Contact:
Elizabeth Blevins, Director, Office of Communications
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 464-4854
940 Second Street – Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
E-mail: eblevins@shawnee.edu 
Web site: www.shawnee.edu

            The Shawnee State Bear Run is a biannual event held each Spring and Fall. The 5K run/walk has grown over the years with only 200 people finishing in the initial race, a record 870 participants finishing in the Fall 2009 event, and 669 finishing in the Spring event on Thursday, April 22.
            The Spring Bear Run celebrated the 30th run/walk with the men's cross country team dominating the men's side. Michael Owen won the overall men's race with a time of 15:04. On the women's side, Katy Ankrom was the women's overall winner in a time of 17:38. Owen, along with women's cross country runner Brittney LiPira, won the Larry Mangus Award for the fastest Shawnee State students. LiPira finished the course in a time of 18:33.
            Eric Putnam, SSU head men’s and women’s cross country coach, set the record of nine straight wins in the Bear Run from Spring 2004 to Spring 2008 and he also won in the Spring of 2003. He set the men’s course record for the Spring Bear Run of 14:37 in 2005 and for the Fall Bear Run of 14.47 in 2007.
            The Bear Run is free to all students and children as well as Shawnee State faculty and staff. For the general public the entry fee is $10.00 for pre-registration and $15.00 for walk-ups. The next 5-K Bear Run will be in the fall.
            For more information, please contact the Shawnee State University Athletic Department at jhamilton@shawnee.edu or at (740) 351-3285.


Runners prepare to begin the Shawnee State University Spring Bear Run on Thursday, April 22. SSU celebrated the 30th Bear Run with 669 participants. Michael Owen won the overall men's race with a time of 15:04. On the women's side, Katy Ankrom was the women's overall winner in a time of 17:38.