May is awards month at area high schools. And Butler Road Race, Inc. is proud to announce this year’s scholarship award recipients, 41 seniors who have run for their high school cross country teams for at least two years.

In the past 23 years, Butler Road Race, sponsored by Butler Health System, has awarded 741 scholarships totaling nearly $390,000 to student-athletes from eight Butler County schools. Schools include Freeport, Butler, Knoch, Seneca Valley, Moniteau, Slippery Rock, Mars and Karns City.

Scholarship awards vary annually depending on the number of qualified applicants and the total funds raised by the previous year’s Butler Road Race.

To receive a Butler Road Race scholarship, students must participate in high school cross country for at least two years, one of which being their senior year. They must also maintain a 3.0 grade point average, be recommended by their coach and write an essay on “What running means to me.”

All qualified applicants earn scholarship money, but the top male and female candidates as judged by the 16 Butler Road Race, Inc. Board of Directors earn a special award.

This year, 39 students earned $400 each while students Michael Kolor of Seneca Valley and Natalie Dell of Freeport earned top honors and $750 each for their efforts. Michael, who is graduating first in his class at Seneca Valley, plans to run for Harvard University in the fall. Natalie hasn’t made a final decision, but has her college choices narrowed to two.

Mike Franko, Butler Road Race, Inc. board president, encourages all Butler County runners to support Butler Road Race, “the longest consecutively held road race in western PA.” The board would like to give each athlete at least $500, but the amount dispersed depends on sponsorships and race participation.

Franko says that weather last year kept some runners and walkers home.

“We kept in touch with first responders and an eye on the National Weather Service,” Franko said. “In the end, we got the run in even with the steady downpour.”

Franko promises a gorgeous day on June 25 for this year’s five mile and 2k race. But runners may face adverse conditions of a completely different nature. Butler’s Main Street is due to be paved somewhere between May 19 and July 27. Franko says that the mayor has promised that at least two lanes of the street will be open for runners on race day.

Butler Road Race strives to offer participants reasons to return each year. The event offers more than 130 competitive awards in both the 5 mile and 2k distances with an additional masters competition in the 5 mile race. This year, new Awards Podium Sponsor Robert Stephens Jewelers of Butler will give dress watches valued at $345 to the top overall male and female finishers in both races and top masters in the 5 mile.

The road race, especially the beginner friendly 2k distance, has become increasingly popular with families and young children. For the first time, the event offers its commemorative t-shirts in youth sizes (small-large.) Because the decision was made after applications were sent to print, those signing up with printed applications are asked to amend the form to request kids sizes.

Print applications are now available at various locations about town or you may download a form from butlerroadrace.org. You may also register online through this Butler Road Race website. For additional information or questions, phone 724-284-4676 or email brrmail@butlerroadrace.org

Upcoming events

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Jumping for Java 5k, Zelienople. www.jumpimgforjava.com, 724-683-8638 or kellymarie@lanvwa.org

Saturday, 9:30 a.m.: 5k in the Forest Run/Walk, Tionesta. Also kids 50 yd. and 100 yd. runs at 8:30 A.M. 814-755-3302 or jcarll@forestareaschools.org

Saturday, 6:30 a.m.: Glacier Ridge Trail Ultra 10k, 50k, 50 Mile or 50 Mile Relay, Moraine and McConnell’s Mills State Park. 724-344-9410 or bfargo100@gmail.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Meet – U in 5 Mile and Half Marathon, Titusville. meetunit@gmail.com

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Girls on the Run 5k, Hartwood Acres. 412-641-1596 or mcolaizzi@magee.edu

May 21, 9 a.m.: Mars Band on the Run 10k and 5k, Mars. Also kids fun run. Gender-specific shirts, pre-race packet pickup May 20 at Up-N-Running Specialty Store. Register online at race360.com/18202 or racedirector@marsband.com

Leslie Sparano Summerfest Sweat 5k, Sharpsville. Out and back through scenic Mahaney Recreation Area. Fpm.colucci@gmail.com

May 21, 9 a.m.: Charlotte’s 5k Run XXVII, Monaca. Flat and fast course, fun walk, post race party. 724-312-0914 or xandres@comcast.net

May 22, 8 a.m.: Mighty Moraine Spring Sprint Triathlon, Moraine State Park. www.moraineman.com

May 30, 8 a.m.: Memorial Day Human Race 5k, Meadville. www.ernsttrail.org or mfinton@zoominternet.net

