Van Wert 4 Mile Run set for July 21

Submitted information/Van Wert independent sports

The Van Wert 4 Mile Run and 1 Mile Walk/Jog will be held Saturday July 21 at 8:00 p.m. starting by Eggress Stadium on West Crawford Street. Runners will pass through Central Avenue and navigate down South Walnut, past Franklin Park and Washington Place before looping back to finish in front of Keister and Baker Law Office, located in the historic old Post Office.

Register online at https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/VanWert/VanWert4Mile.com or the day of the race by Eggress Stadium between 6:00 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. 4 Mile pre-registration price is $20 until July 5 and $23 until the day of the race. Race day registration is $25. Non-competitive 1 Mile walk and jog registration is $15. Registration includes a New Balance moisture-wicking t-shirt.

Whether you are part of a high school program, college team, post collegiate training group, or flying solo, come enjoy the hottest new 4 mile road race in the Tri-State area. Proceeds will benefit trail and recreational development in Van Wert County. When registering, you may choose to simply run for yourself, or help out your local high school cross county program or put together a group of competitive runners. Choose from one of the options below:

(1) ​High School Mascot Dash: A great summer workout and time trial opportunity for high school runners, as well as their supporters. Each participating high school team will select a team “mascot” (no outfit required) runner who will run the 4 mile race (can be alumni, coach, or community member). All other runners affiliated with the high school team may associate themselves with their local program during registration. At the conclusion of the race, 10 seconds will be taken off of the mascot’s final 4 mile time for every person finishing the 4 mile or 1 mile race who indicated they are affiliated with the mascot’s team. The team with the fastest time will receive a $500 donation toward their program. Any team with at least 30 individuals affiliated with the team will also receive a donation.

(2) Tri-State Border Battle: A 4 mile race for post-collegiate men’s and women’s teams. Teams consist of 4-6 individuals. The finish times of the top 4 runners will be the total team time. The teams with the fastest total team times will win running gear swag and Great Lakes elite team bragging rights.
​(3) 1-Mile Fun Run​: Help out your local high school cross country team or program, or contribute to your own healthy habits–by walking, jogging, or racing a mile.

(4) 4-mile Run: Just come out, have fun and run for yourself.

AWARDS: Prize money for top 5 male & female runners (not currently high school or collegiate runners) – $250, $125, $100, $75, $50. Special awards for top 50 male & female runners.

POST-RACE PARTY: Stick around after the race for Van Wert’s Towne Creek Live Festival with duck derby (6 p.m.), Lakota Pow Wow by internationally known Woodland Sky Group, live music all night, Moeller Brew Barn beer, gourmet food trucks, Scrubby Bubble Art Car, interactive art, and lots of fun.

If you don’t feel like racing, come watch and cheer on run with local runners, high school athletes, national caliber runners from across the Midwest including collegiate runners from Big Ten universities, collegiate National Champions, Conference champions, All-Americans, Olympic Trials Qualifiers, and other competitive collegiate & post collegiate runners.

Special thanks to race sponsors: Sealscott CPA, Inc., Greve Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, Van Wert Federal, Slusher’s Jewerly, TAG Menswear, Straley Realty, Vancrest, Keister & Baker Law, & Justin and Dr. Rachel Dickman. Race sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, contact Justin Dickman at 419.513.0973 or j-dickman.1@Onu.edu.