RCS prepares for second annual 5K

For the second year in a row, community members will be able to join the Russellville City School system in an effort to raise funds for students and teachers at the RCS Education Foundation 5K. The event will start at the Russellville High School Auditorium Oct. 21.

Check-in and event day registration will begin at 7:30 a.m., and the run will start at 8 a.m. There is a one mile fun run/walk that will begin at 9 a.m. before the awards ceremony at 9:15 a.m.

“It’s a fundraiser for our kids and teachers, and we encourage people to come out and show support,” said Mike Mayfield, president of the RCS Education Foundation Board.

When participants sign up, they can check a box indicating they are running for either RHS, RMS, RES or WES, and the school with the most participants will win a trophy and $1,000 as part of the Torch Run Team Competition.

Pre-entry ends Oct. 6, and the registration price will rise from $20 to $25 for the 5K run. If a participant is an RCS student, the fee will remain $15, and if a participant is just doing the fun run/walk, the fee will remain $10.

“We are doing this to provide more for our students in the way of scholarships and more for our teachers through grants,” Mayfield said.

First, second and third place awards will be given out across 14 different age categories, but the Male and Female Masters Division (ages 40+) will only have a first-place award. There will also be an award given out to the top male and female overall finishers. 5K runners will also receive a T-shirt with the event logo on it.

“Our schools support us; I think we should support our schools in return,” Mayfield said.