MORGANTOWN — Bryan Morseman is now a dynasty in running shoes.
The 33-year-old runner from Bath, N.Y., on Sunday three-peated as champion of the WVU Medicine Morgantown Marathon.
He conquered the 26.2-mile course in 2:33:27, which was just a touch off last year’s mark of 2:32:36, a course record.
“I know the course,” he said at the finish line in the WVU Coliseum parking lot, “so I was pretty much able to just let it fly.”
Morseman got out early and led throughout. “That’s just pretty much how I like to work it,” he said.
Orinthal Striggles and Julio Palma had the second- and third-best men’s times at 3:02:18 and 3:05:11.
“This is a tough one,” Morseman said. “And when you’re keeping that speed, those hills are gonna beat you up.”
Kate Hails, 30, of Pittsburgh won the women’s crown with a showing of 3:04:54.
“I was able to anticipate a lot of the hills and curves since I’ve been here before,” said Hails.
“At least I knew what was coming,” said Hails, who like Morseman, quickly separated from the pack.
Shannon Shrewsberry was the women’s runner-up at 3:37:16. The 3:54:11 time turned in by Nikki Boyles took third.
Hails attributed her success to discipline and geography.
“I’m always running in Pittsburgh,” she said. “It’s the same terrain.”
Race director Jamie Summerlin said he liked the demographic terrain of old faces and new among the competitors. More than 1,000 runners turned out for the three races — an 8K walk/run and half-marathon — that were on the bill.
All proceeds will go to Operation Welcome Home, a Mylan Park nonprofit that helps soldiers returning from war zones.
Summerlin, a veteran of the U.S. Marines who ran across the country in 2012 to raise money and awareness for the people in need who once wore the uniform, is a former CEO of that organization.
On Sunday, he was on duty as the Marathon’s race director.
He came up with the course that showcases Morgantown’s neighborhoods and sometimes tricky terrain.
“We wanted to challenge people,” he said. “I appreciate our runners and our sponsors who took that challenge.”
Bill Way and Purity Munene were the overall men’s and women’s winners in the half-marathon. Wes McKinney and Kalyn Christopher took the same in the 8K.
Morseman said he wasn’t going to put pressure on himself next year.
“I’ll come back down and we’ll see what happens.”
Tweet @DominionPostWV. Email jbissett@dominionpost.com.
