Submitted photo Runners competing in the Blackwater Canyon Half Marathon take off from the starting line of Saturday’s race.

PARSONS — Ian Voysey and Rachel Snyder earned top honors at the fifth annual Blackwater Canyon Half Marathon Saturday in the mountains of Tucker County.

The 13.1-mile race was held in the Blackwater Canyon and on the Allegheny Highlands Trail. The start of the marathon began at the Rail Trail in Thomas and concluded at the finish line in Parsons. 

“The Highlands Trail Foundation is sincerely grateful for the support of sponsors and property owners who make this event possible,” Highlands Trail Foundation President Karen Carper told The Inter-Mountain.

“We also appreciate the volunteers who gave their time to help with race day tasks. We couldn’t do it without them. Many thanks to all who pitched in.”

All proceeds from the event support the Highland Trail Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to trail development in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia.   

The race was a true trail competition, as close to 5 1/2 miles of the course is in the proposed Blackwater Trail area.

Voysey, who is from Pittsburgh, was the overall best finisher and the top competitor on the men’s side, finishing the race in 20:02.6. 

Devan Evanocitch (Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, 22:37.4) was second in the men’s race and Sean Flanagan (Morgantown, 24:30.6) third. Flanagan was the overall race winner in 2022.

Rachel Snyder, who hails from Reston, Virginia, won the women’s race with a time of 36:40.6. She finished 11th overall and was followed by Ami Bryant (Terra Alta, 40:29.4) and Kathy Price-Jones (Arlington, Virginia, 40:56.5).

A record 200 competitors raced in this year’s event and a solid number of local runners fared well. In the men’s 20-29 age competition, Scott Nesland of Belington placed second and Matthew Kish of Davis was ninth. Cadie Phillips of Coalton was 10th in the women’s 20-29 age group.

In the 30-39 age group, Elkins’ Colin Henning (ninth) and Nick Channell (13th) finished strong, as did Andrea Dinneen (fourth) and Kathryn Allred (12th). Montrose’s Emily Medlock was 13th in the same group.

Elkins’ Jennifer Lipscomb (10th) and David Oldaker (12th) of Kerens had strong showings in the 40-49 age group. Elkins’ Rebecca Schoonover (third) and Hambleton’s Ann Wendel (10th) both shined in the 50-59 age competition.

Randy Young of Hambleton placed third in the 60-69 age group, while Bob Hammer was 13th in the same group.

Locally made and sourced products and prizes were handed out to the winners. The top male and female finishers received handmade baskets with the race logo burned into the wood base.

Mugs by MUD Ceramics of Thomas were awarded to the top three finishers in seven age categories. 

Registration for next year’s race will begin at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2024 at runsignup.com.

For more information on the Highlands Trail Foundation, visit highlandstrailwv.org.