By By Adam Robinson
Sports Editor
Running is a favorite hobby for many, but for one father and daughter duo in Brewton, it is a connection.
Father Will Ruzic and daughter Steely Ruzic enjoy running and competing in triathlons together.
Steely had the same thing to say about her dad.
Recently, the Ruzics competed in the Alabama Sports Festival at Oak Mountain State Park in Birmingham and Steely finished in second place in her age division.
Will said Steely completed the youth triathlon all on her own as no adults were allowed on the course or in the transition areas.
After seeing his daughter compete, Will took part in a race of his own.
In the 9-10-year-old division, Steely took second place and finished the race with a time of 27:32.141. Will finished with a time of 1:27.03.
The triathlon consisted of a 100-yard swim, a 5K-bike ride, and a 1K run for the youth race and a 400-yard swim, 25K bike ride, and a 5K run for the adults.
Will said the recent run was “certainly an amazing day.”
Steely, an eight-year-old student at Brewton Elementary School, said she became interested in running while watching her dad run.
The race for Will was not his first. He has completed the Mardi Gras Marathon in New Orleans in 2008, the Azalea Trail 10K run, several 5Ks and a few triathlons.
He said he plans to do more.
Will said he has run off and on for several years, but really got serious when he decided he wanted to complete a marathon about a year and a half ago.
Will said his favorite thing about running is that he enjoys the health benefits that comes with exercising, but he most enjoys being able to just get lost in thought.
Along with the Ruzics, five other people from Brewton competed in the Alabama Sports Festival.
Ron Peters took third place in the male 30 and over and 40 and over table tennis and first place in the 50 and over and second place in the 60 and over.
Along with the Ruzics and Peters, four members of the Nelson family competed in the games at the Alabama Sports Festival in Birmingham at Oak Mountain State Park.
Siblings, Allie, Amber, Katie, and Brandon Nelson all competed in track and field events over the weekend.
In track and field, Allie Nelson took first place in the 1500m run with a time of 7:10.08.
Amber Nelson took first place in the 1500m intermediate run with a time of 6:23.96 and also took first place in the 3000m run with a time of 14:19.39.
Katie Nelson took first place in the 1500m youth run with a time of 6:00.16 and first place in the 3000m youth run with a time of 12:40.80.
Brother Brandon Nelson took second place in the 5000m run with a time of 18:56.53.