Fifth annual Heroes Run/Walk raises more than $10,000
Runners take off at the start of a past Heroes Run/Walk along the Greene River Trail. This year’s race is slated for Saturday, Sept. 21 at 8:30 a.m.
Signs honoring soldiers, living or deceased, were placed along the Greene River Trail during the Heroes Run/Walk, held Saturday, Sept. 17.
Selena Phillips, 10, a cousin of the late Marine Lance Cpl. Steven Phillips, plays “Taps” before the start of the fifth annual Heroes Run/Walk, held Saturday, Sept. 17, along the Greene River Trail. Phillips also ran in the 5K and placed third in her age division.
MILLSBORO — More than 300 individuals participated in the fifth annual Heroes Run/Walk, held Saturday, Sept. 17, along the Greene River Trail. The event raised more than $10,000 for memorial funds established in the names of two Greene County servicemen killed in Iraq.
The race began at 8:30 a.m. at the trail starting point near the Greene Cove Yacht Club in Millsboro. Participants could choose to enter in either the 5K run, 5K walk or 15K run, and more than 220 runners and walkers placed.
Thanks to a partnership with Central Greene School District, more than 130 employees and family members registered for the race as runners, walkers or “sleep-ins,” in which those individuals paid a registration fee but did not attend the race. The school district’s efforts raised more than $3,000.
All race proceeds benefit memorial funds established in the names of Army Spc. Gregory Cox of Carmichaels and Marine Lance Cpl. Steven Phillips of Spraggs, both of whom were killed in Humvee accidents in Iraq. Cox, 21, died in September 2004, and Phillips, 27, died in February 2006.
The Spc. Gregory A. Cox Memorial Scholarship Fund assists Greene County high school graduates entering the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps or the fields of public safety or public service. The Lance Cpl. Steven Phillips Memorial Fund provides support for the computer-aided drafting program at the Greene County Career and Technology Center. Both funds are being handled by the Community Foundation of Greene County.
Race proceeds also help fund the cost of transportation for Greene County veterans receiving treatment at the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System clinic in Pittsburgh. The Greene County Department of Recreation coordinates the race with the Cox and Phillips families.
“For the fifth year in a row, our community and the region have come out in overwhelming support of Heroes Run,” said Commissioner Pam Snyder. “We truly thank each and every single participant, sponsor, volunteer, and the Cox and Phillips families for another successful year. We are already looking forward to next year’s race.”
The race concluded with an awards ceremony at Greene Cove, during which prizes were given for the top three male and female runners and walkers overall, as well as the top three male and female runners and walkers in various age categories.
Refreshments and a random drawing for prizes also followed the race.
The top three overall winners in the 5K run were:
n Male: First place, Logan Howard, 27, of Masontown, 17:05.0; second place, Brandon Dagan, 19, of Pittsgrove, N.J., 17:44.5; and third place, Danny Fink, 48, of Morgantown, W.Va., 18:01.2.
n Female: First place, Bre Paul, 19, of Irwin, 19:15.9; second place, Jamie Piotrowski, 18, of Pittsburgh, 23:54.9; and third place, Casey Bamberger, 15, of Prosperity, 24:10.1.
The top three overall winners in the 5K walk were:
n Male: First place, Dennis Cropp, 59, of Uniontown, 33:37.4; second place, Shane Phillips, 53, of Sycamore, 35:12.3; and third place, Scott Harrington, 49, of Washington, 35:37.2.
n Female: First place, Ashley Kazarick, 23, of Washington, 33:50.9; second place, Emily Stout, 31, of Waynesburg, 39:15.5; and third place, Linda Keller, 59, of Waynesburg, 39:22.1.
The top three overall winners in the 15K run were:
n Male: First place, Ray Worrell, 31, of Monongahela, 53:43.2; second place, Jonathan Blatt, 20, of Hurricane, W.Va., 54:44.1; and third place, Shane Gottschalk, 25, of Washington, 56:41.9.
n Female: First place, Colette Silvis, 31, of Latrobe, 1:01:30.4; second place, Lauren Woodring, 23, of Bethel Park, 1:05:41.7; and third place, Elizabeth Johnson, 20, of Brownsville, 1:08:16.3.
The age categories awarded for runners were: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-69 and 70-plus.
For walkers, the age categories awarded were: 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70-plus.
Heroes Run runners and walkers were timed by Miles of Smiles Timing Service of Ellwood City, Pa. Race results may be viewed online at www.smileymiles.com.
For more information on Heroes Run/Walk, call the Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323, or visit www.co.greene.pa.us.