Georgia College & State University’s cross-country team is debuting its new cross-country course, located on West Campus, by hosting the Bobcat Invitational Sept. 26, and a community 5K.
The Bobcat Invitational has approximately 15 teams registered to compete, including a few teams from Alabama, with most competitors from Georgia. The women's race will begin at 5:45 p.m. with the men's race beginning at 6:30 p.m.
That same evening, GCSU’s cross-country program will host a community 5K beginning at 7 p.m. Putting a twist on a traditional community 5K, runners will get the unique opportunity to compete on a crosscountry course with their own team.
Team registration requires a minimum of three runners, with the top performances from each team counting toward the final score. The lowest overall team score will win. There will be prizes for the winning men's and women's teams.
While there is excitement around the opportunity to compete with teams, individual race sign-ups remain available as well. Online race registration ends Sept. 25 at midnight, with a registration fee of $30. Start and finish lines will be located on West Campus intramural Field 3.
“It's really exciting,” said Georgia College & State University’s crosscountry coach Alexander Bruno. “We want people in the community to take interest in running and what our program is up to.”
The Bobcat Invitational will be an annual event now that the course has been brought back to life.
“I'd love for this race to be a gathering point for our alumni, parents, and other supporters,” said Bruno. “Sort of like a homecoming.”
The new rendition of the course can be sectioned into three parts, starting at the West Campus intramural fields, then taking runners through Dr. Doug Oetter’s Myrtle Ridge Disc Golf Course, and continuing on the greens. The new course route crosses only one sidewalk, keeping runners off the former course’s excessive concrete routes and away from roads, ensuring additional safety of the race participants.
For more information regarding the community 5k or other races, visit the cross-country team’s Instagram at @ gcsu_crosscountry.