Shawnee State University to host 30th Bear Run

By Staff Report | The Tribune

Published Sunday, April 18, 2010

PORTSMOUTH — The Shawnee State Spring 5k Bear Run, the 30th Bear Run in school history, is set for Thursday at 6 p.m. The course starts and ends on the SSU campus west at Front Street and is a fast, flat, out and back course by the historic murals and along the Ohio River.

Entry is free for all students, including elementary and secondary students, SSU faculty, staff and family members, alumni and Golden Bears.

For the general public, the entry fee is $10.00 for pre-registered runners and $15.00 for race day participants. Pre-registration will conclude on Monday at noon. Online registration is now available on the Shawnee State athletic Web page.

Former Cross Country Coach and Vice President of Student Affairs, Larry Mangus, will return as an honoree and start the 30th Bear Run. Mangus started the Bear Run 15 years ago.

“We’ll have more than 1,000 sign up for the race,” said Jeff Hamilton, director of Athletics.

This race is one of a series of races called the Ohio Grand Prix. For more information on the Ohio Grand Prix, go to www.runohio.com.

Eric Putnam, race coordinator and head coach of Men's Cross Country and Women's Cross Country at SSU. Over the years, Putnam has won the race 10 times.

“We are very excited,” Putnam said. “This is the 30th race and Dr. Mangus, who is retired and lives in Mississippi, is coming to give out the awards.”

In conjunction with the Spring Bear Run, the SSU Women’s Center is having a “Breast Cancer Awareness” event.

The Women’s Center will provide a free breast cancer awareness T-shirt for participants who sign up to wear the T-shirt on race day. To participate in the Breast Cancer Awareness event, e-mail Barbara Duncan at bduncan@shawnee.edu with your T-shirt size. Participants in the Breast Cancer Awareness event must also fill out the regular Bear Run participation form.

All participants will receive a SSU Spring 5K Bear Run Road Race T-shirt and are eligible to win one of the 120 medals in a wide range of category awards. The SSU Development Foundation provides funds for the Bear Run medals.

For more information, contact the Shawnee State University Athletic Department at (740) 351-3285 or (740) 351-3313. To register online, go to www.shawnee.edu/off/athl/bearrun/registration.html.

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