There’s a great feeling at the finish line
There was a lot of running coverage in the Butler Eagle on Monday.
On the cover, senior reporter Paula Grubbs told us about the Turkey Trot in Butler, held Saturday.
On Page 3, staff writer Eddie Trizzino told us about the inaugural Ryan Gloyer Memorial Run, held Sunday.
On the sports cover, sports editor John Enrietto told us about Drew Griffith, the Butler High School senior who won the PIAA 3A boys cross country championship on Saturday.
All of this running comes with more than just accolades and personal pride.
It comes with school and community pride. It comes with honor for friends and loved ones lost too soon. It comes with records and potential for future generations to live up to.
If this sounds like hyperbole, consider:
Aiden Lutz was a member of the YMCA, which held the Turkey Trot. Aiden died after being struck by a car while riding his bike along Dutchtown Road less than a month ago.
Those who showed up to the Butler YMCA to represent Aiden in the race wore bright yellow T-shirts with “In Memory of Aiden Lutz” on the back and a vintage banana seat bicycle on the front.
There were a lot of those yellow shirts.
Dawn McClelland, the mother of a good friend of Aiden, said wearing the yellow shirts in Aiden’s memory and running in the race was therapeutic for his friends.
Ryan Gloyer was a graduate from Seneca Valley. He was also a soldier with the U.S. Army who died Nov. 3, 2016, while serving in Afghanistan.
The memorial run held in his name started and ended at the school bearing his name.
As important, the Ryan Gloyer run brought hundreds of people out to raise money for educational programs and a scholarship in Ryan’s name.
Friends, family and organizers pointed to Ryan’s persistence as a driving force for the event.
“Ryan was such an athlete, he really cared about his body and really inspired others to do that as well, so we thought it was a perfect fit. Something encouraging you to be healthy and also to bring the community together,” said Annie Mersing, development director of the Seneca Valley Foundation.
Ryan Gloyer died seven years ago, but his memory lives on through his family, friends, school and community.
It wasn’t enough that Drew Griffith won the championship this weekend. He broke the boys Class 3A record on the 5,000-meter course by completing his run in 15 minutes, 23 seconds.
“I wanted this so bad … I just put my head down and kept running,” Drew said.
Not only did he break that record and win the championship. He hasn’t lost a race all year.
He will next compete in the Northeast Regional, slated for Nov. 25 at Franklin Park in Boston, in an effort to qualify for the Foot Locker Nationals.
We applaud the runners and the love they have for the sport, their community and the memory of their cherished friends and family. We encourage others to do the same.
On your mark, get set …
— RJ
