Schnorr breaks through in annual 5K
CONNELLSVILLE – More than 600 runners and walkers braved hot and humid conditions to take part in the 24th annual Highlands Hospital/Francis “Bud” Murphy Memorial 5K race Thursday evening. The race was moved to the Memorial Day weekend instead of its normal date of June 10 to avoid conflict with graduation ceremonies at Connellsville Area High School.
Race director Patty Porter was pleased with the large turnout. “I’m so excited. I see all of these people showing up. I think this might be a better date,” she said. ” That’s something we’re going to look into.”
Porter said the race would not be possible without all of the community support to make the event a success. “This event wouldn’t be possible without the help of the all the volunteers, sponsors, the police, ambulance and the people in general who come to support the race,” She said. “People ask why we have such a great turnout. I think we put together a class affair and it’s caught on.”
Connellsville’s Wade Schnorr was the overall winner with a time of 16:43 to earn his first title. “I’ve finally broken my streak of five second-place finishes,” he said. “I think over the last two years I’ve started to come into my own as a runner.”
Heather Parks of Bruceton Mills, W.Va. was the first woman to cross the finish line in the run with a time of 19:28. She explained she was pleased by her results despite the fact she has not been training. “I haven’t been doing the hard-core training I usually do, so it thought I would use this race as a little bit of a training run,” she said. “It was a hot day, but I thought I could get the win if I ran within myself. The hills were a little tough but the race was okay.”
Veteran racer Don Slusser of Monroeville won the men’s walk with a time of 27:27 and was impressed with the quality of the field. “It was a very good field in the race today. I changed the date of a race I have so it wouldn’t conflict with this race. It’s a nice event. I’m looking forward to coming back.”
Local favorite Jamie Brooks added yet another title winning the women’s walk at 30:41. Brooks said what impressed her more than winning was improving over her time last year. “The number of times I’ve won is not important anymore,” she said. “I’m 40 and just thankful I can get out her and do it. Every year I can get out here I’m thankful for it.”