Runners honor Sept. 11 victims

By ERIC SEIVERLING

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

They’ve jogged thousands of miles and completed dozens of marathons, but for a group of joggers running through Monongahela Friday, the 9.11 miles they completed have an extra special meaning.

Seven joggers ran through the city as a tribute to first responders, military veterans and those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks 19 years ago on Sept. 11.

Carrying U.S. flags, the group started at Monongahela’s Chess Park and ran along Chess Street to the New Eagle Fire Department, looped back through Monongahela and crossed the Monongahela Bridge. They made a U-turn and returned to Monongahela, where they stopped at the city’s fire and police departments.

The joggers were Stephanie Beisheim of McMurray, Chris Buckley and Matt Kennedy, both of Monongahela, Emery Strotman of Bunola and Drew Guarino, Adam Resosky and Tyler Hufnagel, all of New Eagle.

The Sept. 11 jog began three years ago when brothers-in-law Guarino and Hufnagel wanted to honor U.S. soldiers and first responders.

“I wanted to do something to honor them,” Guarino said. “It’s been just the two of us the past two years.”

“I was sitting on my porch when Drew asked me to run with him,” Hufnagel said. “I wasn’t going to let him do it by himself. I’m just here supporting him.”

Friday marked the first time Resosky and Strotman joined the group.

“I saw him doing this last year,” said Resosky, who said he’s run at least a mile every day for the past 3,177 days. “Me being a runner, I said I gotta run with him.”

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