For more than 40 years, large painted footprints have appeared on Butler’s Main and Penn Streets laying out the course for June’s Butler Road Race.

Although the event is under new management, the 43rd Annual Butler Road Race will take to the streets at 9 a.m Saturday.

Butler Family YMCA has taken over race organization, but the event should be very familiar to anyone who has run the 5 Mile or 2k run as the course, sponsors and award format is the same.

Connie Downs, Marketing and Communications Director for the YMCA says, “We want to continue the tradition of excellence of the Butler Road Race,” and thanks the past organizers for their years of dedication to the race and to the community.

Downs also thanks sponsors for their continued support of the race. Butler Health System continues as the presenting sponsor while Robert Stephens Jewelers gives dress watches to overall winners.

Texas Roadhouse will once again offer gift certificates for every family of four or more running either race distance.

New for this year, Butler Family YMCA serves as packet pickup location on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. The Y is also resurrecting an old tradition of holding a spaghetti dinner at Friday’s packet pickup with a cost of $5 for registered runners and $7 for the public.

Greg Sloan’s quilt of past t-shirt designs and several other memorabilia items from Butler Road Race history will be on display that evening. Former Butler Road Race president Mike Franko recalls that the pre-race spaghetti dinners were always great social events for participants and families.

There are more than 130 competitive awards at Butler Road Race, including first five male and female finishers in the five mile race, top three in the 2k, and first three in age groups from 11 and under through 70+. In the five mile, first male and female Butler County finishers, top three Masters (over age 40) and first Senior and Super Senior also earn awards.

All participants and spectators are welcome to take part in post-race festivities in the parking lot behind Diamond Park, including food trucks, music and more. The YMCA will also be open following Saturday’s races for showers and changing area.

In previous years, Butler Road Race proceeds funded scholarships for area high school cross country athletes. For this final year, past Butler Road Race president Mike Franko says that 38 scholarships of $585 have been awarded for a total of 818 scholarships totaling $432,280.

In 2018, the focus of the charitable effort changes to a different area of community service.

Proceeds from this year’s event benefit the Butler YMCA’s Annual Support Fund. The fund supports a wide range of programs including exercise programs at V.A. Butler Healthcare and senior centers throughout Butler County in partnership with the Butler Rotary Club and summer lunch programs for kids at the YMCA and Christie Avenue playground in Butler with Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank.

Additional funds help people manage chronic diseases though the Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program, Choose to Lose, Delay the Disease and opiate addiction support programs.

Day of event registration for Butler Road Race 5 Mile and 2k opens at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday in Diamond Park. Longtime Butler Road race competitors Don Slusser and wife Tammy, a past 5 Mile winner and current Masters course record holder, will be there along with other familiar runners and volunteers.

Whether running, walking or just watching, you’ll want to be a part of this new era of a Butler tradition.

Upcoming events

Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.: Run Club Group Run, Cranberry Township. Run from Mojo Running Store. 724-772-2808 or www.mojorunningpittsburgh.com

Friday, 7 p.m.: Hope for Your Future 2 Mile Walk, 5k & 10k Color Run and Children’s Superhero Run, Rimersburg. Superhero Run starts at 8 P.M. Hopeforyourfuture13@gmail.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Butler County Road Race 5 Mile & 2k, Butler. 724-321-4265 or joella@zoominternet.net

Sunday, 8 a.m.: The Dam Tri, Meadville. Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons at Woodcock Creek State Park. 814-336-2196 or www.thedamtri.com

Sunday, 1 p.m.: 3rd Annual Super Hero 1k, Cranberry Township. Kids untimed fun run/walk in heats with prizes for best superhero costume, kids activities, music and food. 724-452-9122, ext. 232 or rose.bcfymca.org

June 27, 7 p.m.: Strawberry Days 5k, Grove City. First race in Mercer County QUAD Series. 724-866-1374 or runhigh.com

June 30, 6 a.m.: Hell Hath no Hurry, Pittsburgh. Choice of 50 miles, 50k, 30k or 10k in Settlers Cabin Park. Peter_kozlowski@fastmail.fm

June 30, 7:30 a.m.: Get Fit Families Mini Moraine Youth Triathlon, Portersville. Starts at Moraine State Park’s South Shore. joella@zoominternet.net

June 30, 9 a.m.: Ford City 5k Run/ Walk, Ford City. 757-355-0113 or fordcity5k@gmail.com

June 30, 9 a.m.: 38th Ellwood City Ledger 10k, Ellwood City. Starts at Veterans Memorial Pool in Ewing Park. 724-752-1583 or smileymiles.com

