finished second in 31.24.
``He made a smart move,'' Harrison said.
Sellers ran even with a trio of competitors for about 3 miles before assuming control near West Ghent.
``I didn't expect to win, but I just felt really good and everything was clicking,'' said Sellars, who works for NationsBank.
In the women's division, everything was clicking for Bee Andrews from the start.
Andrews, director of electronic publishing for InfiNet, led from start to finish to win in a time of 38:08.
``I felt good. I felt smooth,'' the 33-year-old Norfolk resident said. ``.
Jacinda Raiche of Norfolk was second to Andrews with a time of 38:44.
The race began at the Armed Forces Staff College and went down Hampton Avenue onto Brambleton Avenue. The finish line was at Boush and Main streets.
Harrison, who finished as the runner-up for the second time in three years, thought this could have been his year.
``I can't manage to pull it off,'' the 29-year-old construction worker said. ``Someone always manages to pull away at the halfway point.''
In the Masters division, Rick Platt of Williamsburg won in a time of 33:08. Michael Fuller of Chesapeake finished second in a time of 33:16.
For the women, Kathleen McAllister-Morgan of Windsor won in a time of 40:03. Dorothy Winn of Norfolk, the runner-up, was 27 seconds behind McAllister-Morgan.
Prior to the 10K event was the Little Lizzie Run, a race intended to draw younger runners. But along with the exercise came a reward for the school with the most entrants.
Sewells Point Elementary won a computer by having the most registrants (114). Ocean View and Bayview won $500 and $250 respectively in athletic equipment from Virginia Beach Sports for having the second- and third-most participants.
In the wheelchair race, Bill Latham of Newport News sped away to an unofficial winning time of 30:47.
``I thought it was a good day for it,'' said Latham, who competed in his fifth River Run. ``You couldn't ask for a better day.'' MEMO: Results of race are on page C10; see microfilm.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by BILL TIERNAN, The Virginian-Pilot
Bart Sellars of Virgina Beach (No. 316) leads the pack of runners as
they cross Lafayette River Bridge along Hampton Boulevard Saturday.
For the first half of the 10K Elizabeth River Run, Sellars ran with
a trio of runners before assuming control near West Ghent. ``I
didn't expect to win, but I just felt really good,'' he said after
the race.
Photos
Women's winner Bee Andrews of Norfolk got out early and led for the
entire race.
Doug Berry of Norfolk finds a quiet spot to relax before running the
race.
Kyle Ford helps Lisa Blessing stretch before the race, the first
Elizabeth River Run for the Virginia Beach residents.
by CNB