Students, teachers, and joggers from the community are going to be on the prowl Saturday, Jan. 26, for the second annual Panther Prowl.
The event is a fundraiser for the Finish Line Booster Club, the organization that sponsors the race and the cross country and track and field teams.
“This year we have a lot more sponsors than we had last year,” said race director Chad Walker, who is also the head track and field coach. “There are 11 companies who have committed to sponsoring the event.”
Money raised from the event will go toward paying off the new track surface and pole vault pit, Walker said. Some of the money will also go toward trips the track team will make to the Disney Wide World of Sports Meet and the Gainesville Invitational.
The event will begin on the track in Panther Stadium at 9:30 a.m. with the 5-kilometer race. The route for the race goes around the school complex two times and finishes on the track.
As runners finish each event, they will run a lap around the track after entering on the first turn. They will then see themselves on the Jumbotron scoreboard as they run by the home stands to finish the race.
Awards will be presented to the top three finishers overall and to the finishers in a range of age groups for both males and females ages 6 through 50 and up. Specific information about the brackets can be found on the track and field website at www.starrsmilltfxc.com. Runners will also have the opportunity to form teams and race each other in the 3×1 mile relay, which begins at 10 a.m.
“The mile relay is a different twist for athletes who want to participate,” Walker said. “Now different teams can make a relay team and race each other.”
Special awards will be presented to winners of the high school, middle school and elementary school relay teams who compete, Walker said.
A competition will also be held between any school athletic teams that participate in the relay event. So far about 150 runners and 8 relay teams have signed up, Walker said.
Registration costs for the race are $20 for the 5-kilometer race and $45 for the 3×1 mile race. To sign up online, visit www.starrsmilltfxc.com. Race day registration is also available from 8-9 a.m. Checks should be made payable to Finish Line Booster Club. Runners will receive a T-shirt and a race number when they pick up their packets at the stadium from 5:30-6:30 p.m. tomorrow.
Runners should plan to arrive at Panther Stadium about an hour before their race begins. There may be limited parking, so golf carts are encouraged, Walker said.