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Great American relay runners from left, Brandon Dillion, Cameron Beal , Jaime Andrews and baton carrier Terry Montgomery. Stephanie Summers photo
On Monday evening, Oct. 5, 2020, members of the Great American Relay team made their way through Bristow. These runners started in Boston, Massachusetts and end the relay at Santa Monica Pier in California. Three hundred and seventy nine legs running across 15 states.
The relay began in Boston on Sept. 15, 2020 and will end at the pier on Oct. 21, 2020, running for 36 continuous days. Each stage is between five – 22 miles, most around 10 miles. The lead runners carry the baton from the east to the west coast in a spectacular show of unity. There are three types of runners. Only the lead runners carry the baton. There can be 10 support runners with the lead. The group is also raising money for the American Association for Cancer Research.
The lead runner for Stage 221 is Alan Black, of Tulsa. He was accompanied in the run by Erin Roesemeier and Tisha Hadley. This group ran from two miles north of Bristow, on Hwy 66, and will carry the baton to Depew. Black will pass the baton to Stage 222 lead runner Terry Montgomery, of Bristow, who was accompanied by runners Brandon Dillon and Jaime Andrews. Montgomery will carry the baton from Depew to Stroud where it will be passed to Stage 223 lead runner, and so forth.
All participants receive a Great American Relay T-shirt and a commorative medal.