Heroes Run/Walk race raises more than $10K
MILLSBORO – More than 250 individuals participated in the eighth-annual Heroes Run/Walk Sept. 20 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. Members of Carmichaels American Legion Post 400, Carmichaels VFW Post 3491and Greene County Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 34 led the Pledge of Allegiance and a performance of “Taps.”
More than 170 runners and walkers placed in the race, which included a 5K run, 5K walk and 15K run. Thanks to a partnership with Central Greene School District, more than 110 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 $2,700.
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 fields of public safety or public service, or the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. 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.
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:
•Male: First place, Ben Bumgarner, 15, of Waynesburg, 17:22; second place, Aaron Mylan, 15, of Rices Landing, 18:19; and third place, Daniel Layton, 13, of Waynesburg, 19:37.
•Female: First place, Gretchen Pifer, 15, of Morgantown, W.Va., 22:23; second place, Casey Bamberger, 18, of Prosperity, 24:58; and third place, Nichole Trollman, 27, of Mt. Morris, 25:30.
The top three overall winners in the 5K walk were:
•Male: First place, Rick Sonneborn, 69, of West Finley, 37:39; second place, Dennis Cropp, 62, of Uniontown, 38:43; and third place, Gerald Fontana, 67, of Waynesburg, 40:26.
•Female: First place, Brenda Camps, 53, of Waynesburg, 38:54; second place, Jane Naymick, 59, of Uniontown, 40:40; and third place, Ella Milliken, 7, of Waynesburg, 40:51.
The top three overall winners in the 15K run were:
•Male: First place, Mike Romzy, 53, of Pittsburgh, 1:03:26; second place, Eric Perrell, 53, of Washington, 1:15:11; and third place, Pete Pavick, 41, of Jefferson, 1:20:25.
•Female: First place, Kelli Dugan, 29, of Waynesburg, 1:14:36; second place, Jaminique Milliren, 30, of Eighty Four, 1:20:18; and third place, Sara Stepp, 23, of Waynesburg, 1:21:09.
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 SERJ Racing Services of Uniontown. Race results may be viewed online at www.serjracing.com.
Major sponsors of this year’s Heroes Run/Walk included the Greene County commissioners, Walmart, Noble Energy, Greene County Tourism, Greene Cove Marina and Rices Landing Volunteer Fire Department.
For more information on Heroes Run/Walk, call the Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323, or visit www.co.greene.pa.us.