28 • The Beacon April 13 , 2023
Local 11-year-old has now run more than 20 5ks
By Jen Jones
Emma Bechtol may only be 11 years old , but the Coshocton Elementary fifth-grader has more motivation than most adults . She was only nine when she completed her first 5k and hasn ’ t looked back . She has completed more than 20 races , often in first place for her age and sometimes in the top three women of all ages .
“ I wanted to do the first one cause my best friends Cruz and Allie Potts were going to do it ,” Bechtol said . “ It was a little bit hard . The hills were the hardest .”
That race was held in Gnadenhutten . Now that 5k is one of her favorites . “ I do it every year . It ’ s an easier course to keep going in the right direction . And it ’ s one of the nicest ones I ’ ve been to ,” Bechtol said .
While Bechtol does many of her 5ks on her own — with mom and dad Anna and Brad Bechtol cheering her along the way — her dad ran the last one with her .
Submitted
Emma Bechtol stands with some of the medals and trophies she has earned for running in more than 20 5k races . She started running them when she was 9 and is 11 now .
“ I beat him by like five minutes . The last quarter mile was all uphill ,” Bechtol said .
Bechtol runs cross country for Tri-Valley . “ I train at Lake Park a lot .
My dad goes with me . I like to run because it ’ s fun ,” she said .
Bechtol also has trained by running at Kids America . She also plays traveling soccer for the Arsenal soccer club . She said she likes soccer better than cross country , so she ’ ll focus on soccer in the fall with school teams . Cross country and soccer are both fall sports .
Brad Bechtol said he and Anna have been really surprised by Emma ’ s dedication to running and soccer . “ Emma has always been a hard worker , but she really works hard at running . Not many kids run 3 miles on an off day for fun ,” he said .
Brad Bechtol said Emma began working out for soccer and basketball with Bruce Potts
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“ You just need to motivate yourself . It ’ s very , very fun to do , and you can do it with friends , and you get medals and trophies . It ’ s a very good experience .”
when she was 8 .
“ Much of her work ethic was developed from those workouts with Bruce . Running has allowed her to become a better soccer and basketball player and to show her what she is capable of when she works hard and puts her mind to something . Her coaches , Letitia Sauerbrey and Emily Reilly , also push her ,” Brad Bechtol said .
— runner Emma Bechtol
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Brad Bechtol said he and Anna are both appreciative of everyone who has helped Emma reach her goals .
“ You just need to motivate yourself . It ’ s very , very fun to do , and you can do it with friends , and you get medals and trophies . It ’ s a very good experience ,” Emma Bechtol said . “ If you don ’ t run , you just need to try it .”
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