July 4, 7:45 a.m.: Whiskey Rebellion 5k, Canonsburg. Mamarama4@yahoo.com

July 4, 8 a.m.: Zelienople Fire Cracker 5k and 1 Mile, Zelienople. Also 1 mile kids run at Zelienople Community Park. 724-321-4265 or www.zapevent.com/reg/event/10623

July 4, 9 a.m.: Hampton Rotary Firecracker 5k, Allison Park. Run through Hampton Community Park. 412-977-3957 or roger.eichner@gmail.com

July 7, 7:45 a.m.: Butler YMCA Outdoor Triathlon, Moraine State Park. Triathlon for individuals ages 16 and older or teams. 724-287-4733 or bcfymca.org

July 7, 9 a.m.: Elk County Classic 5k, Ridgway. Starts at Clarion-Little Toby Trailhead. 824-776-2413 or bczappa504@comcast.net

July 7, 9 a.m.: Heritage Day 5k, Greenville. Part of Heritage Day festivities. More than 50 door prizes. 724-815-6983 or jas26mrun@msn.com

July 11, 7 p.m.: Dam Race (Quad II), Sharpsville. Second race in Twilight Quad series run on Trout Island Trail. 724-866-1374 or smc@runhigh.com

July 13, 7 p.m.: Emlenton Summer Festival 5k, Emlenton. New course. 724-867-0089 or brendabeikert@gmail.com

July 15, 6:45 a.m.: ERC Presque Isle Half Marathon, Erie. One loop of Presque Isle State Park starts at Beach 1. 814-881-0600 or davemcomi@gmail.com

July 15, 8:30 a.m.: Hermitage Arts Festival 5k, Hermitage. 724-981-6950 or bgriffin@hermitage.net

July 20, 7 p.m.: GNC Live Well Liberty Mile, Pittsburgh. One mile run in various heats. Libertmile.org

July 21, 9 a.m.: Curwensville Susquehanna Classic 5k Race, 5k Walk and 10k, Curwensville. 814-236-3455 or sharonike@verizon.net

July 25, 7 p.m.: UPMC Horizon 5k, Greenville. Race 3 of Twilight QUAD. Also kids’ half mile run at 7:45 P.M. 724-866-1374 or smc@runhigh.com

Race results

Pittsburgh Half Marathon, May 5 (finishers under 1:55:00): Antonio Cardona, 1st Overall M, 1:08:42; Morgan Camerlo, 1st Overall W, 1:22:36; Sean McDonnell, 2nd 20-24 M, 1:16:03; Olivia Reddick, 1st 25-39 W, 1:25:54; Christine Lazzara, 3rd 40-44 W, 1:32:39; Hannah Carney, 1st 19 & Under W, 1:38:18; Brandon Wise, 1:23:50; Michael Dreves, 1:26:43; Stephan Carlsson, 1:27:54; Grant McCarthy, 1:28:38; Michael Smocer, 1:29:44; Matthew Sudak, 1:30:06; Rachel Martin, 1:31:09; Melissa Conjack, 1:32:34; Jessica Uhrin, 1:33:17; Christopher Rowoth, 1:35:19; David Ursiak, 1:35:47; Christopher Lazzara, 1:36:07; Robert Waltrip, 1:36:35; Sarah Cessar, 1:36:47; Zachary Best, 1:37:01; Karastin Henley, 1:37:24; Jim Haughey, 1:38:49; Ray Reinheimer, 1:39:41; Donald Donatelli, 1:41:00; Rachel Leake, 1:41:11; Michael Scheid, 1:41:14; Alanna Rudolph, 1:41:15; Jordan Ahlquist, 1:41:17; Matt Rhenish, 1:41:21; Rachel Williams, 1:41:54; Hannah Kemper, 1:42:13; Mike Murphy, 1:42:21; Matt Grossman, 1:42:27; Nikki Williams, 1:42:29; Stephen Salvatore, 1:42:33; J.David Swisher, 1:42:43; Robert Malchano, 1:42:44; T.R. Parry, 1:42:55; Lissa Batchelet, 1:43:03; Bryan Kirsten, 1:43:07; Keith Mularski, 1:43:09; Steve Nichols, 1:43:11; Erica Michael, 1:43:11; Logan Teodoro, 1:43:27; Sean Byrne, 1:43:27; Christopher Mager, 1:43:32; Corey Savanah, 1:43:41; Kevin Persch, 1:43:44; Matt Hickey, 1:43:57; Danielle Rosswog, 1:43:58; Joshua Weis, 1:44:07; Megan Ellery, 1:44:08; Danielle Iaquinta, 1:44:09; Greg Marburger, 1:44:11; Haley Redmond, 1:44:22; Alissa Beam, 1:44:26; Robyn VanDyke, 1:44:32; Meghann Peters, 1:45:14; Paul Scherer, 1:45:19; Matt Wheeler, 1:45:22; Andrew Williams, 1:45:23; Hannah Steele, 1:45:23; James Relihan, 1:45:41; Caitlin Snyder, 1:45:58; Tim Roos, 1:46:07; Tom Neff, 1:46:09; Christine Edmiston, 1:46:14; Lauren Wentz, 1:46:15; Michael Neal, 1:46:20; Jerry Kosar, 1:46:24; Alexander Kern, 1:46:29; Clint Kuskie, 1:46:35; Robert Carpenter, 1:46:41; Joseph Poerio, 1:46:49; Lewis Newell, 1:47:02; Neil Patterson, 1:47:09; Emily Utz, 1:47:21; Jeff Petro, 1:47:36; Brian Irwin, 1:48:00; Brian Kile, 1:48:03; Jamie Gramz, 1:48:22; Tom Good, 1:48:29; Joseph Badaczewski, 1:48:34; Thomas Smith, 1:48:34; Michael Cortese, 1:48:38; Megan Gallagher, 1:48:51; Laura Hamilton, 1:48:52; Amanda Sulesky, 1:48:57; Thomas Patterson, 1:49:02; Alana Jensen, 1:49:03;

