This coming weekend, Saturday, July 13, is the Women's 6K Festival at Centennial Plaza. We're proud to share that a Crusader alum, Tina (Oprean) Ryee, Class of 2009, created this empowering event. 
  
This is the 4th annual race. It is open to females of any skill level. Females of any age can run, they've had 6-year-olds to 86-year-olds participate. Participants can walk or run the course. It's a day for ladies to focus on health and fitness, to encourage one another, and to empower themselves. 

We caught up with Tina earlier this year when she came to visit. Tina shared that she envisioned the Women's 6K Festival "as a way to give back to the community". Proceeds of the event benefit several local organizations, including Girls on the Run and CommQuest. Of special note, another Crusader graduate, Elaine Russell Reolfi, serves as president & chief executive officer at CommQuest, it's amazing to see how alumni of all years find meaningful connections! The race is a USA Track & Field sanctioned event. 

Tina has a decorated history in the running community. She has served as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Malone University since 2022, after several years of coaching with the Pioneers in other positions. 
 
As a student-athlete herself for Malone, she was the Pioneer's first-ever NCAA Division II All-American, she was 3rd at the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Cross Country Championships, set two Malone records in the 5,000 and 1,500 meter, won multiple all-conference awards in both cross country and track, was a NCAA national qualifier in the 5,000 meter, and won a USTFCCA National Athlete of the Week award. 
 
Tina was also a highly awarded runner for Central Catholic. She qualified for the OHSAA State Champions multiple times in both cross country and track, she was four-time All-Stark County, a district and regional champion in both cross country and track. She was happy to talk about her years as a student and runner at Central Catholic, as she walked the halls and greeted faculty. 

 

Tina continues to hold our running program in the highest esteem, both under retired coaches Marty Feldpusch and Stephanie Cooper and current head coach, John Paul. As a collegiate coach herself, she indicated that college coaches always know that a runner who comes from Central Catholic is part of a strong program and that they are a strong athlete who will be a positive contributor to their teams.

 

As she spoke so highly of her teachers and especially her former coaches, she was surprised with a unique opportunity. She met and offered words of advice to a current Crusader runner, Taylor Magee (Class of 2027). Taylor is the granddaughter of one of Tina’s most influential CCHS mentors, Coach Feldpusch! Another special reminder that Central Catholic is truly a family and that we are all connected, no matter our graduation year. 

Reflecting upon her time here at Central Catholic, she attributes part of her success to her high school experience. She talked about all the mentors here who drove her to focus, set goals, and reach them. She poignantly expressed her coaches and teachers at Central believed in her, she felt that personal connection out on the track and in her classes. Tina added that when someone believes in you like that it "adds value to your life, it encourages you to be your best." 

To learn more about the race or to register to participate, visit the site: Women's 6K Festival. 
  

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