Drawn to a 'great cause': 500 participants of 8th Killian 5K fundraiser start in rain, end in sunshine

About 500 runners and walkers braved the dark clouds and rain to participate in the eighth annual Killian 5K Run/Walk on July 26 at the North Park Boathouse in McCandless. 

By the time the race was over, the rain had let up and everyone celebrated under the bright sunshine.

The Killian 5K is an annual fundraiser organized by Susan and Patrick Cavanaugh of Pine in honor of their son, Killian Patrick Cavanaugh, who passed away on Dec. 9, 2017, at age 20 from a febrile seizure.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Killian Patrick Cavanaugh Memorial Scholarship Fund, which awards $10,000 to graduating scholar-athletes from Pine-Richland High School and Shady Side Academy to help fund their college educations.

This year, the scholarships went to Pine-Richland’s Maren Iski and Shady Side’s Ben Michels. Iski, 18, of Pine also ran in this year’s 5K and placed second in the overall female division.

Killian was a dedicated student and football and baseball player who graduated from Shady Side Academy in 2016 and went on to study at the University of Chicago.

Sarah Craig, a resident of Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood, befriended Killian when they were in eighth grade. Though they went on to different high schools, Killian and Craig “had a lot in common” and stayed friends until he passed, according to Craig.

“He was such a bright light in everybody’s life, we could confide in him with anything,” Craig said. “He brought so many people together. He was so special.”

Craig connected Killian’s friendly and welcoming nature with his family.

“The Cavanaugh household was where we went for everything. It was just, like, that’s where you wanted to be because the Cavanaughs are incredible people, and Killian came from an incredible family,” Craig said.

Susan Cavanaugh, one of the key organizers of the 5K, said she sets goals every year to add new elements to the race and increase participation.

This year, the new elements included getting the course USA Track & Field certified and new cash prizes going to the top three finishing men and top three finishing women. Those who finished first place won $250, second place snared $150 and third got $100.

She also invited runners from the Pro Bike + Run ELITE Running Team , a new premier Pittsburgh running team established earlier this year.

“It’s fun to see a lot of the really good runners, and we hope that this race will become a legacy race not just for casual runners, but for the really good runners as well,” Patrick Cavanaugh said.

Two runners from the Pro Bike + Run team, Sam Snodgrass of Oakdale and Hayden Hunt of Robinson, tied for first overall in this year’s race. According to Snodgrass, they both purposefully crossed the finish line together, with a time of 15:44.

“I’m really happy Hayden and I were able to come out and take first, too. That was kind of the plan coming in — we’ll cross the line together if everything comes together on it,” Snodgrass said. “This is my first year, and I’ll probably keep coming back just because it’s for a great cause. And obviously it’s a great location and a solid course as well.”

Besides encouraging competition and athletic performance, the annual 5K also is an opportunity for the community to come together, support the Cavanaughs and honor Killian’s memory.

Sandra Landreneau, a neighbor of the Cavanaughs for 22 years, said her favorite part of helping with the race each year is “seeing how many people actually come out eight years later to continue to support the Cavanaugh family” and keep Killian’s spirit alive.

“It helps all of us. It helps the family. I know that it’s what drives (Susan) and keeps her moving on a daily basis,” Landreneau said. “It’s so heartwarming to see everybody come together for this cause.”