By Chelsea Henderson
The News staff writer

Lamar State College-Port Arthur is gearing up for its third annual Seahawks on the Seawall 5K run/walk on Saturday.

LSC-PA Athletics Director Scott Street said the 3.1 mile course takes participants nearly all the way down the Seawall, from the Carl A. Parker Multi-purpose Center on campus and back.

“We started Seahawks on the Seawall because the Seawall is such a vital part of Port Arthur,” Street said Thursday. “It’s right behind the campus, so we thought it would be a great way to bring people into downtown Port Arthur to watch life on the water and also promote our school.

“In past years, we’ve had anywhere between 80 and 120 people show up. We’re expecting similar numbers this year. We always have returning runners, because it’s a nice race. We also have a lot of walkers that come in to stroll along the water and watch the boats and the barges pass by. They just soak it all in.”

Street said Seahawks on the Seawall also includes a one-mile run for children, scheduled one hour after the adults’ run/walk kicks off.

“The 5K starts at 8 a.m., which gives our parents time to finish their race and be back at 9 a.m. to watch their kids in the one-mile run,” Street said. “There aren’t any minimum age requirements for the kids’ run. Parents are welcome to carry their very little ones or to run along with the (toddlers). We usually have a lot of whole families coming down, with parents pushing strollers as they run the 5K as well.”

Street said all of the children in the one-mile run will receive medals for participating in Seahawks on the Seawall. The adults will compete for their medals. The Top 3 runners in each division are awarded with Seahawks medals, as well as the overall top male and top female.

Divisions are divided up into age brackets: 8 and under, 9-11, 12-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70-plus.

Early registration for Seahawks on the Seawall is $25 and includes a T-shirt and gift bag. Late registration the day of the race is $35. Street said all proceeds go toward Lamar State College-Port Arthur athletics scholarships.

Seahawks on the Seawall will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday for late registration, and registration packet and gift bag pick-up for those who registered in advance. Races begin at 8 a.m. for adults and at 9 a.m. for the one-mile kids’ run.

Early registration is available online at athletics.lamarpa.edu.

For more information, call the Lamar State College-Port Arthur athletics department at (409) 984-6291.

Email: chelsea.henderson@panews.com
Twitter: @crhenderson90