Butler graduate Marilyn Gregory, rear, hands off the baton during a relay race at a USATF Masters competition in Baton Rouge, La. Gregory has been involved in Masters running for approximately six years.

TWIN ROCKS — Twice in her life, Marilyn Gregory turned to running.

It's worked out for her both times.

The 1993 Butler graduate recalled being involved in gymnastics as a young girl growing up in the district.

“Paul Uram was coaching gymnastics at the time and he used to pick me up from school when I was a sixth-grader to come work out with the high school girls,” Gregory said.

“I was really into gymnastics. Then, just like that, the program was gone.”

When high school gymnastics disappeared, Gregory turned to running “to burn up all my pent-up energy.”

She ran for the 1992 Butler High School team that won the WPIAL title. She was part of a 4x400 meter relay team that set a school record.

Gregory went on to Slippery Rock University, where she became part of a school-record 4x400 relay unit there. She also ran for the SRU cross country team that won the Western regional in 1995 and was ranked seventh in all of NCAA Division II.

“I graduated from college, life happens ... I got away from running,” Gregory said. “I didn't get back into it until I was about 35 years old. I wanted to get back in shape a little bit.”

She's still running.

She's still winning.

Now 43, Gregory competes in one or two USATrack and Field Masters events every year. She's been part of the TNT International Running Team, based out of Philadelphia, since 2014.

To learn more about Marilyn Gregory, read Thursday's Butler Eagle.