A sunny sky and gentle breeze made for perfect race conditions as more than 300 runners gathered north of Harper Hall at 4 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 24. Sponsored by Campus Recreation and the Residence Hall Association, the Homecoming 5K race loop followed the Billy Wolff Trail and returned to Harper Hall for the finish.

The 5K, which was brought back in 2013 after a break since the early 2000s, continues to be an important part of homecoming. Many of the participants were sorority and fraternity members who decided to run in order to earn homecoming points for their house.

Freshman Lillian Butler Hale and her sorority sisters waited in anticipation for the race to start.

“As a pledge class for Alpha Phi, we wanted to make a strong showing at this event,” said Butler Hale. “We didn’t train for the race, but we’re still going to try our best and have fun.”

While some attendees were seasoned runners looking to set a new personal record, a few students saw the free 5K as an opportunity to try something new. Junior Qais Alhabsi is new to running and was excited to take on the challenge of running a 5K.

“I want to see if I can do it,” said Alhabsi. “I’m going to push myself to the limit.”

As racers took off from the starting line, there was no shortage of smiles. The 5K gave participants a way to celebrate fitness and homecoming week while spending time with friends.