By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
Dowagiac Union High School and Southwestern Michigan College will once again be hosting the Division 2 Regional Cross Country Meet on Saturday.
This is the third straight year that SMC has played host to the event. Last year the college hosted both the Division 2 and Division 3 regionals.
The meet is scheduled to start with the boy's race at 11 a.m. The girl's race will follow at approximately 11:40.
Prior to the race, the Dowagiac Union High School choir will perform the National Anthem. Following the race, there will be an awards ceremony in the Zollar Sports Center.
Participating in the race will be Allegan, Coldwater, Dowagiac, Hamilton, Comstock, Mattawan, Niles, Otsego, Paw Paw, Plainwell, Gull Lake, South Haven, St. Joseph, Lakeshore, Sturgis, Three Rivers and Vicksburg.
Kurtis Marlow of Gull Lake is the course record holder with a time of 15:36, which was established in 2000.
Jill Le Blanc, also of Gull Lake, set the girl's course record in 2000 as well with a time of 19:20.
The regional course is open to the public to walk or job according to race director Ron Gunn of SMC.
Gunn added that the fall colors are great for those who may want to do a mile, two-mile or the full 3.1-miles work out on the course.
The course is basically flat to rolling with two challenging hills according to Gunn.
Gunn wanted to remind everyone that the course is very spectator friendly with three non-repeat loops.