Wheeling, WV --

Road racing veteran Ed Tullius forgot to pack his running shorts, but that didn’t stop him from winning the Ninth Annual Auggie’s 5K Run & Walk, which was run in ideal weather on Wheeling’s Heritage Trail in Warwood. Wearing cutoff jeans, which one observer termed “OverArmour,” Ed blew away the field in 17:49 and won the race for the fourth time. “I almost didn’t run (the race),” he laughed, acknowledging that his cutoffs were not his usual running apparel.

St. Clairsville’s Mitch Tranovich took second place honors in 18:48, while Lew McGrath placed third in 19:00. 

Heather Wayt, wearing more traditional running attire, easily won the female race, finishing ninth overall with a time of 19:35. Diane Basich (22:14) out-legged Holly Fillipovich (22:49) for second place in the race, which benefits the programming of the Ohio County Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Wheeling’s Tony Purpura repeated as male walk champion by taking nearly a minute off his time in 28:33. As last year, Jerry Goodwin (31:33) and David Workman (32:20) placed second and third respectively.

A new female walking champion was crowned when Sherri Alig completed the out-and-back course in 34:03. Annette Vingia wasn’t far behind with a time of 35:52, while Terre Brubaker crossed the finish line on Viking Drive in front of Warwood Middle School in 36:10.

Among the more than 180 entrants of the race, which was presented by the Ohio Valley Runners’ & Walkers’ Club, were members of the Wheeling Central Catholic High School’s boys’ basketball team.