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Gates tops Rettenberger for 2-mile title

By Jay W. Bennett 3 min read

PARKERSBURG -- Warren High School senior Luke Rettenberger was eyeing a repeat here during Saturday's 2-mile News and Sentinel run, but an ex-Golden Eagle from Belpre had other ideas.

Breydon Gates, a former standout at Shawnee State University who placed eighth last year in the News and Sentinel Half Marathon, was the first runner to cross the finish line and the only one to break the 10-minute barrier.

"I haven't done this, 15 years ago maybe, probably like 2010 or 2011 was the last time I did it," recalled Gates of being in the 2-mile where he clocked in with a victorious time of 9 minutes and 56 seconds, which was 19 ticks faster than Rettenberger.

"I was in college so I didn't race. I've done the half every year, but I think I'm doing a half marathon next weekend so I still wanted to come down (from Columbus) and race."

Gates, who works for the software company Questline Digital, was proudly wearing his Ohio Valley Running Company shirt.

"I like coming back here and racing so I was like 'well, I don't want to do two half's in a row,' so I thought the 2-mile would be fun. It was a tough race for me last year. I think the weather was about like today. It was just a rough one."

Parkersburg South's Gatlin McLain (10:16), Williamstown graduate Jimmy Erlandson (10:27) and current Yellowjacket Gavin Wilburn (10:27) comprised the top five.

"It's alright. I'm not mad about it," Rettenberger admitted. "I was coming off a really higher mileage week so not a whole lot of speed going on. Trying something different for the start of this year, so I'm not surprised.

"I think today went good for what it was. Of course, I'd like to win like everybody does. This doesn't define how my season is going to go. It is August. I'm happy to get out and run fast. Looking forward to senior year. I got some big goals I want to accomplish."

At least for a little while, Gates forgot what it was like to run against youthful competitors.

"These younger kids, they got a little bit more foot speed than I do right now," he said.

"Getting off the line I was like 10th or something. I forgot high school kids just sprint. That was fun. Good race."

Rounding out the top 10 finishers were Williamstown's Chase Pickering (10:58), Caldwell's Zane Boyd (11:02), Warren's Alex Bishop (11:09), Cedarville, Ohio's Owen Cole (11:17) and Parkersburg South's Joshua Eddy (11:23).

"My mom, my grandparents, my stepdad, sister, brother-in-law and my nephew," Gates replied when asked about his cheering section near the finish line on Market Street.

"I stayed with my mom and stepdad in Belpre. All of them live within like a block of each other. Typical Belpre."

The former Golden Eagle was rather impressed with his competition, but plans to be back in the fold next year for the half marathon.

"They went out out hard," Gates added. "I had quarter mile splits on my watch and we went through the first quarter mile in like 1:08 and then stayed the same for the next quarter mile.

"We were through a half a mile in 2:16 and I was like 'man, it's a flat course it should be pretty easy' and I forgot you go up by Julianna. It got kind of tough like back through there, but once you get on Market it's just straight downhill."

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