SPOKANE, Wash. – Members of the Spokane Swifts running group gathered Thursday morning for an emotional tribute to their teammate, who was killed in a hit-and-run crash Wednesday morning.
The all-women’s running group circled up at 37th and Grand with flowers in hand, 24 hours after losing their friend and fellow runner to the tragic incident.
“What happened yesterday was just so horrific and tragic,” said Heather LeFriec, president of the Spokane Swifts.
The team jogged together toward 49th and Perry, where the life-changing crash occurred. One by one, each Swift dropped a flower at the memorial site, with some leaving running memorabilia in memory of Sarah, paying their respects to the friend who was taken too soon.
“We lost in our running community and our community, we lost a mother, a daughter. We’re praying for her children who lost their mom yesterday,” LeFriec said.
The location holds special significance for the group, as they regularly run the same route during their morning practices.
“We run this road almost every morning at 5:30. It’s just so sad to think something so senseless took away someone’s life,” LeFriec explained.
Circled around the memorial, the Swifts said a prayer and observed a moment of silence for their fallen teammate.
“It’s reminded us that every day is a gift. And hugging your family every day, telling your friends and family every day that you love them. Because you just never know, God has a plan for all of us. And yesterday he took our sister Sarah,” LeFriec said.
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