Bill Text: IL HR1076 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates Jeremiah Sullivan on setting the fastest known time on the Katy Trail in Missouri. Commends his crew, Levi and Jon Marriott, for their selfless service. Wishes him continued health, strength, and many more miles.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2026-11-10 - Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Sue Scherer [HR1076 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HR1076-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to congratulate Jeremiah Sullivan of
Springfield on setting the fastest known time for a continuous
supported run of the 240-mile Katy Trail in Missouri; and
WHEREAS, The Katy Trail is the longest continuous rail
trail in the United States, running roughly 240 miles across
Missouri from Clinton to Machens along the former
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad line, with more than half of
its length following the Missouri River route traveled by
Lewis and Clark; and
WHEREAS, At 6:30 a.m. on Friday, October 23, 2026,
Jeremiah Sullivan rang the bell at the western trailhead in
Clinton to mark the start of his run and began heading east;
and
WHEREAS, Running day and night through heat, still air,
dehydration, sleep deprivation, and a stomach that quit on
gels after 200 miles, Jeremiah Sullivan arrived at the Machens
trailhead on Sunday, October 25, 2026, securing an official
time of one day, 19 hours, 45 minutes, and 29 seconds; and
WHEREAS, Jeremiah Sullivan's time bettered the previous

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supported record of one day, 21 hours, 37 minutes, and 38
seconds, which was set by Chris Roberts in September 2024, by
roughly one hour and 52 minutes; and
WHEREAS, Along the way, Jeremiah Sullivan completed his
first 100 miles in 17 hours and 52 minutes, a personal best,
and his second 100 miles in 18 hours and 3 minutes, and he ran
134 miles within the first 24 hours and 200 miles in 35 hours
and 55 minutes, finishing with 240 miles, a new personal
distance record, in a week that totaled 266 miles; and
WHEREAS, Jeremiah Sullivan was assisted from the first
mile by his friend Levi Marriott and later by Levi's brother,
Jon, who both worked to leapfrog him in a vehicle and on a
bicycle to serve as a rolling aid station every three to six
miles for nearly two full days, and whose help he credited with
making his record possible; and
WHEREAS, Jeremiah Sullivan carried himself with grace
through the lowest hours of the trail, repeating to himself a
simple rule for the long flat miles, "Don't let my mind go
where my feet haven't been"; and
WHEREAS, Jeremiah Sullivan was met at the eastern terminus
in Machens by family, friends, and coworkers who traveled to
Missouri to surprise him, showering him with love and

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admiration upon his arrival; and
WHEREAS, Jeremiah Sullivan's path to this milestone was as
remarkable as the record itself; by his own account, he passed
through jail, a hospital, and rehab before finding sobriety,
taking up running during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of that
recovery; and
WHEREAS, Jeremiah Sullivan's first race was a 63-mile
relay in Charleston, Illinois, and in the years since, he has
won the 24-hour Dawn to Dusk Endurance Run while setting a new
course record, won the Watershed Endurance 6Hr/3Hr Runs'
six-hour race in Wisconsin, covering 41.41 miles in the
process, set the course record at the Shippey Endurance Runs'
100-kilometer race in Missouri, claimed first place in the
100-mile races at the Hindsight Ultra Trail Runs in Dixon and
the Shawnee Hills Trail Races in Ozark, both located in
Illinois, and finished the Potawatomi Trail Runs' 200-mile
race in Pekin, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Jeremiah Sullivan was hired as the men's athletic
shoes manager at SCHEELS in June 2023, and he runs to work each
day and spends his working hours helping other Illinoisans
find their footing in the sport that changed his life, sharing
his story publicly so that others facing addiction might see
what is possible; and

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WHEREAS, Jeremiah Sullivan's latest record was built on an
extraordinary foundation of work, and he has logged more than
6,150 miles of running in 2026 alone; and
WHEREAS, Jeremiah Sullivan would not have succeeded on the
Katy Trail without the support of his loving wife, Jeni
Sullivan, who recognized very early how much running meant to
him and bought him his first running watch, and who has since
stood behind him on every long training week, every race, and
every record attempt; and
WHEREAS, Jeremiah and Jeni Sullivan are expecting their
first child, the greatest adventure of all, and the triumph of
the Katy Trail will one day be a story told to their child
about what a person can achieve through faith, discipline, and
the support of the people who love them; and
WHEREAS, Jeremiah Sullivan's recent feat reflects
discipline, humility, and perseverance, qualities the people
of Illinois hold in high regard, and stands as proof that a
life can be rebuilt one mile and one day at a time; therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that

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we congratulate Jeremiah Sullivan on setting the fastest known
time on the Katy Trail in Missouri, commend his crew, Levi and
Jon Marriott, for their selfless service, and wish him
continued health, strength, and many more miles; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Jeremiah Sullivan as an expression of our esteem
and respect.