The Starting Lineup: Coordinating News and Sentinel Half Marathon keeps Leaman on the move
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PARKERSBURG -- Jacqualin Leaman has been an intern at The Parkersburg News and Sentinel since the summer of 2020 as the Half Marathon and Two-Mile Races coordinator.
But the Leaman legacy with the races started more than three years ago.
Joe, Leaman's father, has been involved with the race by helping out within the Cool Zone Tent. Lauren, Leaman's sister, also was involved with the race as the 2019 race coordinator.
Leaman previously volunteered with the Tiny Tot Trot, water stops and the Cool Zone. She never participated in the actual race due to her involvement with soccer and they always had a game the day of the race.
"My previous intern just ghosted me," Art Smith, the half marathon's co-director, said about how Leaman became the race coordinator. "Joe was in here and told me about Jacqualin. This is actually the second intern with siblings that have come before them. But it's been a long time since it's been a family affair."
Leaman had to hit the track running.
"Everything was so behind and it was already June," Leaman said about her first days working on the race. "T-shirts were needed and there was already a national T-shirt shortage during the pandemic. The race coordinator has hundreds of tasks, from the T-shirts, medals and trophies to registration, sponsorships and setting up for the day of."
Lauren originated the Why I Run segment on the Half Marathon's website and now Jacqualin is trying to kick start it back up again. She also runs the registration as well as any questions that come through on the website.
The website's Let's Go!!! blogs also are run by Leaman with articles about topics including what to wear, how to get involved, support systems, shortages during the pandemic and how to stay hydrated during the race.
"It's actually more stressful with family involved," Leaman said about her and her family's involvement with the races. "But it is also really helpful because they have connections to certain people. They also help come up with sponsors and ideas for the races."
Although Leaman is not a runner, she does enjoy going to the gym and says she plans on walking in the Two-Mile Race this year. She graduated from Parkersburg High School last year and was on the track-and-field team where she competed in the shot put, javelin, discus and hammer. She is continuing her track-and-field career at West Virginia Wesleyan.
"I'm not a runner, which is hard when I have questions from runners for the races or when I'm writing for the blog," Leaman says. "But my sister has been helpful when I ask her about certain race scenarios. My sister and father are running their race this year for my uncle who was a huge runner and lost his battle with cancer last year in September."
Leaman also had advice to anyone who might want to become a race coordinator like her.
"Younger people are sometimes intimidated, but you've got to be open to constructive criticism," she said. "Don't be afraid to voice your opinion and be open to new ideas."
Gretchen Dowler can be reached at gdowler@newsandsentinel.com.