Schnorr repeat Woodruff winner
Roberto Esquivel/HeraldStandard.
?Wade Schnorr of Connellsville is the first man to complete the John Woodruff 5K Walk/Run race in Connellsville Wednesday.
Roberto Esquivel/HeraldStandard.
?Angela Bowers of Latrobe is the first woman to finish Wednesday蘑菇视频 John Woodruff 5K Walk/Run race in Connellsville.
Talbot Maruca, 9, and sister Maddox, 7, pause for a photo after winning the children's race at the John Woodruff 5K Walk/Run race in Connellsville Wednesday evening. Talbot took first place while her sister came in second.
?CONNELLSVILLE 鈥� Defending a title is never easy, but Wade Schnorr makes it seem that way, as the Connellsville native came in first place for the third consecutive year in the running category of the 29th annual John Woodruff 5K Race/Walk on Wednesday.
Schnorr, 24, a teacher at Connellsville High School where he graduated from in 2005, said that it felt great to win in his hometown.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 always nice to win in the event in your neighborhood,鈥� said Schnorr. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 sure how well I would do, as I had some nice competition from others. I鈥檓 just honored to win again.鈥�
Discussing his key to success, Schnorr remarked he had some little strategies.
鈥淚 live right on the course so I can practice,鈥� said Schnorr. 鈥淚 can get out and see the course and run it when I want.鈥�
Jamie Brooks captured her 13th title in the race, with a first place finish in the female walking category.
Brooks ,41, a native of Uniontown and resident of Connellsville, said that she participates in more than 30 events a year and credits her practice routine for her success.
鈥淚 try to mix things up with running and walking,鈥� said Brooks. 鈥淚鈥檓 getting nervous now in events because I鈥檓 getting older. Still, it蘑菇视频 nice to win here, especially now when I can hear my son call my name and see him root for me from the stands.鈥�
Natalie Bower蘑菇视频 first place finish in the female running category brought good memories back for the Pleasant Unity native.
The last time Bower, 20, participated in the race was 2006, when she captured first place.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 nice to come back here and participate again,鈥� said Bower. 鈥淚 run for the Penn State track and cross country team, so I came in with goals to meet and was familiar with the course. I haven鈥檛 come through here since, but I really enjoy the environment of the community.鈥�
While the other overall winners had previously won, Lee Stough took home his first gold in the event since he began participating in 2008.
Stough, 29, of Glassport, felt his success came from staying focused on the prize.
鈥淚 know my main competitors and that they will never yield an inch,鈥� said Stough who added he participates in 50 events a year. 鈥淓very time I looked back I hoped they weren鈥檛 too close behind me while keeping my sights on the finish line. It was nice to come in first after finishing second or third the past few years.鈥�
Marking the 75th anniversary of John Woodruff winning a gold medal in the 800-meter race during the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin, the first through third overall and age group winners were awarded gold plated English Oak leaves with gold, silver or bronze colored ribbons.
The leaves represent the English Oak seed given to Woodruff by the German people after the Olympics and planted in the north corner of the Connellsville High School football field.
Nancy Dye, a race committee member, was pleased with the 883 participant turnout.
鈥淚t was really nice to have that many people come,鈥� said Dye. 鈥淓specially because of the significance of this year being the anniversary. It shows people still remember and want to recognize the achievements of Woodruff and what he meant for this community.鈥