CLARKSBURG -- Both finished their last year of collegiate competition but their competitive fires were still lit during the Greater Clarksburg 10K on Saturday.
Charleston's Dave McCollam, a recent graduate from Alderson-Broaddus, and Bridgeport's Tracy Hoare, a recent graduate from Liberty University, captured the West Virginia 10K state crowns.
McCollam, running his third Clarksburg 10K, held off a strong West Virginia field, including Wheeling's Ricky Moore, Hurricane's Kevin Williams, Parkersburg's Tony Basta, West Union's Daniel Edgell and Fayetteville's Larry Taylor.
McCollam, a four-year standout in A-B's successful cross country program, finished with a time of 31:54, 25th overall.
"It's helps to have guys to run with and push you, it helps a lot," McCollam said. "You're not out there physically by yourself.
"And our team support is great. Someone is always there to pick you up."
Moore finished second with a 32:42, while Williams, a former West Virginia Wesleyan standout the first cousin of the Memphis Grizzlies' Jason Williams, was third (33:26). Basta (34:11), Edgell (34:14) and Taylor (34:38) round out the top five.
Hoare edged former West Virginia Wesleyan cross country standout Sara Walker by 16 seconds for the women's title. Hoare finished with a time of 40:07, while Walker finished with a time of 40:23.
Hoare, who did not start running until college, said she's come a long way.
"I started out running 5Ks and then this past year I started training for the 10K," she said. "I've really enjoyed it because the longer the race the better for me."
For Walker, it was her first career 10K.
"I didn't know what I could run, but I was pleased with that," Walker said. "(Hoare) and me were working together the whole race but she got me in the end."
Walker was also a track standout at Wesleyan.
"My best event was the 1,500 and I was even better at track than cross country," Walker said. "So a 10K is kind of stretching it for me."
Clarksburg's Hilarion Cann (41:13) finished third, while Hurricane's Roxane Carte (42:34) and Connie Young (43:22) rounded out the top five.
Assistant sports editor Danny Carpenter can be reached at 626-1444 or by e-mail at dcarpenter@exponent-telegram.com.