Runners come together in North Park to honor woman killed while jogging

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — It wasn’t your typical morning run Friday for many local runners.

More than 30 runners met at North Park at 4:20 Friday morning, the time Eliza Fletcher was out running when she was attacked and killed.

Fletcher was a teacher and mother who was kidnapped while jogging in Memphis last week.

Fletcher was abducted during her morning run around the University of Memphis campus and later murdered.

“It feels like a lot. Like I’m her age, I’m 34, I’m a morning runner. I’m a mom, I’m a wife, so it’s a lot. But we have such a strong running community here in Pittsburgh, so no one ever really needs to feel what she felt,” said Amanda Groves.

The runners joined a nationwide effort to finish Eliza’s run. They ran five miles around North Park. That’s the distance Eliza was supposed to run on that tragic day. Some men also participated.

“There are a lot of us men out here as well to support our fellow women runners, and their right to run when they want and free from any threat of violence,” said Peter Lyons.

This run was to honor and grieve Fletcher. to bring awareness, and send a message that women should be able to run any time of day and wear any type of clothing.

Some were also wearing outfits that matched hers, a pink top and blue shorts

Lori Malazich participated. She’s the middle school cross-country coach at Pine-Richland High School. She said this is an important lesson for young girls.

“I think any of us here as females worry about what happened to Eliza Fletcher and other women throughout the United States, that we know it could be any one of us at any time. Not just morning, but afternoon and evening,” said Malazich.

Many runners in Bethel Park also took part Friday morning at South Park to support Eliza.

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