Triple Crown schedule
· Chris and Kevin Truskey 5K & 10K Memorial Run — Saturday, Aug. 23, at 10 a.m. at Tuscarora State Park, Barnesville. The 5K race will start at 10 a.m. and the 10K race and 5K walk will start at 10:10 a.m. For more information or to register, contact Wayne or Pat Truskey at (570) 386-2922 or email truskey@ptd.net.
· 34th annual Sol Lipton Run Fest — Sunday, Aug. 31, at 316 N. Centre St., Pottsville (in front of Nathan’s Furniture). Half-marathon will begin at 8 a.m., the 5K at 8:30 a.m. and the 1.5-mile fun run at 10 a.m. For more information, visit www.active.com, keyword SOL.
· 5th annual Rhoades Race 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk — Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Saint Clair Industrial Park between Saint Clair and Port Carbon, across from Yuengling Brewery. The 1-Mile Fun Run begins at 10 a.m., with the 5K starting at 10:30 a.m. For more information, or to obtain a registration form, visit www.rhoadesfoundation.com or visit their Facebook page.
Horse racing has its Triple Crown of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
Baseball has one, too, for a player leading his league in batting average, home runs and RBIs.
Now, Schuylkill County 5K runners will have a Triple Crown to call their own.
Organizers of the Chris and Kevin Truskey 5K & 10K Memorial Run, the 34th annual Sol Lipton Run Fest and the 5th annual Rhoades Race 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk have joined forces to create a Triple Crown for local runners.
The series — only 5K races will count — will begin Saturday at Tuscarora State Park for the Truskey, continue Aug. 31 in Pottsville for Sol Lipton and conclude Oct. 19 in Saint Clair at the Rhoades Race.
For years, the Truskey has marked the unofficial start of the fall racing season, and this year is no exception. As of Monday, Pat Truskey said roughly 190 runners had signed up, with several local schools yet to register.
Usually 70 or more sign up on race day, with an average of 350-400 runners per year.
“We’re always looking for growth, ways to present Schuylkill County races in a unique, different light,’’ Sol Lipton Run Fest organizer Eric Lipton said.
There’s so much competition out there these days for races, but we’ve got some long-standing races right here in Schuylkill County,’’ he added. “So this idea of a Triple Crown, with each event in a different town with a well-organized event, will help keep the focus and attention on local races.’’
The idea came out of a yearly conversation between Lipton and local running enthusiast and writer Joe Muldowney. After the Sol Lipton race, they got together to brainstorm ideas to increase participation and enhance the experience for the runners in the future.
The goal is to generate excitement in the running community and encourage runners to participate in the Triple Crown.
The rules are pretty simple. Runners must compete in all three races to be eligible for the top prize.
Scoring will be done similar to what’s done in cross country. For example, a runner that finishes third at Truskey, first at Sol Lipton and third at Rhoades will have seven points. Low score wins, and trophies will be presented to the overall male and female champions.
“I think it’s a good idea,’’ Truskey race organizer Pat Truskey said. “Our oldest son Chris was in a race when Jim Thorpe did it and got an award for top in his age group at the time.’’
Just two awards will be given this year, but starting a master’s division for runners 40 and older is a possibility for next year.
A few factors made this particular Triple Crown viable. All three have 5K races and are in three different communities in different geographic areas of the county.
In addition, proceeds from all three races fund college scholarships for local runners.
“Every race has a different purpose, but these three races produce these three scholarships,’’ Lipton said. “No. 1, the proceeds and money raised go directly to scholarships. There’s not a lot of administrative costs. These are local, family-run races that really care deeply about the community and the kids in their school districts.
“I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to support that kind of effort.’’