- April 20, 2024
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No, this is no April Fool’s Day joke. Asher Ravede — a 12-year-old student at Hinson Middle School — will be getting inducted into the Daytona Running Series Hall of Fame at the Rayz Awareness 5K event on Saturday, April 1, at the Birthplace of Speed Oceanfront Park.
Asher will become the youngest Daytona Running Series HOF inductee (previous youngest was a 17-year-old), and he deserves it.
I have to be honest. When I first saw this news, I assumed this was an honorary induction for some sentimental value. On the contrary! Unlike most HOFs, you get into this one based on results — not voting.
Runners must place either first or second in the series for five years to enter the hall of fame. Asher has already accumulated enough points this season to make this his fifth year (he’s won his age division every year, sometimes every race for the season).
Asher has been putting in work on the course for years. Asher began running at 6 years old at the YMCA. He was running three laps — and sometimes more — with older groups, when his age group was only running a lap around YMCA’s complex. Asher has completed 130 total 5Ks and four triathlon races.
Asher has won three 5K overall titles, and currently holds the fastest time for a Tomoka Elementary student in the Strong, Brave and Healthy 5K annual event (20:49 as a 10-year-old).
“He has a passion for running, and this has been a goal of his since he found out about it when he was 8 years old,” said James Ravede, Asher’s dad. “My wife and I are so proud of Asher and his ability to set a goal at such a young age and see it to its fruition.”
I love to write about Buzz Porter, Ormond’s ageless track wonder, because he still rigorously trains at 80 years old and is still winning dozens of medals. Asher shows how someone like Porter gets to such a level.
Jim told me how Asher refused a snack from his teacher as an elementary student a few years back, because he had a race that following weekend. She offered him pretzels, be he refused them as well after checking out the salt content.
It’s no wonder Asher’s getting inducted.
