WEST LIBERTY – The 40th annual BOSS Summer Run will take place on Saturday, Aug. 19, at Lions Park in West Liberty. There will be a one-mile fun run for runners 10 years old and younger starting at 8:30 a.m. and a 5K (3.1 miles) that will kick off at 9 a.m. The race is open to runners and walkers with race day registration opening at 7:30 a.m.
The race was founded in 1977 by former West Liberty-Salem cross country coach and Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches hall of famer Ken Lehman to raise money for the West Liberty-Salem Big Orange cross country program. Lehman also opened the Big Orange Shoe Shop in West Liberty, naming the business after his team.
“Coach Lehman was an innovator in the local running community as a coach and business owner,” said race manager and West Liberty-Salem girls cross country coach Ann Vogel. “We are thankful for the support of the local running community, and in turn are proud to provide a quality road race that carries on Coach Lehman’s legacy.”
“I’m proud that it’s the oldest road race around,” said former WL-S state champion Earl Zilles. “Over the years, there have been some of the top runners in the country that have competed in the BOSS Run including Olympic trial marathoners Rick Callison, Aaron Fulsom, T.J. Lentz and steeplechaser Bret Hyde.”
Along with Zilles, several other state cross country and track and field champions have competed at the BOSS Run including Maria Newcomer-Gleason, Isaiah Bragg and Meghan Vogel.
“We love the BOSS Run,” said Reliant Mechanical Inc. CEO and race sponsor Chris Harr. “With video games and sedimentary life styles, we wanted to channel our sponsorship resources toward things that encouraged a more healthy balance. The BOSS Run encourages our community to get up, get out and move.”
The 5K course begins at Lions Park, takes state Route 245 west to Country Road 47, then heads back to the park on township Road 174 and finishes on the east side the park. There are cash prizes for the top three male and female runners and finishing medals for all participants along with generous door prizes donated by local businesses.
“Online registration is now closed, but to celebrate our 40th anniversary any runner who brings a race bib from a previous race this summer can run for $10 by registering on race day,” Vogel said.
For more information on the race, Vogel can be contacted at (937) 465-0931.
