Can-Am Games 2024 off and running in Butler: See who won Day 1’s 5K race
SLIPPERY ROCK — Matthew Sydlik, of Butler, was the winner of the first event on the first day of the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games.
Sydlik, a corrections officer at the State Correctional Institution in Mercer, came in first in the 5K race through the campus at Slippery Rock University Tuesday morning, July 16.
Sydlik crossed the finish line on the track outside the Morrow Field House ahead of 14 competitors with a time of 19 minutes, 40.82 seconds.
“I run about five or six days a week,” Sydlik said. “It’s a nice course. It had a little flat and a little uphill. It was designed well, utilizing the hills, downhills and flats.”
Bill Jordan, head track coach at Slippery Rock University who was in charge of the race, said the 3.1-mile course started on the track, went through the campus to the running trail on campus, out nearly 1.5 miles and back.
Rich Vanden Hoven, a correctional officer with the Elgin Middlesex Detention Center in London, Ontario, finished second with a time of 19:54.83.
“I’m happy. I try to stay in shape. I get fat if I don’t run,” he said.
Jennifer Martin, a police sergeant with the traffic and traffic homicide unit in Pembroke Pines, Fla., had a time of 26:29 but said she ran the 5K for fun.
“It was challenging. I’m from Florida, we don’t have hills,” she said. “I’ve been in 12 marathons. I stay active, I’m just not very good at it.”
She said she will be taking part in the 10K on Thursday, as well as all the shotgun competition at the games, but her big day will be Wednesday when she competes in nine different swimming events at SRU.
In contrast, Mo Miloua, a state police officer from Middlesex Township, said before the start of the race that Tuesday’s 5K is the only event he’s competing in.
“I hope I do it in 24 minutes. I haven’t run in about a month,” Miloua said, adding he was talked into running the 5K by his father-in-law, Vic Sternby, of Baden, a retired state police officer.
“I talked him into doing that, too,” Sternby said about his son-in-law’s choice of professions.
Sternby said he, too, is actually more of a swimmer and will take part in the games’ swimming competitions.
“I’m just doing this so I can run with him. I’d like to break 25 minutes. I’ve never run a 5K,” said Sternby, who retired in 2016 after 25 years as a state police officer out of the Meadville barracks. “The cardiovascular benefits (of swimming) will definitely be a help.”
Lonnie Croal, a retired Edmonton police officer, and his wife, Diane, of Calgary, Canada, took part in the 5K.
“We run a lot, and I’m not very good at it,” he said. “It’s great to learn the event.”
Diane Croal said they hoped to finish the run in about 30 minutes.
“We’re not fast, but we will get to the end,” she said.
Lonnie Croal has been to numerous Can-Am Police-Fire Games and is presently serving as a director for the games.
He said they fulfill an important function for the all competitors.
“This is a time when mental health is on everyone’s mind. Supporting our hobbies and the things we like to do when we are not working is critically important for the guys and girls in emergency services,” Croal said.
Paul Lueken, SRU’s former athletic director, agreed. He became involved with the Can-Am Police-Fire Games because of his position as vice chairman on the Butler County Tourism Bureau Foundation.
“They are a very important way for first responders to come together in one place to compete,” Lueken said. “They can bond and talk and enjoy time with fellow colleagues. I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Croal had nothing but praise for Butler County as host.
“It’s really great being here,” he said. “Butler has been brilliant. The volunteers have been incredible — getting up early, helping us out, answering our crazy questions.”
