Homecoming at Northwestern is a time for fellowship with students, alumni, and members of the NW community. NW supporters are treated to a day of incredible activities from the fall music showcase, where the bands and choirs give their first official performance of the year, to lunch on the green, to the focal point of homecoming: the football game.
These events are great for community members to spectate and relax, but are there any active events for the community to get involved with during this day of excitement?
The answer is yes, and that answer comes in the form of the Red Raider Road Race. The Red Raider Road Race is a 5k race or a one mile walk around Orange City that gives community members a chance to get involved in the homecoming festivities by running or walking with other fans and building a spirit of healthy competition and community that they carry to the game in the afternoon.
The Red Raider Road Race had some competition on homecoming morning, however, as it was competing with multiple other racing events in the area.
The men’s and women’s cross-country teams had a meet at Briar Cliff, and the Harvest Half half marathon was happening in Sioux Center.
Despite this, the turnout for the Red Raider Road Race was solid, and the NW community expressed how much they appreciated the event. One student said, “the Red Raider Road Race is a great way to start homecoming, and it was especially good to have it this year after the Sunset Fun Run 5k was cancelled”.
Freshman cross country runner George Livingston said, “even though I had to participate in a cross country meet I would have loved to run in the Red Raider Race with the community”.
He also expressed that he was glad to have participated in the cross-country meet saying he “was very proud to be part of the second-place men’s team at Briar Cliff this weekend”.
The NW community had a lot of success in the racing world on homecoming day with a successful community racing event and a great showing from the men’s and women’s cross-country team, getting second and third in their meets respectively. The runners of NW once again showed up for homecoming, kicking off the day with a bang in multiple running events.
Ultimately, after the disappointment of the Sunset Fun Run 5k being cancelled the students of NW were ready to race again, and the Red Raider Road Race delivered with another successful year of this great opportunity for students and the public alike.
