Katie DeRosa track meet, Mile for Molly this evening

FROSTBURG — Northern Garrett’s Eoin Matteo Elica, Allegany’s Leigha Read and Mountain Ridge’s Sophia Brill are the 2026 recipients of the “I Run Because I Love It” Scholarship award winners they will receive tonight during the opening ceremony of the 26th annual Katie DeRosa Memorial Track and Field Meet at Mountain Ridge High School Stadium.

Making the presentations will be Patty and Norm DeRosa and Molly Offstein with her mother Laura Byrnes.

There is no entry fee but donations will be accepted at the gate.

Fifth- to eighth-grade students from Allegany, Garrett, Hampshire and Mineral counties will participate.

This year’s event will again continue to feature “A Mile for Molly.” This invitational one-mile race will feature past area high school runners, coaches and others.

The opening ceremony will begin at 5:45 with the national anthem and the presentation of scholarship winners.

The order of events are the 100m run, broad jump, 1200m run, softball throw, 1600m run, long jump, the “Mile for Molly”, high jump, 4x100 relay, and the 400m, 800m and 200m runs.

Northern Garrett’s Elica has a GPA of 4.54 and is second in his class of 108. He is a member of the National Honor Society. He is accepted and plans to attend Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and plans to major in cellular biology with a minor in philosophy.

Elica participated in many community and school activities. He also competed in track & field and cross country all four years.

Running has benefited Elica in many ways, providing mental endurance, deeper connections with family, and success due to personal accountability and perseverance.

Allegany’s Read has a GPA of 4.2 and is 31st out of a class of 151. She is vice president of the National Honor Society and has been accepted and plans to attend WVU Potomac State College and major in health sciences with a transfer to WVU and becoming a doctor of physical therapy.

Read was captain of the cross country team and qualified for the Maryland state championships in cross country as well as track & field. Running has taught her that small changes can be powerful. Instead of “giving in” to the easier route, Read takes the more complex route for greater rewards.

She has completed a plethora of half marathons, six marathons and is currently signed up to complete her seventh 26.2 mile marathon in May. She has also completed two ultra marathons of up to 40 miles — all while still competing in track & field and cross country.

“She truly captures the essence of what it means to love running,” said George Brown, Allegany head track & field coach.

Mountain Ridge’s Brill has a GPA of 4.46 and ranks seventh out of 160 and is the vice president of the National Honor Society along with being a member of the Show Choir and Drama Club. She is accepted and plans to attend Michigan State University or Ohio University with an undecided major.

Brill has competed in the running programs at Mountain Ridge all four years.

In 2024, she was third at the state cross country meet.

She was the state champion in the 3200 at the state track and field meet, finished runner-up in the 1600, third in the 800 and was part of the third place 4X800 relay team.

She again took third in the 2025 Maryland cross country meet and was part of the 4X800 runner-up relay team at this year’s indoor state track meet.

She also finished third in the 3200 run at the 2025 Adidas Outdoor Nationals and took fifth in 1600 run.

Donations will benefit the Nate Brenneman and family.

Pfc. Brenneman, a Northern Garrett graduate and former wrestler, is a Garrett County native who is currently recovering from a serious illness suffered last year while training with the Army in Texas. He has returned home for recovery after receiving specialized care in Virginia, requiring community support.

Brenneman was an active member of the Northern Garrett Junior ROTC program and attended Maryland Boys State before graduating.

He joined the U.S. Army, but contracted a severe, disabling illness during training, requiring long-term care.

Brenneman is described as a fighter, with his family and local community supporting his rehabilitation process.