Honoring Heroes: Kokomo’s 9/11 Memorial Tribute Challenge Returns This Weekend

Kokomo will once again pause to remember the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, through a day of tribute and athletic competition at Kokomo Municipal Stadium on Saturday.

The annual 9/11 Memorial Tribute Challenge offers participants a chance to honor first responders and victims by testing their own endurance. The event includes a 5K run/walk, a CrossFit Hero WOD, and a 110-story stair climb — a symbolic reflection of the number of floors in the Twin Towers. Proceeds benefit three local causes: the Marty Meyers Scholarship Foundation through the Kokomo Fire Department, the Carl Koontz Scholarship Foundation through the Howard County Sheriff’s Department, and the FOP Scholarship Foundation through the Kokomo Police Department.

The workout and stair climb events kick off at 8:46 a.m., and the 5K starts at 9:03 a.m. — signifying the times when the two plane struck the World Trade Center towers on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

The events are open to the public, and sign ups are still accepted here: https://runsignup.com/Race/IN/Kokomo/911MartyMeyersandCarlKoontz

Alongside the challenge, Kokomo will host Indiana’s Strongest Man/Woman competition and the Professional Strongman League Masters Championship, also at Municipal Stadium. Events will feature novice, masters, and open divisions, with prize money awarded to winners.

“Expect to see people lifting and moving some extraordinarily heavy things,” said Tyson Schoolman, owner of Right Path Physical Therapy and Performance Academy. “These tasks require extreme athleticism, not just strength.”

Few in Kokomo know that legacy better than Chad Coy. A longtime competitor and coach, Coy has represented the city in Strongman events around the world. He says the growth of the sport has been remarkable.

“Back in the day, Kokomo was the best in the country,” Coy said. “The sport has grown so much, from grass fields to massive stadiums, to more representation for everyone.”

For Coy, coaching has become the most rewarding part of his career. He hopes Strongman not only inspires future competitors, but also encourages more people to embrace fitness.

“I want people to have fun with it,” Coy said. “At the end of the day, being active is what matters most.”

Both the 9/11 Tribute Challenge and Strongman competitions take place Saturday, Sept. 13, at Kokomo Municipal Stadium.