Avon Teacher Wins Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon

Sarah Horbol, a Westlake resident and fifth grade teacher at Heritage Elementary School, captured the women’s division championship at the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon held last Sunday, May 20.

Avon Heritage teacher Sarah Horbol won the women’s division championship at the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon last Sunday. See story in today’s Crocker Press. Photo courtesy Cleveland Marathon

A former Magnificat High cross country runner, Sarah covered the 26.2 miles that traversed streets of Cleveland, Lakewood and Rocky River in 2 hours, 51 minutes and 41 seconds.

A road racing veteran, Sarah was third in last year’s Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. She finished almost 6 minutes ahead of the women’s runner-up, Anna Balouris of Pennsylvania. Sarah won a $3000 first place award. She was bolstered by many friends and family members who cheered her way.

This was her fourth Cleveland Marathon run, having also raced in 2014, 2016 and 2017. She has also run the Boston Marathon. Sarah was women’s champ at the annual Avon Eagle Run, in 2016, taking the women’s overall title with a time of 31:11 for the 5 mile run.

Sarah has been running ever since she joined the third grade team at St. Bernadette School in Westlake in her elementary school days. Sarah ran track in high school but not college and has always run as a way to exercise and stay in shape. Sarah decided to challenge herself and run a marathon in 2014. What a great example for her students as she changes into her training clothes either before or after school for a training run!

: Sarah Horbol won the Avon Eagle Run in 2016. Bud Hagy, Bistro83 proprietor and founder of Celebrate Westlake, presented her award after the victory. Bud is also a noted long distance run-ner, having completed 100 marathons in his road racing career.

: Eagle Run, 2016

: Cleveland Marathon, 2017

Congratulations also go to the Sunflower Striders Team and all the runners who participated in the Cleveland Marathon representing the Prayers from Maria Children’s Glioma Cancer Foundation. “Together our team raised $12,000 for childhood cancer research! Thank you to all of the donors who supported them!” reports Prayers from Maria and founders Ed & Megan McNamara.

: Team Josh, Tad Fryberger Sr., David Metzger, Julie Yontz Metzger, Zachary Metzger and Tim Elicker, raised over $1,000 for childhood cancer research in memory of their son/brother Josh Metzger who they lost to DIPG 9 years ago.

: Top fundraiser John Schriner and family after his 1/2 marathon finish! This year John raised over $4,000! Over the past 8 years on the team he has raised over $32,000!