Annual St. Charles 5k adds elementary school division to race

Local elementary school students will be given the opportunity to represent their school in the 31st annual Saint's Challenge 5k and Youth Mile and compete for the race's new traveling trophy.

A trophy will be awarded to the St. Charles elementary school whose student wins the new elementary school competitive division of the Youth Mile.

The new competition also creates age divisions for kids in fifth, fourth, third, second and first grade and younger. The winning school will be the first recipient of the traveling trophy, an award that will be engraved with the winning school's name and move from school to school each year depending on who wins the race.

"We try to promote running in the Fox Valley. We want to get kids interested in track and cross country and part of that is being on a team," Bruce Westerhoff, Running Saints Booster president said of the impetus behind the new elementary school competition.

Race organizers hope that by creating this new division, focus will be placed on getting elementary school aged children involved in running and teach them more about teamwork and corporation.

While each student who chooses to sign up will be competing in their school's name, students do not have to register to enter the race through their school. According to Westerhoff, all students need to do is download the race application online, pay the youth registration fee of $10 and simply fill in the name of the school they are enrolled in.

Parents are also welcome to run with their children in the Youth Mile for free.

The Saint's Challenge will also feature its 5k race for more experienced runners. The 5k event will begin at 8 a.m. at the St. Charles East High School track located at 1020 Dunham Road. The Youth Mile will begin on the track after the last 5k runner has completed the race.

Over 200 runners participated in last year's event and Westerhoff hopes that with the addition of the elementary school competition even more runners will sign up this year.

The race day registration fee for those who enter the 5k race is $20.

Prizes will be awarded the overall top male and female 5k finishers as well as the top three finishers in each of the 5k's age divisions.

Refreshments will be offered and Jamba Juice will be on site selling smoothies on race day.

To download a race application or get more information, visit runningsaints.org.