MANKATO — In a matter of moments, the time it took for a favorite song to play, a glimpse at Caty Delwiche’s life passed in pictures on two screens anchoring each side of a stage set up in Myers Field House at Minnesota State University.

There were pictures of a little girl sitting in the bow of a fishing boat. A birthday cake and a line of grade school friends doing the bunny hop. There were prom pictures and a group of high school students arm-in-arm on a living room couch. One picture showed Caty doing a friend’s hair, and many pictures showed her doing something she loved: running competitively.

When it was over Wednesday evening, her friends and family took turns stepping up to a podium and sharing what they knew about the 18-year-old MSU freshman. None of them tried to explain the unexplainable: Why her life ended so unexpectedly two weeks ago. She was hit by a sport utility vehicle while running on a sidewalk, training for her first MSU cross country meet.

Like the pictures, Caty’s life passed quickly, they said. Then each explained how inspirational memories of her will remain for a long time.

Scott Eckhoff, her cross country coach at Glencoe-Silver Lake High School, talked about walking alone on a running course in Duluth recently, trying to see some sign of Caty in the fog.

It was a gift to watch “a shy seventh grader grow into a fantastic young adult,” he said.

They never had a conversation, but Caty and MSU Athletics Director Kevin Buisman certainly crossed paths, Buisman said. She was a presidential scholar, a valedictorian of her high school class and an all-conference athlete.

After explaining Caty will be remembered with planted trees, other memorials and a university scholarship, Buisman fought tears as he explained how her life, and death, touched him, personally. Caty changed his life at work and at home, where he’s raising two daughters of his own.

Buisman paid his respects in the form of a letter to Caty, which he read to the crowd.

“I hope you understand I can pay you no higher compliment than to say (my daughters) could have no better role model,” he said.

Caty’s teammates read some of her favorite quotes. Her sister, Cari, sang a song.

Baseball Coach Dean Bowyer, who also leads the university’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes, explained he never met Caty, but knows how important her religion was to her.

“Caty didn’t die for nothing,” Bowyer said. “This is incredible, all the people she’s reached in eight weeks. God has a purpose for all of us. Caty knew that and she is smiling down on us.”

University President Richard Davenport tried to explain why that short amount of time Caty spent on campus can be deceiving.

“Remember her and build on her dreams,” he said. “Our campus has been enriched by her presence. To Caty’s family, please know we were honored by your daughter’s life."

Caty’s father, Jeffrey Delwiche, thanked the people who were there. A prayer was said and several lines formed as the crowd took to the field house running track.

Slowly, a few hundred people moved as a group around the track, all with brightly burning flames in their hands.