Campus greets Special Olympics Torch Run participants

Monday, June 1, 2026

photos by Rob Hinkal, social media specialist

Participants in the second annual Williamsport Hometown Torch Run approach the end of their 2-mile journey at Penn College’s main entrance. The Hometown Torch Run mobilizes law enforcement, Special Olympics Pennsylvania volunteers, and athletes to carry the Special Olympics Flame of Hope through town to raise funds and awareness. The run began at Lycoming College.

Local law enforcement agencies teamed up recently to celebrate area athletes who are preparing to compete in this week's Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games at Penn State.

The second Williamsport Main Street Torch Run carried the Special Olympics Flame of Hope through Williamsport, from Lycoming College to Penn College, where a pep rally was held near the college’s main entrance.

Thirty runners from local police departments were accompanied by Special Olympics volunteers and athletes to make the 2-mile trek. Agencies supporting the event were members of the Penn College Police Department, Lycoming Regional Police Department, Williamsport Bureau of Police, Pennsylvania State Police, FBI, Lycoming County Prison and Lycoming County Sherriff’s Office.

Nearly 100 Susquehanna Valley Region athletes will compete in track and field, swimming, basketball, tennis, and gymnastics at the Summer Games, scheduled June 4-6. The region encompasses nine counties: Lycoming, Bradford, Sullivan, Tioga, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union.

The first Law Enforcement Torch Run was held in 1981 in Kansas.

Special Olympics Pennsylvania provides year-round training and competition in 21 Olympic-type sports to over 15,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities or closely related developmental disabilities.

The Pep Rally includes high fives from members of the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club as runners pass through the college’s main entrance.

Izaak Hobday, regional athlete leader from Team Bradford-Sullivan, carries the Flame of Hope. Hobday, who Special Olympics Regional Exeuctive Director Melissa Rushefski called “an amazing global messenger,” participates in long distance run-walking, bocce, basketball and athletics (track).

Athlete leaders Kyle Powell and Brendan Rooker, both of Team Lycoming, rally the crowd.

Representatives from Williamsport Bureau of Police, Penn College Police and the Pennsylvania State Police pose with the torch. (From Penn College Police are Lt. Fletcher W. Farr, second from left, and Chief David C. Pletz, far right.)