ON THE COURSE – Runners and walkers of all ages set off on the course around Marland Heights Friday night for the 29th-annual Marland Heights 5K, organized by the Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — The Marland Heights 5K Classic has, for years, been about community and tradition.

That remained true Friday as an estimated 100 runners and walkers of all ages stepped up to the starting line for the 29th-annual race, which features a course winding through the Marland Heights neighborhood of Weirton.

“We are proud of the legacy this race has,” said Coty Shingle, executive director of Weirton Parks.

The race is organized each year through the auspices of the Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation, and Shingle relayed some of its history, explaining it began as a 10K race before going on hiatus for several years.

After being reinvigorated, it has run strongly for almost three decades, Shingle noted, attracting generations of area residents.

“Its legacy is proof of it being so special to the community,” he said, calling it a showcase of Marland Heights, and, in many ways, the community as a whole.

Each year, the event features a series of races, with local youngsters taking part in a series of youth fun runs, and then the namesake 5K race and a two-mile fitness walk starting and ending at Marland Heights Park.

Shingle and Parks Program Director Chris Krishak, offered their appreciation to supporters of this year’s race, including Marc Harris, who has helped to plot the course for many years, along with the Weirton Police Department and Weirton Fire Department, the Hancock County Aux Comm Team, the Weir High Swim Team and numerous other volunteers.

Major sponsors for this year’s race were Tomtreyco Inc. McDonald’s and Starvaggi Industries.

Sponsors for the youth run and fitness walk included Tri-State Pharmacy, the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Steel and Wolfe Funeral Home, Iannetti’s Garden Center, WVU Medicine-Weirton Medical Center, First Choice America Federal Credit Union, FOP Lodge 84 and Weirton Firefighters IAFF Local 948.

Additional support was provided by community sponsors Hancock County Savings Bank, Serra Village Retirement Community, the Law Office of David A. Mascio, Wine and Beverage Merchants of West Virginia, Weirton Lumber Co., Blakemore Insurance, City of Weirton Police and Fire, WesBanco, Marland Heights Civic Association, Studio L, Gus’s Goodies, Huntington Bank, Graphics in Print, Weirton Shop ‘n Save, Riesbeck’s Food Market, DeFelice Bros. Pizza and Mario’s Restaurant.

Race timing was provided by GCXC Race Timing of Canfield, Ohio, which has the race’s results posted on its website at www.gcxcracing.com.