Celebration of Life: Ben Mourer Memorial Classic

Aubryanna Snyder, Features Editor • September 26, 2025

Over 200 people turned out last Saturday, Sept. 20, for the Allegheny Classic, the cross country team’s annual home meet. This year was dedicated to celebrating the life of former Head Cross Country and Track and Field coach Ben Mourer, ’07, who died in June. The home meet has been permanently renamed the “Ben Mourer Memorial Classic” and saw a combination of friends, family, student athletes and alumni who came to honor Mourer’s memory.
(Aubryanna Snyder)

After the race, people were encouraged to mingle and enjoy the picnic provided by volunteers. Allegheny students and staff were also given green shirts with Mourer’s iconic mantra “Never Settle” on the back, as well as the team’s newly coined term, “Mourer Strong.”
(Aubryanna Snyder)

Alumni, coaches, visiting athletes, Allegheny students and more run in the “Mourer Mile,” a race that took place after the cross country meet had finished and will be added as a new tradition to honor Mourer. Alumni are welcomed back to run at their alma mater every year, though this year saw a record breaking turnout in memory of Mourer, fulfilling his wish for a large, all-inclusive meet, according to the speech Athletic Director Bill Ross read aloud before the awards ceremony. (Aubryanna Snyder)

Onlookers cheer as one of Coach Mourer’s sons, Arthur, closes in on the finish line of the “Mourer Mile.” Arthur, his brother, Henry, and their mother Kimberly Mourer, ’08, were the honorary starters of the cross country home meet (Aubryanna Snyder)

Mac Polny, ’23, and Stephen Cullinan, ’23, battle it out during the final stretch of the “Mourer Mile.” (Aubryanna Snyder)

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About the Contributor

Aubryanna Snyder, News Editor

Aubryanna Snyder, ’27, is from Aliquippa, PA. She is a Political Science major and Journalism minor and is also on the Track and Field team. This is her second year on staff as Features Editor. She has studied journalistic writing since her freshman year of high school and has always enjoyed getting to help people tell their stories. When she’s not writing or running, she enjoys hot caffeinated drinks and long T.V. binges!

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