It was a different race back in 1992, the last time Jeff Zimmerman made an appearance at the Butler Road Race.

It was also the last year of the 10K race, which then became a 5-mile event.

Zimmerman, of Belgium, happened to be visiting some family and friends in Greensburg and decided to make his way back to Butler—which turned out to be a good decision.

Zimmerman, 45, not only won the race but set a new master's (40 and older) record with a time of 25 minutes, 41 seconds. The previous standard was held by Barry Harwick (26:19).

Not to be outdone, Tammy Slusser, 41, of Monroeville also set a new women's master's record with a time of 30:43, bettering her record from last year by one second.

Even more impressive was she won her fifth consecutive 5-mile title and has won eight titles in all. She won the women's 10K races from 1984-86.

Though the course is shorter than it was the last time, Zimmerman got a quick jump, perhaps a little too quick, but it didn't seem to matter.

"I just went out too fast the first mile," said Zimmerman. It was 4:42, 4:45. I'm 45 years old. I should know better. If it would have been about five- minute miles, I would have finished faster.

"I remember running 4:30s. When you did that here when it was a 10K, you'd be in 20th place," he added.

Evan Honeyfield, 26, of Pittsburgh finished 17 seconds behind Zimmerman for second place. A.J. Kelly, 24, of Altoona was third (26:11), Jeff Weiss, 19, of Avella was fourth (26:48) and Ben Mourer, 21, of Chicora was fifth (26:49).

Zimmerman, who hails from Austin, Texas but is winding down a two-year stint in Belgium for work, had the lead early and never relented.

"I always come in, thinking 'I'm going for it.' If not, you may as well stay home, even at 45," said Zimmerman.

"I did look behind me a lot over the last mile," he added.

Zimmerman still runs every day and enters about 10 races a year. He ran a half-marathon in Austin earlier this spring and clocked a 1:07:25.

Zimmerman can remember when the streets were lined deep with onlookers and the Butler Road Race was in its heyday with competitors, but he still found the race to be a quality event.

"It's a well-run race. It's fun," said Zimmerman. "I'm usually (in western Pennsylvania) hit or miss around this time. I did the Steelers (5K) race so many years.

"It's tough. There are so many other choices today like soccer and extreme sports. It's just kind of sad you don't see as many people as before, but running this takes a good, honest effort," he added.

For Slusser, the thought of continuing her winning ways is a source of pride, but she never knows what to expect year to year.

"My approach is the same," said Slusser. "I look at what I did last year and try to do better. Last year I set the master's record and this year I beat it by one second."

Slusser cruised to her fifth 5-mile title, winning by more than a minute. Ruth Mick, 22, of Zelienople (31:50), Erica Hoffman, 20, of St. Marys (32:35), Kimberly Kalika, 23, of Corry (32:58) and Sue Ruzicka, 43, of Harrison City (33:34) rounded out the top five.

Slusser found it ironic that she finished three seconds behind five-time men's 10K winner Malcolm East, 50, of Butler.

"Twenty-one years ago, we both won our races and now, 21 years later, we're here running neck-and-neck," Slusser said.

Slusser had about a 30-second lead at the turnaround and was never really threatened.

"I try not to think about the people behind me and look at the person in front," said Slusser.

With eight titles to her name, they all hold some meaning.

"The first three were very special being a 10K," said Slusser. "I was a lot younger and faster. Now, it gets tougher and tougher.

"It gets to a point you expect the younger people to pass you."

Slusser will return and try to stay motivated, especially by seeing the likes of Lou Lodavico, 82, who continues to plug away at area road races.