Bobby Vandrak, 1:49:07; Matt Schmidt, 1:49:09; Jessica Price, 1:49:09; David Kleba, 1:49:15; Dave Fetterman, 1:49:47; Jordan Ziemianski, 1:50:04; Brad Gresock, 1:50:06; Valerie Andreassi, 1:50:14; Jeff Komoroski, 1:50:16; Jerry Meyer, 1:50:19; John Boulanger, 1:50:23; Erin Rigsby, 1:50:28; Jeremy Jarrell, 1:50:34; Michael Holden, 1:50:39; Paul Halenda, 1:50:50; Nicole Voll, 1:50:58; Matthew Corbin, 1:50:58; Dustin Kalkbreener, 1:51:00; John Kuhn, 1:51:09; David Fugate, 1:51:11; Chuck Flach, 1:51:23; Carolyn Lees-hotton, 1:51:26; Dorothy Moxie, 1:51:32; Mandi Moxie, 1:51:33; Janel Kasowski, 1:51:39; Catherine Hrach, 1:51:40; Randy Rawa, 1:51:42; Dean Rippee, 1:51:46; Shannon Ferguson, 1:51:48; Anthony Gantzer, 1:51:54; Megan Rippin, 1:51:54; Philip O’Hara, 1:51:58; Meredith Gustafsson, 1:52:01; Sabrina Mitchell, 1:52:03; Ashley Evans, 1:52:03; Mark Breedlove, 1:52:06; Suzette Cappola, 1:52:23; Connie Hoffer, 1:52:31; Diane Bucknum, 1:52:32; Joe Farrell, 1:52:36; Leigh Anne Shubert, 1:52:38; Tanya Rings, 1:52:41; Maria Caruso, 1:52:47; John Crum, 1:52:48; Spencer Walsh, 1:52:53; Dana Nicklas, 1:52:56; Allison Salvia, 1:53:03; Brad Samsa, 1:53:06; Paul King, 1:53:06; Ryan Gallaher, 1:53:07; Paul DiBucci, 1:53:20; Kelly Kusevich, 1:53:37; Stephen Arendosh, 1:53:42; Christin Jamery, 1:53:43; Hannah Hugo, 1:54:02; Beth Ann Skinner, 1:54:03; Joel Sterniak, 1:54:05; Val Wolfarth, 1:54:06; Kelly Sterniak, 1:54:06; Logan Vokes, 1:54:09; Brianna Buzard, 1:54:11; Hunter Vokes, 1:54:16; Kelli Hartman, 1:54:22; Bryan Colonna, 1:54:23; Darla Ferraro, 1:54:44; Patrick Prazenica, 1:54:51; Dan Spears, 1:54:53; Bob Vertullo, 1:54:54; Jeffrey Wessel, 1:54:55; Megan Wessel, 1:54:55; Tyler Hanna, 1:54:56; Tyler Keenan, 1:54:57; Tracey Smith, 1:54:59

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.netPat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle