Nearly 450 runners and walkers completed this year’s 42nd Annual Butler Road Race on June 24. That’s 60 more participants than crossed the finish line in 2016. Congratulations and thanks to all race participants and especially to the race organization, volunteers and sponsors.

Another long-standing Butler event takes place this Saturday as Butler Family YMCA holds its annual adult sprint triathlon at Moraine State Park. The event has been a part of YMCA programming for more than 20 years.

A sprint triathlon is the shortest length race of the three-event sport called triathlon. The sprint distance includes a quarter-mile swim, 7-mile bike and 5k run in that order. Butler YMCA’s triathlon includes both an individual race and a team competition in which each team member completes one of the three events.

Butler YMCA’s triathlon’s swim takes place in Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park. Event coordinator Ryan Good says that lake swimming is very different and somewhat more difficult than pool swimming. Even so, he says that with 6 kayaks, 2 boats and 10 lifeguards along the course, even first-time triathletes can feel safe in the water.

Good describes the bike course on North Shore Drive and the run on the park’s bike trail as “beginner friendly.” Both are paved and level or gently rolling.

Ryan Good serves as Program Director for Butler Family YMCA. Although this is his first stint as event coordinator, he’s had experience volunteering and working at previous triathlons. He has coordinated the YMCA’s indoor triathlon for the past two years and helped manage the youth triathlon held annually in August.

Because he is not a triathlete, Good relies on his staff to direct each individual stage of the event. He praises Karen Guise, swim coordinator, Olivia Wiest, bike coordinator, and Becky Arturo, who manages the run, for their knowledge and efficiency.

He also credits Allison Whelan, volunteer for more than ten years, for her work in registering participants. The majority of the more than 100 individual participants and approximately 10 teams are day-of-event registrants.

Some triathlons begin with a mad dash to the water and a splashing, frightening struggle for position in the water. Butler’s triathlon avoids the scramble by separating competitors into heats with five minutes between each start. Preregistered participants of each gender start first followed by day-of-event registering men and women. Team entries start last in a separate heat.

Butler YMCA Triathlon awards medals to top three overall male and female finishers and top three finishers in age groups from 16-19 through 70+. Top three teams in three categories — male, female and mixed gender, also earn awards.

Ryan Good says that the triathlon is more than a competitive event. He says it’s a wonderful experience, especially for first-timers, and also a great team activity. As Ryan says of this and other YMCA events, “It’s all about community.”

Registration for YMCA Sprint Triathlon begins on Saturday at 6:30 a.m. at Moraine State Park North Shore’s Lakeview Beach. All participants must wear a swim cap (provided by the race) and must provide their own bicycle and helmet. The first race heat starts at 7:45 a.m.

For more information about this year’s sprint triathlon or other events at Butler Family YMCA, contact Ryan Good at 724-287-4733.

Upcoming events

Thursdays, 6:30 P.M.: Shoes ‘n’ Brews, Valencia. Starts at Up-N-Running store with your choice of pace and distance followed by social hour with beer. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Saturdays: Butler Babes group trail runs, various locations. Run various distances on trails in area parks. tamsuemcg@embarqmail.com

Saturday, 7:30 A.M.: Butler YMCA Triathlon, Portersville. Sprint triathlon at Moraine State Park with ¼ mile swim, 7 mile bike, 5k run. 724-287-473, ext. 1 or jknauff@bcfymca.org

Saturday, 9 A.M.: Reece’s Round-Up East Coast 5k Race, 1 Mile Walk, Beaver. 724-630-9653 or reeceround.upeastcoast@gmail.com

Saturday, 12 noon: Wine Dash 5k, North East. Registration includes admission to Mid-Summer Wine Festival. Must be age 21 or older. 814-725-3303 or lakeeriespeedway.com/schedule/wine-dash-5k/

Sunday, 8:30 A.M.: Hermitage Arts Festival 5k, Hermitage. 724-91-6950 or bgriffin@hermitage.net

July 9, 10 A.M.: Canadohta Lake 5k/10k, Union City. Tanderson0648@gmail.com

July 9, 7:30 A.M.: Trail Blazer 5k and 15k, Meadville. Also 5k walk at 7:50 A.M. All events on Ernst Rail Trail. 814-853-8572 or www.ernsttrail.org

July 9, 8:30 A.M.: Hermitage Arts Festival 5k, Hermitage. 724-981-0800, ext. 1320 or bgriffin@hermitage.net

July 12, 7 P.M.: Dam Race 5k (QUAD II), Sharpsville. 724-866-1374 or smc@runhigh.com

July 15, 8 A.M.: 10th Annual Cross Country Crusade 5k, Saxonburg. Run on Knoch High School cross country course. 412-603-1999 or ap2426@zoominternet.net

July 15, 8 A.M.: Hot to Trot 5k, Zelienople. Also 1 mile family fun walk at 8:45 A.M. 412-445-5828 or www.horsetrading.com

July 15, 9 A.M.: Curwensville Susquehanna Classic, Curwensville. Choice of 10k or 5k runs, 5k walk. 814-236-3455 or shaaronike@verizon.net

July 15, 8 P.M.: Roaring Run Race to the Moon 5k Run/Walk and 10k Run, Apollo. Must bring a light for this run on Roaring Run Rail Trail. 724-681-6317 or www.roaringrun.org

July 16, 6:45 A.M.: Presque Isle Half Marathon, Erie. 814-881-0600 or davemcomi@gmail.com

July 19, 7 P.M.: 17th Annual Kalajainen Klassic 5k Run/Walk, New Castle. Run in Cascade Park to benefit American Cancer Society. 724-652-5105 or Dreed055@aol.com

July 22, 9 A.M.: Shannock Valley Community Festival 5k, Rural Valley. 724-664-8893

July 22, 9 A.M.: Oil City Firefighters 5k, Oil City. 814-671-3633 or sammcsparren@yahoo.com

July 28, 7 P.M.: Liberty Mile, Pittsburgh. One mile race with heats for kids, open, masters and pros. Libertymile.org

July 30, 8 A.M.: Run with the Deer Flies Trail Run. Penn Run. Rugged trail race with choice of 15k or 25k. 724-422-8388 or dwalker100k@gmail.com

July 30, 9 A.M.: Elorapalooza 12, North Park. Choice of 5 mile, 5k or 1 mile run/walk. New starting location at North Park Lodge. 412-369-8691 or elorashope.org

Race results

Butler Road Race 5 Mile June 24 (finishing times under 53:00)

Nick Edinger, 1st Overall M, 26:20; Noah Beveridge, 2nd Overall M, 27:11; Artie Black, 4th Overall M, 28:00; Brett Brady, 5th Overall M, 29:00; Leahanne Wirfel, 1st Overall W, 29:39; Olivia Reddick, 3rd Overall W, 34:19; Tammy Slusser, 1st Masters W, 34:19; Maggie Welty, 4th Overall W, 34:44; Rebecca Pennington, 5th Overall W, 34:53; Gar Bercury, 1st Masters M, 29:50; Matthew Opdyke, 2nd Masters M, 34:05; Make Shaffer, 3rd Masters M, 34:13; Vern Morrow, 1st Grand Masters M, 34:46; Melissa Macefe, 2nd Masters W, 37:23; Debbie Deddo, 1st Grand Masters W, 40:12; Josh Rader, 1st 20-29 M, 29:10;

Stefan Carlsson, 2nd 20-29 M, 30:11; Camden Seybert, 2nd 16-19 M, 30:14; Isaac Davanzati, 3rd 16-19 M, 30:36; Eric Thompson, 1st 30-39 M, 31:59; Aden Dressler, 1st 12-15 M, 32:07; Jason Sittler, 2nd 30-39 M, 32:09; Timothy Patterson, 2nd 12-15 M, 22:45; Mark Casteel, 2nd 40-49 M, 34:36; Eric Slagle, 3rd 40-49 M, 35:43; Daniel Deal Jr, 3rd 12-15 M, 36:01; Bill Schmidt, 2nd 60-69 M, 36:49; John Ciafre, 3rd 60-69 M, 37:38; Evonne Patterson, 3rd 30-39 W, 38:19; Carly Clark, 2nd 20-29 W, 38:31; Erin LeMay, 1st 16-19 W, 38:41; Lauren Wentz, 3rd 20-29 W, 38:43; Kelsee Callihan, 2nd 16-19 W, 38:59; Amanda, 3rd 30-39 W, 39:05;

Maggie Hollobaugh, 1st 12-16 W, 40:08; Donna McClymonds, 1st 50-59 W, 40:24; Connie Hoffer, 1st 40-49 W, 40:24; Rebecca Hollobaugh, 3rd 16-19 W, 40:45; Jinny Hertweck, 2nd 40-49 W, 40:48; Gary Bell, 3rd 70+ M, 41:36; Valorie Andreassi, 2nd 50-59 W, 42:04; Tammy Osche, 3rd 40-49 W, 44:42; Gavin Chapman, 1st 11 & Under M, 45:36; Jaxon Llewellyn, 2nd 11 & Under M, 50:47; Jaydon Crawford, 2nd 12-15 W, 51:40; Peggy Sibenac, 2nd 60-69 W, 52:20; Sonja Crawford, 3rd 60-69 W, 56:15; Nathan Monday, 33:42; Anthony Miller, 33:47; Ryan Hughes, 33:48; Timmy Porter, 34:20; Michael Fagan, 34:56; Matt Schmidt, 34:58; Jt Fleming, 35:14; Nick Gentile, 35:34; Patrick Jones, 36:12; Roger Lutz, 36:39; Tim Sloan, 36:40; Evan Olszak, 36:45; David Voland, 36:53; Michael Carncelli, 36:53; Josh Venderlic, 37:01; Evan Miller, 37:09; Shaun Birch, 37:54; John Olszak, 37:56; Cecil Crouch IV, 38:07; Blake Kelley, 38:14; Larry Osche, 38:16; Nathaniel Shaffer, 38:21; Donald Crawford, 38:59; Alayna Edinger, 39:19; Zachary Best, 39:22; Cecil Crouch III, 39:24;

Isaac Boring, 40:02; Brian Llewellyn, 40:07; Andy Gengler, 40:12; Jim Csonka, 40:28; Damian Skal, 40:44; Jamie Kemper, 41:01; Christopher Boyd, 41:02; Rick McKain, 41:03; Matt Greenleaf, 41:08; Canaan Mohney, 41:34; Jeff Cypher, 41:34; Ian Llewellyn, 41:42; Evan Fetter, 41:52; Silvio Andreassi, 41:53; Nathan Sydlik, 41:59; Derek Shaffer, 42:02; Emma LeMay, 42:08; Matt Drohan, 42:13; Eliza Drohan, 42:13; Matthew Schaefer, 42:23; Crystal Wonderling, 42:38; Alex Hunter, 42:43; Holly Matsko, 42:48; Kevin Condon, 42:59; Bruce Soule, 43:01; James Hrabosky, 43:03; Jeremy Rock, 43:15; Tim Vantine, 43:20; Matthew Jones, 43:37; Reuben Pink, 43:40; Beth Graham, 43:48; Vincent Moor, 44:00; Wyatt Heyl, 44:14; Kristy Ice, 44:36; Rachel Weyand, 44:40; James Gascoine, 44:57;

Bob Pakozdi, 45:18; Landon Wood, 45:20; Jason Delano, 45:20; Greg Barger, 45:23; Colin Lischy, 45:29; Bryan Thompson, 45:30; John Snyder, 45:31; Leah Rapp, 45:32; Luke Brewer, 45:33; Robyn Stewart, 45:38; Dave Voland, 45:53; Bruce Barnes, 45:59; James Hixon, 46:00; Ashley Bartell, 46:10; Karen Callihan, 46:11; Erin Marron, 46:12; John Reddick, 46:13; Julie Skal, 46:21; Katie Amerson, 46:22; Samantha Drohen, 46:40; Matthew Ankrom, 47:12; Shawn Crilley, 47:33; Amy Lutz, 47:37; Bill Bellis, 47:38; Kylie Sheppeck, 47:41; Claire Weiland, 47:41; Brady Collins, 47:46; Natalie Franko, 47:47; Gregory Beaver, 47:52; Amy Leslie, 47:55; Heather Venderlic, 48:00; Kaitlyn Fleeger, 48:27; David McElroy, 48:28; Jeffrey Carey, 48:30; Don Slusser, 48:43; Amy Barkus, 48:45; Alison Carey, 49:26; Aden Llewellyn, 49:36; Robert Crawford, 49:54; Gretchen Pink, 50:02; Katie Jamison, 50:02; Tony Sunseri, 50:16; Jennifer Hoffman, 50:37; Sean Hutchins, 50:38; Shana Hutchins, 50:38; Clinton Champagne, 50:45; Justin Cooper, 50:49; Jerry Heinz, 50:55; Terri McElroy, 50:56; Matthew Andreassi, 51:20; Isabele Lindsay, 51:58; Ashley Duespohl, 51:58; Rich Rodgers, 52:05; Wess Brahler, 52:07

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle. Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.net.