Westmoreland Christian Academy holds memorial 5K for late principal

Jordan Tomson found a way to combine two of his passions when he established the annual Westmoreland Christian Academy 5K.

Tomson was an avid runner, and the race raised money for students at the small Hempfield private school where he served as principal for the last 10 years.

On Saturday, the school’s 5th annual 5K will honor Tomson, 36, who died in January.

“This was kind of his thing that he loved to do, and we’re trying to carry that on,” said Justin Tomson, Jordan’s brother and an administrator at WCA.

The academy — which has about 35 students — was rocked by the unexpected death of its principal, who was also a teacher and baseball coach, Justin Tomson said.

“He loved teaching, loved education,” Justin Tomson said. “He devoted his life to Christian education.”

Jordan Tomson had an undetected heart condition. He is survived by his sons, Blake, 9, and Kaleb, 7.

“He loved God more than anything, and his two sons were his world,” said Bethany Tomson, Justin’s wife, who helped Jordan organize the annual 5K.

Proceeds for this year’s race will go to the Jordan Tomson Memorial Scholarship Fund to help students in need pay for tuition at WCA.

“We kind of combined the need for fundraising with a passion for our principal,” Bethany Tomson said.

WCA is still figuring out how to move forward without the man who was at the helm for a decade, Justin Tomson said.

“We’re back in school this year, and trying to move forward, really, with the idea that we’re doing this in his honor,” Justin Tomson said.

This year’s race will begin 8 a.m. Saturday at the Huff Avenue entrance to the Five Star Trail in South Greensburg.

Registration costs $23 per person at westmorelandchristian.org.