June 4, 7 a.m.: God’s Country Marathon, Half Marathon and Team Relay, Galeton. Challenging point to point course. 814-274-3365 or www.godscountrymarathon.com

June 4, 8:30 a.m.: Izzie’s Dash for Organ Donation 5k and Family Fun Walk, Cranberry Township. Also family and kids activities. 724-591-6009 or www.izziesgifts.org

June 4, 9 a.m.: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital 5k, Grove City. 724-372-9598 or editor@publishingteam.com

June 11, 5:30 a.m.: Laurel Highlands Ultra Challenge, Ohiopyle State Park. Rugged point to point course on Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. Choice of 50k, 50k relay, 70.5 miles or 70.5 mile relay. 412-337-6820 or rick.freeman1@verizon.net

June 12, 8 a.m.: 2nd Annual Butler County Habitat for Humanity Youth Triathlon, Cranberry Township. Held in North Boundary Park. 724-321-4265 or joella@zoominternet.net

June 18, 8:30 a.m.: Greater Clarksburg 10k and 2k, Clarksburg, WV. 304-672-3637 or www.greater_clarksburg10k.org

June 25, 9 a.m.: Butler Road Race, Butler. Choice of 5 miles or 2k. 724-284-4676 or butlerroadrace@butlerhealthsystem.org

