Champions can't stay away
Calling all challengers.
This year's Butler Road Race will bring back two-time defending men's champion Jake Walker as well as defending women's champion Tammy Slusser in the 5-mile portion of the event.
Walker, 21, of Ellwood City set the course record in each of the past two years, including last June's 24-minute, 32 second effort, while Monroeville resident Slusser, 44, had won five consecutive races before losing in 2007 until getting back on the winning track last year.
The 34th annual Butler Road Race, presented by Butler Memorial Hospital, will start at 9 a.m. June 27 in front of the Butler County Courthouse.
"Jake is coming off a really good year of cross country and track at Notre Dame," said BRR president Mike Franko, now in his 10th year at the helm. "Tammy holds the women's open (29:44) and master's (30:43) records. She's fit and had a pretty good Pittsburgh Marathon."
Two other longtime runners, Lou Lodovico, 85, of Ellwood City and Margretta Lutz, 80, of Saxonburg, were recognized recently in a national running magazine. Lodovico was listed as the No. 1 runner in the world for the men's ages 80-84 category while Lutz was No. 3 in the women's 75-79 division.
Lodovico still holds two national records on the 5-mile course: 34:11 at age 73 and 38:09 at 79.
The annual race should feature plenty of runners as pre-registration appears to be up from last year.
"That's a pretty good sign," said Franko. "Our concern was Alameda Road. The road has been closed to vehicular traffic ... but the (Butler County Commissioners) assured it will be open for the race. I took a ride out there. It's not bad, but we still want to caution runners."
Despite the tough economy, many runners are highly loyal to the race.
"There's still a lot of road races, but people are more selective," said Franko. "Year to year, people plan their other road races around Butler."
In the 16 years the Butler Road Race has awarded college scholarships to Butler County cross country seniors, 512 student athletes received a total of $268,000.
"One of the qualifications is you have to have at least a 3.0 (grade-point average)," said Franko. "With all those kids, the average is 3.7, so we're working with great kids. We have four valedictorians this year."
Another thing that has Franko excited is the number of youngsters who take part, especially in the 2-kilometer walk-run.
Last year, there were 32 finishers who were age 11 or under.
For those looking to pick up their race packets Friday, they can do so at Miller's Shoes in downtown Butler between 4 and 6 p.m. Participants also can sign up then or beginning at 7:30 a.m. June 27 in Diamond Park.
As in the past, the race will include post-race refreshments, door prizes and vendors
Also, the popular Family of 4 or More feature, in which four family members who enter will receive a $25 dining certificate from Texas Roadhouse, is back.
Franko knows without the work of the vendors, the county commissioners. the police department and the CB Rangers for traffic control, it would make for a difficult race.
"We've got a pretty good crew," said Franko.
