DENTON – The North Texas cross country team will be hosting its third annual North Texas Community 5k on Saturday, Sept. 17th at Noon at the Eagle Point Cross Country Course.

Join us for a fun and challenging 5k race along the Eagle Point Cross Country Course, located on the University of North Texas campus. The race will be chip timed by RunFAR event timing. The Eagle Point Cross Country Course hosted the 2013 and 2014 men's and women's Conference USA Cross Country Championships.

“The community race is so special to me because it allows our cross country program to reach out to the members of the Denton community to come be a part of what we do,” cross country coach Stefanie Slekis said. “We're not just asking them to come watch us compete, we're extending the opportunity for especially the large running community in Denton to come experience what our student-athletes do every day.”

The North Texas Cross Country 5k will be the final race of an exciting morning at the Eagle Point Cross Country Course where the middle school, high school, and collegiate divisions of the Ken Garland/Justin Northwest Invitational will start at 7:30 a.m.

The top three male and female finishers will receive prize packages with values on $75, $50, and $25, as well as two random finishers who will be drawn for a chance to win a prize package valued at $25. The top male and female master's finishers (40+) will each receive a prize package valued at $50. The prize packages will include gift cards and vouchers to the following North Texas restaurant partners: On the Border, Chicken Express, McAlister's (Denton Location), Cowboy Chicken and Whataburger.

Register by August 31st to guarantee receiving your North Texas cross country shirt with your registration fee. Online Registration ends Thursday, Sept. 10th at midnight. Race-day registration will be available, but official timing and shirts will not be guaranteed.

“The goal is to continue to grow the event each year,” added Slekis. “It started out really small our first year, but as we continue to build relationships in the Denton running community, and with the greater DFW community we have been able to continue to increase participation. All of the proceeds go to our cross country, track & field programs, and directly impact the experience our student-athletes are able to have at North Texas.”

Parking will be available at Apogee Stadium off of South Bonnie Brae Street. Signage will direct participants where to park and packet pick-up will be on the Eagle Point Cross Country Course behind Apogee Stadium and near the Waranch Tennis Complex on Walt Parker Drive at the North Texas tent near the start/finish line.

Please bring photo ID on day of race in order to pick up packet and t-shirt. Packet Pick-Up: 8:00AM-11:30 AM at North Texas tent near start/finish line.

Race Day registration available 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., T-Shirt is not guaranteed for Race Day registration.

Click here for more information on how to register.