(Butler, PA) Runners over the age of 40 had the fastest times among men and women competing Saturday in a Butler County Community College 5K race that with other Pioneer Pursuit events raised nearly $11,700 to support BC3’s intercollegiate athletics programs.

Jason Smith, 43, of Wexford, placed first among men and overall with a time of 20:44.45 and Holly Peterman, 47, of New Brighton, among women at 28:12.98. Peterman also won the female 40 to 49 age bracket at the 2025 Pioneer Pursuit.

Nearly three dozen runners from Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Indiana, Mercer and Westmoreland counties participated in the 5K race that joined a 1-mile walk and a 100-meter kids’ dash at the Pioneer Pursuit on BC3’s main campus in Butler Township.

Matt Reagle, 41, Oil City, who placed third overall and among men in the 2025 Pioneer Pursuit, was second Saturday at 23:19.76. James Dankovich, 56, Butler, was third among men and overall at 24:58.98.

Madison Hunt, 25, no hometown listed, placed second among women at 30:17.40 and Candice Schwartz, 46, of Sharon, third at 31:30.30.

BC3 student-athletes this fall are graduates of Armstrong, Apollo Ridge, Butler, Cardinal Mooney, Connellsville, Deer Lakes, Grove City, Keystone, Knoch, Laurel, Redbank Valley and Warren high schools.

 

 

“We had 1-year-old girls whose parents registered them for the kids’ dash all the way up to a 79-year-old in the 5K race. To me, that captures beautifully who we are … ”

-- Megan M. Coval, BC3 president

 

 

“Our community loves to support BC3, we see that shown in so many ways. And the community wants to support a winner. Our student-athletes have success in their classes and in their sports, and, when it comes down to it, people want to back that.”

-- Mikayla Moretti, executive director, BC3 Education Foundation and external relations

 

The 5K race attracted 33 runners, the 1-mile walk 29 participants and a 100-meter kids’ dash 18 children, and an estimated 50 of their friends and relatives.

The Pioneer Pursuit drew nearly 90 volunteers, including more than 60 BC3 student-athletes and 10 students in the college’s early childhood education (Pre K-4) associate degree program who provided activities for children in the college’s central oak grove, where a Finish Line Festival debuted.

“It was filled with people,” said Megan M. Coval, BC3’s president. “What struck me most was seeing people of all ages. That is really who we are at BC3 and what we are about, serving our community at every age and every stage.

“We had 1-year-old girls whose parents registered them for the kids’ dash all the way up to a 79-year-old in the 5K race. To me, that captures beautifully who we are, that there is something for everyone here at BC3 and that it’s important to us that we provide opportunities for individuals at every age in everything that we do.”

BC3’s first Pioneer Pursuit, held in 2022, raised $16,000 for scholarships that included those in memory of nursing graduates who died at age 23 in 2019 and at age 26 in 2020.

 

The 2024, 2025 and 2026 events have generated more than $36,000 to benefit BC3 intercollegiate athletics programs that have won 60 conference and 30 regional titles and that have qualified for national championship tournaments 14 times.

“Our community loves to support BC3, we see that shown in so many ways,” said Mikayla Moretti, executive director of the BC3 Education Foundation and external relations. “And the community wants to support a winner. Our student-athletes have success in their classes and in their sports, and, when it comes down to it, people want to back that.”

Pioneer Pursuit participants had the opportunity to see BC3 student-athletes whose programs benefit from the event, said Tricia Pritchard, director of donor and community engagement with the BC3 Education Foundation.

“They got to engage with our student-athletes,” Pritchard said. “For me, what was so cool was watching those student-athletes go full-force in cheering for everyone, especially the runners in the 5K, saying ‘You’re almost there. You’re almost home. You got this.’

“It’s the same kind of support they love when they are competing at their athletics events. They love to have that kind of community support and they gave it right back.”

 

“For me, what was so cool was watching those student-athletes go full-force in cheering for everyone, especially the runners in the 5K, saying ‘You’re almost there. You’re almost home. You got this.’’’

-- Tricia Pritchard, director of donor and community engagement, BC3 Education Foundation

 

 

Male age-group winners

18 and under: Deacon Martin, 13, Butler, 32:45.31; and Gabriel Smith, 7, Wexford, 33:50.91.

19 to 29: none.

30 to 39: Logan Holland, 33, no hometown listed, 35:40.48; and Dave Plaisted, 33, no hometown listed, 37:26.99.

40 to 49: Nick Coval, 48, Valencia, 27:36.98; Glenn Sharrar, 42, Butler, 30:13.73; and Chad Filges, 45, Butler, 33:47.74.

50 to 59: Bruce Soule, 58, Butler, 28:57.73.

60 to 69: John Karpacs, 64, Homer City, 33:43.59; Jim Leroy, 62, Butler, 34:52.11; and Tom Postupac, 61, Scottdale, 56:54.55.

70 and over: Anthony Sunseri, 77, Grove City, 35:39.86; and Paul Johnson, 79, no hometown listed, 38:52.15.

Coval and Sunseri won their age groups for a second consecutive year.

 

Female age-group winners

18 and under: Madison Sharrar, 14, Butler, 35:06.20; and Madison Wetzel, 9, Butler, 37:34.25.

19 to 29: Vivian Leitner, 20, Butler, 34:47.24.

30 to 39: Sarah Wetzel, 35, Butler, 31:56.74; and Emily Cress, 32, no hometown listed, 44:15.89.

40 to 49: Ashley Sheppard, 41, Butler, 32:33.73; Wendy Fischer, 42, Butler, 33:03.59; and Jessica Hamilton, 40, Butler, 33:19.27.

50 to 59: Jenn Barnes, 56, Butler, 35:05.72; and Kim Miller, 52, Butler, 38:42.38.

60 to 69: Cindy Barnes, 63, Hermitage, 38:20.80; and Janet Postupac, 60, Butler, 56:54.46.

The Pioneer Pursuit also raised $1,600 for the BC3 Alumni Association.