Pioneer Athletics to host Hayward Hills Challenge 5K at East Bay
- March 27, 2013
The Cal State East Bay track and cross country teams are partnering with the Associated Students Inc. (ASI) to host the first annual Hayward Hills Challenge 5K at East Bay on May 11. The event will feature a 5K run/walk through the CSUEB campus at 9 a.m., followed by a free "Fun Run" for youth 12 and younger at 10 a.m.
The brainchild of head track and cross country coach Ralph Jones, the goal of the Hayward Hills Challenge 5K at East Bay is to to strengthen CSUEB’s relationship with the community and encourage health and wellness.
"It was my vision to host the 5K as a way to engage the local community and promote health and fitness, while promoting and bringing attention to the cross country and track programs," said Jones. "I also wanted to provide an event that would include elementary aged youth to get them moving in a fun, inclusive environment."
This is the first event of its kind in recent years at Cal State East Bay and will feature a post-race tent city with local vendors, community organizations, and CSUEB student clubs.
Maija Hitchings, race director and assistant track and cross country coach, is excited to bring the 5K event to campus and hopes it extends into the city of Hayward.
"As a growing program aiming to revive our rich history, the Pioneer track and cross country teams want to reconnect with the community," said Hitchings. "We want to be connected with the city of Hayward and build long-lasting relationships with the community. Pioneer Athletics is partnering with ASI, a student-run council, to organize the event. We see it as a good way to build our relationship with campus organizations and facilitate a greater sense of Pioneer pride, family, teamwork, and support."
The Hayward Hills Challenge 5K at East Bay is one of the numerous events that CSUEB Athletics has hosted as part of its community engagement initiative. The Pioneers have worked to engage the local community through the "Pioneers Play" fitness program that reached 140 elementary school girls last fall. It’s also the third year of the "Read with the Pioneers" literacy program, which encourages at-home reading. About 450 participants from kindergarten through sixth grade read more than 205,000 pages during the month-long program. Another event, the "Youth Days at the Bay," has brought more than 700 young athletes to the campus to enjoy CSUEB sporting events and to interact with Pioneer student-athletes on the baseball, basketball, soccer and softball teams.
Race Registration is open, and runners and walkers can register online at active.com by clicking here: .
Registration Information:
$15 — Early Bird Registration (deadline: April 19)
$25 — Through May 1
$30 — Race Day
$50 — Family (up to five runners)
$100 — Team Registration (up to 10 runners)
Race Times:
7:30-8:45 a.m. — Check-in
9 a.m. — 5K Runners and Walkers
10 a.m. — Kids’ Fun Run (ages 12 and under)
1 a.m.-1 p.m. — Post-race Tent City
For more information, contact Hitchings at (510) 885-3824 or maija.hitchings@csueastbay.edu.