Saturday, April 13, 2002 -- Grundy, VA
ASL Memorial 5k (iPO Event Id#: 4841)
Story by Amanda Rowe and Tabitha Baldwin

[Details] [Coverage] [Overall Results] [Results by Class]
[Pic Set 1] [Pic Set 2] [Pic Set 3]

Tension on the walk starting line

Playing Outside Turns Tears of Sorrow into Smiles of Hope

What a great day to be outside! What started off as a cool and rainy day turned out to be beautiful and sunny for the Inaugural ASL Memorial 5k. Over 300 participants came out in memory of Anthony Sutin, Tom Blackwell, and Angela Dales who tragically lost their lives on January 16, 2002. They gathered at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, VA to register for the race while listening to sweet bluegrass music provided by locals Tony Sturgill and William Hibbitts. Around 9:00 a.m. the competitors gathered at the starting line, anxiously awaiting the start of the race.

The runners started their journey through the town of Grundy, while the walkers awaited the memorial walk. Who would have guessed that the last racer to start the race, because of shoe difficulties, would be the first to cross the finish line? After he quickly adjusted his "kicks", Sean Stiltner, a junior at Grundy High School, dominated the men's field and crossed the finish line with an impressive time of 18:16.

Taking the race to the streets

Before the race Sean was asked his main goal for the race and he replied, "To stay toward the front of the pack and to win the 1st Annual ASL Memorial 5K Race." The top female winner, also the woman's soccer coach at Bluefield College, Angela Stewart, was brought by some of her players all the way from Bluefield, VA. The ASL Run committee predicted that her players saw the movie "The Rookie" and were convinced their coach could make it big. They were right, she crossed the finish line at 24:04 and was awarded the "Angela Dales Trophy."

The first walker that crossed the finish line was Asher McGlothlin, son of Mickey and Sandy McGlothlin and a third grader at Riverview Elementary School. Participating in the walk were many of the students from Mount Mission School, who also provided a Boston Marathon type cheering section at the 2 mile mark for the runners.

Just a time to catch up with friends

The students raised over $1,000 for the families of those remembered, including money for their classmates, Zeb, Zeke and Jillian Blackwell, who did a fabulous job presenting awards with the daughter of Angela Dales, Rebecca. The race, combined with a fundraiser later that night raised over $5,000 for the families.

Dean Anthony Sutin as well as Thomas Blackwell were both avid runners and were running in spirit with their friends, family, colleagues, and other affected by the tragic events. Angela Dales was also there in spirit with her former co-workers in the ASL Admissions Office working the registration table. Playing outside brought the community together for the first time since the tragedy and instead of going home with tears in their eyes, the people went home with smiles and medals.