We had another great month full of smile-worthy stories. Here are Purpose2Play’s top-five most read articles from September:
5. Jaden Merrick sets new half-marathon record for 9-year-olds
Jaden Merrick is on the fast track in life. The 9-year-old set a new world record for his age in the half-marathon when he ran the Park-to-Park Half Marathon in Waterloo, Iowa on Sept. 9 in 1 hour, 30 minutes and 43 seconds. That’s a 6:55 minute/mile.
“We sent him out at a pretty conservative pace, and he ran spot on what he was supposed to run, and came in at the time we had pretty much planned on,” his father, Brent, said. “He paced himself. He ran it all on his own with his watch.” [More]
4. Military dad dresses as referee, surprises his kids on football field
Army Reserve Master Sargent Joe Egersheim didn’t play a down of football, but his appearance under the Friday Night Lights was the ultimate highlight in a game between Jonathan Law High School and Bethel High in Milford, Conn.
That’s because Egersheim had been gone for a full year to serve a tour in Kuwait. He arrived home a month early, but his son, Cole, who plays football for Law, and his daughter, Olivia, who is a cheerleader for the school, had no idea. [More]
WUHAN, CHINA – SEPTEMBER 25: Sloane Stephens of USA returns a shot during the match against Qiang Wang of China Day 2 of 2017 Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open at Optics Valley International Tennis Center on September 25, 2017 in Wuhan, China. (Photo by Wang He/Getty Images)
3. Looking Back: Cristiano Ronaldo surprises child on Madrid street
It’s been two years since Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo surprised a young boy on the streets of Madrid, but the moment is so cute and entertaining that I think it’s a good time to look back on the incredible video that has amassed more than 16 million views on YouTube.
Ronaldo went undercover to play soccer in the city streets like a “regular person.” A team of people applied makeup and facial hair to his ever-recognizable face. Then he donned a wig, sunglasses and a small fat suit underneath his grey sweats. [More]
2. Beyond tennis, Sloane Stephens aims to help end poverty
By now, you’ve probably heard it’s a women’s all-American semifinal at the U.S. Open. Sloane Stephens is one of those women taking center stage, hoping to become the first American woman not named Venus or Serena to win a major in 15 years.
In fact, Stephens captured the attention of the tennis world, and beyond, when she beat Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of the 2013 Australian Open. So, let’s get to know this 24-year-old from Plantation, Florida a little better, including how she gives back to her community. [More]
1. Chargers keep Younghoe Koo, the kicker from South Korea who can flip
Up until sixth grade, Younghoe Koo had no idea what American football was. That’s because he was born in South Korea, and didn’t learn about the sport, or know English, until coming the United States when he was 12 years old.
Now, after beating out veteran placekicker Josh Lambo in preseason play, Koo has been named the starting kicker for the Los Angeles Chargers. With that, he becomes the fourth South Korean-born player to ever step foot on an NFL field. [More]
