top of page
2025 GCXC Youngstown Ambassador Team
Click on an ambassador to learn more about them!
Beth Hepfner
Beth walks every distance you can find in a racing schedule and she's not afraid to get her shoes a little muddy either!
Beth has been a big advocate for walking for physical fitness and the benefits it also provides for your mental health.
Not everyone can run, but you can bet if you are out walking a race and Beth is there, she is going to encourage you with her friendly personality and beautiful smile.
Beth frequently volunteers at the pre-packet pickup events and day of. She knows everyone, works the fast paced rhythm of the day, and then the next thing you know, she's at the starting line with all her friends.
Beth has encouraged many people in her social circle to try something different by walking races and we love seeing the positive results.
Beth has been a big advocate for walking for physical fitness and the benefits it also provides for your mental health.
Not everyone can run, but you can bet if you are out walking a race and Beth is there, she is going to encourage you with her friendly personality and beautiful smile.
Beth frequently volunteers at the pre-packet pickup events and day of. She knows everyone, works the fast paced rhythm of the day, and then the next thing you know, she's at the starting line with all her friends.
Beth has encouraged many people in her social circle to try something different by walking races and we love seeing the positive results.
Carolyn Franjko
Carolyn is always working hard for new distances, new trails, new friends along the course.
Pushing herself for new personal best times but also very willing to go a slower pace to hang out with her girls!
We love seeing Carolyn post about her workouts with some of our avid participants. It's great seeing that racing is more than just weekend events, that it has brought friendships together that have expanded to larger groups.
Carolyn volunteers at registration tables or wherever else we need her! Always with a smile on her face.
Pushing herself for new personal best times but also very willing to go a slower pace to hang out with her girls!
We love seeing Carolyn post about her workouts with some of our avid participants. It's great seeing that racing is more than just weekend events, that it has brought friendships together that have expanded to larger groups.
Carolyn volunteers at registration tables or wherever else we need her! Always with a smile on her face.
Carl Kondrach
Carl has a big personality and he follows it up with fast race times in both the walk and the run!
Carl's running story is quite impactful!
Back when Carl was growing up in the Children's Home of Wheeling he worked a water station at the Elby's Distance Race, a USA TAC 20k National Championship Event. Carl was impressed with the running royalty like Bill Rodgers and Alberto Salazar that raced in his own back yard! After hearing these legends speaking Carl knew he wanted to be a runner, he was six. At the age of 10 Carl completed his first 5k.
In 2009, Carl was in a car accident that broke his leg, and he was told he wouldn't run again and would be lucky to walk without pain. Carl needed to be around the race atmosphere, so he started volunteering at events and then became a race director. Carl was determined to prove the doctors wrong and started back with race walking. Seven months after the accident Carl completed his first race walk and excelled! A few months later he ran and earned a PR. Carl was back.
Carl has completed over 700 races from the mile through the Ultramarathon distance. His favorite distance is the 5k and he loves how the racing community is one big family that doesn't discriminate. He loves how the racing community uses their events to give back to those less fortunate.
Carl's running story is quite impactful!
Back when Carl was growing up in the Children's Home of Wheeling he worked a water station at the Elby's Distance Race, a USA TAC 20k National Championship Event. Carl was impressed with the running royalty like Bill Rodgers and Alberto Salazar that raced in his own back yard! After hearing these legends speaking Carl knew he wanted to be a runner, he was six. At the age of 10 Carl completed his first 5k.
In 2009, Carl was in a car accident that broke his leg, and he was told he wouldn't run again and would be lucky to walk without pain. Carl needed to be around the race atmosphere, so he started volunteering at events and then became a race director. Carl was determined to prove the doctors wrong and started back with race walking. Seven months after the accident Carl completed his first race walk and excelled! A few months later he ran and earned a PR. Carl was back.
Carl has completed over 700 races from the mile through the Ultramarathon distance. His favorite distance is the 5k and he loves how the racing community is one big family that doesn't discriminate. He loves how the racing community uses their events to give back to those less fortunate.
Julie Pittman
When we look for ambassadors, we are looking for participants at GCXC events, but we also look for people that can expand our notice beyond just the racing scene. Julie hits that mark!
She is often out and about in the area camping, dining, and utilizing the gym as a personal trainer.
If you are looking for someone with endless energy, you have Julie Pittman! She never seems to run out of energy and even if she finishes a race saying she's beat...five minutes later she is jumping around cheering for everyone else that is coming across the finish line.
Julie is always posting on the local community pages about our upcoming events letting potential new runners know about the races they can participate in.
She's a genuine person and she's been seen more recently volunteering at registration and along the race courses.
She is often out and about in the area camping, dining, and utilizing the gym as a personal trainer.
If you are looking for someone with endless energy, you have Julie Pittman! She never seems to run out of energy and even if she finishes a race saying she's beat...five minutes later she is jumping around cheering for everyone else that is coming across the finish line.
Julie is always posting on the local community pages about our upcoming events letting potential new runners know about the races they can participate in.
She's a genuine person and she's been seen more recently volunteering at registration and along the race courses.
Anita Meredith
Anita has been running with GCXC for a few years and has become a mainstay to the racing family.
Anita loves spending time with her grandkids and loves talking with her regulars at Coaches Burger Bar about her running. When she's not with the grandkids or working, Anita is running!
Anita is the friend that will surprise you with a package to your front door or a shirt fundraiser for a friend in need.
She understands the value of racing for a cause and supports her local community with donations at every race she attends.
You don't get more down to earth and honest than Anita!
Anita loves spending time with her grandkids and loves talking with her regulars at Coaches Burger Bar about her running. When she's not with the grandkids or working, Anita is running!
Anita is the friend that will surprise you with a package to your front door or a shirt fundraiser for a friend in need.
She understands the value of racing for a cause and supports her local community with donations at every race she attends.
You don't get more down to earth and honest than Anita!
Blake Headen
Blake is one of our returning ambassadors from 2024. And he's unique in that we share him with GCXC Racing Pittsburgh.
Blake is a West Virginia guy that loves to travel for quality events. He shares pictures of all the shirts, medals, and other race swag from places he goes to...not to mention all the celebrities he takes selfies with!
He was a competitive runner back in his college days and now he walks for continued fitness.
Blake is a genuine fun guy to be around. He always has a smile, oftentimes a joke, and he has his camera ready for selfies!
Blake is a West Virginia guy that loves to travel for quality events. He shares pictures of all the shirts, medals, and other race swag from places he goes to...not to mention all the celebrities he takes selfies with!
He was a competitive runner back in his college days and now he walks for continued fitness.
Blake is a genuine fun guy to be around. He always has a smile, oftentimes a joke, and he has his camera ready for selfies!
Kim Kenetz
Kim began running in the 90s to see if she could complete the 5k distance and has never stopped.
Kim loves finding trails, parks, and other locations for events that she would never have experienced otherwise.
She has completed the Goofy Challenge in 2008 and Disney's Two Course Challenge in 2019.
Kim needed a total knee replacement this past year and transitioned to walking races because of the surgery. She has just started back and truly believes because of this experience that racing is an event for everyone not just the fast runners.
Kim actively shares events in the running groups she belongs to on social media and feels that the GCXC events are always a fun environment.
Kim loves finding trails, parks, and other locations for events that she would never have experienced otherwise.
She has completed the Goofy Challenge in 2008 and Disney's Two Course Challenge in 2019.
Kim needed a total knee replacement this past year and transitioned to walking races because of the surgery. She has just started back and truly believes because of this experience that racing is an event for everyone not just the fast runners.
Kim actively shares events in the running groups she belongs to on social media and feels that the GCXC events are always a fun environment.
bottom of page