Race results

Pittsburgh Marathon, May 1: Kipkoech Ruto, 1st Verall M, 2:17:26; Hailemaryam Dakebo, 1st Overall W, 2:39:17; Jed Christiansen, 9th Overall M, 2:24:21; Stacy Kopchak, 2nd 50-54 W, 3:26:37; Lindsey Laurune, 3rd 19 and Under W, 3:29:20; Heather Melzer, 1st 45-49 W, 3:32:01; Val Wolfarth, 2nd 55-59 W, 3:43:01; Travis Arrigoni, 2:56:59; Rick Hinman, 3:02:03; Jason Sittler, 3:07:23; Jeffrey Sved, 3:11:29; Zach Manuel, 3:11:48; Wayne McCracken, 3:20:32; Stephen Zombek, 3:20:54; Trent Wilson, 3:22:15; Mike Bellack, 3:25:50; Roger Lutz, 3:30:04; Shaun Hodierne, 3:31:05; Kimberly Hohman, 3:31:21; Eric Peterson, 3:32:29; Bradley Schmitt, 3:33:40; Timothy Spang, 3:34:13; Jim Csonka, 3:34:14; Michael Braunstein, 3:36:24; Paul Pesanka, 3:37:58; Bob Pudlo, 3:40:43; Jessica Uhrin, 3:43:27; Lori Fromlak, 3:44:21; Brian Kile, 3:44:32; Caleb Rauscher, 3:45:42; Timothy Karls, 3:47:27; Alex Prizzi, 3:47:36; John Armstrong, 3:48:32; Steven Nichols, 3:48:41; Jeff Taylor, 3:49:24; Jeffrey Ward, 3:49:25; Clint Kuskie, 3:49:40; Edna Spang, 3:50:04; Kyle Lacey, 3:50:32; Ian Steward, 3:50:55; Kaitlin Turnley, 3:51:15; Salina Smialek, 3:51:36; Maggie Hutchison, 3:53:04; Jeff Leya, 3:54:30; Justin Donahue, 3:55:07; Kristene Smith, 3:55:23; Jared Kolwyck, 3:55:37; Kristen Moscipan, 3:59:20; Jocelyn Johnston, 3:59:34; Chris Romito, 3:59:48; Brittaney Lucas, 3:59:50; Kelly Skwortz, 3:59:51; James Franks, 4:00:02; Eric Domitrovic, 4:00:06; Michael Parzuchowski, 4:01:24; Joseph Beilstein, 4:01:49; Evonne Patterson, 4:03:04; Harry Peterson, 4:03:57; Joseph Poerio, 4:04:26; Andrew Williams, 4:04:35; Katelyn Jones, 4:05:22; Gabrielle Hock, 4:05:28; Stephen Mihalacki, 4:05:55; Mark Casteel, 4:05:57; Erin Humphrey, 4:06:04; Enrique Garcia, 4:06:25; Carolyn Lees-Hotton, 4:07:07; Chuck Sarver, 4:08:07; Eric Rudish, 4:08:14; Evan Standish, 4:10:30; Vincent Trigilli, 4:11:03; Bryan Kirsten, 4:11:28; Genifer Scaletta, 4:13:00; Tena Pettit, 4:13:05; Duke Donnelly, 4:13:27; Thomas Lynch, 4:13:57; Ryan Patrick, 4:15:56; Kara Attleson, 4:16:10; Brian Magness, 4:16:13; Earlene Allshouse, 4:16:57; Lisa Poepoe, 4:16:58; January Scheidlmeier, 4:16:58; Michael Fitzgerald, 4:17:37; Adrian O’Hara, 4:18:43; Philip O’Hara, 4:18:43; Nellie Zuba, 4:18:46; Colleen Whalen, 4:18:55; Cole Shirey, 4:18:59; Justin Angert, 4:19:26; Kenny McGee, 4:19:50; Sara McGee, 4:19:50; Nick Kijowski, 4:21:33; Matthew Opdyke, 4:21:54; Erin Donahue, 4:22:53; Katelyn Conn, 4:23:04; Jennifer Meneely, 4:23:12; Rebecca Smith, 4:23:29; Wendy Wick, 4:24:48; Brian McCafferty, 4:25:33; Patrick McCurdy, 4:26:24; Debbie Courtney, 4:26:53; Bethany Patterson, 4:28:05; John Bumpus, 4:28:11; Jamie Gramz, 4:28:22; Greg Cox, 4:28:26; Kathleen Filiaggi, 4:28:43; James Hodgson, 4:28:47; Laura Seitz, 4:28:55; Josh Seitz, 4:29:22; Katherine Colton, 4:31:22; Garrett Nogan, 4:31:59; Eamonn Clements, 4:32:06; Scott Ortsey, 4:33:42; Gabriel Alejandro, 4:35:07; Eric Fencil, 4:36:05; James Gascoine, 4:36:19; Steven Day, 4:37:06; Seth Eismann, 4:37:21; Gabriel Paredes, 4:42:39; Alison Zambelli, 4:44:31; Morganna Midgley, 4:45:42; Renee Simons, 4:45:45; Nicole Foster, 4:46:49; Jessica Canonge, 4:47:48; Rob Porco, 4:48:26; Abhijit Dixit, 4:49:40; Scott Gabriel, 4:50:02; Suzanne Leonberg, 4:50:15; Annelise Somma, 4:50:38; Amy Stinelli, 4:50:49; Drew Klobuchar, 4:52:14; Bipin Salunke, 4:52:29; William Curry, 4:53:35; Matthew Bolewitz, 4:55:00; Karin Byers, 4:55:53; Joe Buttermore, 4:56:16; Robert Nuckols, 4:58:09; Ann Cannoni, 4:59:25; Kathryn Dunn, 4:59:53; Brandon Colaberardino, 5:01:06; Amy Black-Stockham, 5:01:07; Anthony Stockham, 5:01:08; Sharmila Gupta, 5:01:52; Mark Capriotti, 5:02:13; Daolin Tang, 5:04:39; Amy Baylor, 5:05:10; Kosuke Oido, 5:06:33; Louis Keppler, 5:08:30; Maureen Konopka, 5:10:04; Bethany Sauers, 5:10:16; Michael McNamara, 5:10:44; Leanne Finney, 5:18:06; Susan Pisarcik, 5:19:38; Frank Piedimonte, 5:20:25; Matthew Sydlik, 5:24:48; Joshua Hindman, 5:25:12; Jennifer Hindman, 5:25:13; Wayne Toy, 5:25:55; Cyndie De Lucia, 5:26:45; Gina De Lucia, 5:26:46; Louis Yossa, 5:27:28; Lauren Hopkins, 5:28:33; Robert Crawford, 5:28:36; David Fritz, 5:29:26; Gregory Panchik, 5:31:43; Linda Harrold Robash, 5:37:01; Franklin Wilson, 5:37:12; Rebecca Zahora, 5:40:19; Rebecca Klobuchar, 5:43:20; Karen Steffanina, 5:43:44; Kirsten Beck, 5:53:29; Michelle Lannis, 5:29:05; John Ropelewski, 5:59:25; Julie Macha, 6:02:49; Sarah Peterec, 6:04:11; Melissa White, 6:05:34; Mary Zik, 6:05:58; Dan Ferguson, 6:09:58; Rebecca Swartzentruber, 6:23:28; Terrence Moore, 6:25:06; Joni Tierney, 6:51:17

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle