5K Event Open to All; College & High School Teams Also to Participate
Maymont will come alive with Richmond's newest sporting event on Friday and Saturday, September 26 & 27, 2003, when the first annual Ukrop's X-Country Festival at Maymont debuts. Maymont provides a spectacular setting for what will be one of the premier cross country events in the country. Participants will run in the shadow of the opulent 1893 Maymont House, over tree-lined hills and fields and past wildlife areas filled with bison, deer and other animals. The beautiful 100-acre park and museum complex allows spectators great visibility and easy access to multiple viewing areas along the course.

The 5K running event is open to everyone and will feature divisions for all age groups, as well as college and high school teams. There will be thousands of competitors, live bands, a live announcer, food vendors and a professional event set up. The Ukrop's X-Country Festival at Maymont is organized by the Richmond Sports Backers, who also operate the SunTrust Richmond Marathon and the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K; both nationally recognized events known for their high quality and dedication to delivering a memorable experience for participants and spectators.

"The Sports Backers created this event to market one of Richmond's most visited attractions both to local residents and potential visitors to the area. While Maymont provides the perfect venue for a 5K run through the grounds, the Sports Backers expertise organizing and marketing sporting events will elevate this event to a national level."

"This event is such a natural for Maymont and is a wonderful opportunity to showcase one of Richmond's most beautiful attributes to visitors," said Bobby Ukrop, CEO of Ukrop's Super Markets. "Ukrop's support of this event illustrates our commitment to healthy foods and wellness as a way of life."

"We welcome this partnership with the Sports Backers and Ukrop's," said Geoffrey Platt Jr., executive director of Maymont Foundation. "The Festival supports one of our stated missions - to afford recreational opportunities to Richmonders and out-of-town visitors alike."

As a true cross country event, participants within each age group will run through a rolling 5K course over the grass lawns of Maymont. This means that each age group and gender will have its own race. This format creates an opportunity for head to head racing within an age group, which is not commonly seen in road racing. This format will also encourage participants to be active as spectators for their friends and family competing in different age groups. The tentative event schedule calls for college teams to compete on Friday afternoon beginning at 5 pm. High school teams will compete beginning Saturday morning, followed by open age-group division participants.

Registration is now open for the Ukrop's X-Country Festival at Maymont. The cost for Open Division participants, age 18 & older is $20 through July 31, while the entry fee for youth in grades 1-12 is $13. There is a $3 discount for signing up online at www.sportsbackers.org. College and high school teams cost $100 and $50, respectively, for teams of 5-7 members. College and high school coaches must register their teams online at www.sportsbackers.org. For more information, contact Scott Schricker at (804) 285-9495.