Through our annual Cause for Celebration, The Steamboat Classic Presented by PNC celebrates the countless impressive feats of athleticism in the sport of running. This week we are proud to introduce Joan Benoit Samuelson, a true epitome of vigor and competitiveness throughout a lifespan. 

Former Peoria Notre Dame cross country star Caitlin Comfort rose to top of the leaderboards her very first season and stayed there, placing Top 10 all four years in the Illinois AA State Championships (and winning as a junior in 2006). 

Meet Sydney McLaughlin Levrone, world record holder in the 400 meter hurdles and this week’s Cause for Celebration highlight.

Meet 1993 Illinois State Cross Country Champion Jenelle Deatherage of East Peoria!

Meet 100-meter hurdle master and three-time Olympic champion Gail Devers. On her journey to the pinnacle of stardom, Devers overcame hurdles on and off the track, a true champion and Cause for Celebration of Triumphs of Women in Running this week

Among the most dominant female runners to emerge from the River City, Suzie Tuffey rises to the spotlight for this week’s Triumphs of Women in Running as part of the SC415 2025 Cause for Celebration Presented by PNC.

This week we celebrate the inspiring story of Katherine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an officially registered competitor. As you can see here, her historic run didn’t happen without pushback…literally.

The 2025 campaign is inspired by our very own Central Illinois native Bev Enslow, the only person to compete in all 50 Steamboat Classic races and a 3x women’s overall Steamboat winner in both the 4-Mile and 15K distances.

In celebration of National Girls & Women in Sports Day, The Steamboat Classic Presented by PNC is proud to announce the annual SC415 Cause for Celebration, a year-round campaign that will highlight accomplishments and triumphs in the sport of running.