As the countdown to the 2025 Flying Pig Marathon continues, a few young runners received special honors Wednesday.
More than a dozen students got a massive gift on the path to college at the Flying Pig Scholarship Breakfast.
For Covington Catholic runner Will Sheets, Wednesday was a reminder that the hours of pushing himself were worth it.
Ten years ago, the CovCath senior was surprised by his dad that they were about to run in a group with world-renowned Cincinnati-based runner Harvey Lewis.
“I was looking at the brochure for the day and I’m like, Harvey Lewis is speaking, and it was just such like a moment that we’ve come full circle,” Sheets said.
The Flying Pig spent the morning celebrating Cincinnati-area runners. Not with a medal, but with money toward their education.
“It was an email and I remember I was having actually kind of a rough day,” Sheets said. “I got the email and I looked down and I was like, ‘oh my gosh.’ It just absolutely made my day so wonderful.”
Eighteen students across the area received $20,000 in scholarship money.
The Bob Coughlin Foundation has pledged half a million dollars to help the next generation of runners.
“It’s been such an influential part of my life,” Sheets said of running. “I mean, it has taught me perseverance, hard work, dedication, and it’s given me a social life. It’s given me connections that I could never imagine having.”
This scholarship isn’t just about the fastest athletes or the smartest students. It’s about the community and recognizing student-athletes who are making a difference outside the course.
Wednesday was a chance to recognize some of the youngest community leaders before tens of thousands cross the Finish Swine.
Below is a look at each of the scholarship winners from Wednesday.
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