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Hernando Today

Red Mule Race Returns

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By MARTY MILLER

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: August 30, 2008

The National Football League has its Hall of Fame Game while baseball has its traditional start of the season in Cincinnati.

So it stands to reason that prep cross country has its own traditional start of the season.

Once again this year that season begins Saturday morning at Lake McKethan Park in Brooksville with the 27th annual Red Mule Labor Day 5K run, which is slated to begin at 8 a.m.

Between 200-300 runners will gather for what has become the unofficial start of the cross country season on one of the faster courses in the area.

Ernie Chatman, the race director and cross country coach at Hernando High, says the race has a combination of ingredients to work out in becoming a great way to begin the prep season.

"Some time ago, we placed the race at the beginning of the high school season," he said. "But now that the state has changed the dates of the season and there is this two-week gap, it's still a good measuring stick for the teams."

Last year's male and female winners, Connor Revold of Tampa Jesuit and Chloe Benoist of Crystal River, both plan to return to defend their race titles.

Having winners come from outside Hernando County is something Coach Chatman admits is not unusual for the race.

"For a good many years in the 1990's, the University of South Florida would bring both of their teams to the race," said Chatman this week. "Holy mackerel, I can't remember when someone from Hernando County did win the race."
Those familiar with the McKethan lake course say that it provides a good early season test for runners, but it also is a great layout for a race.
"There are very few turns, it's flat and because it's so open, a lot of people can watch almost the whole race," said Chatman. "Also with it being so hot and humid this time of year, it helps that there's a lot of shade. It's where people can go fast."

The park is located five miles north of Brooksville on U.S. 41, will open at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday with the race starting at 8 a.m. while the race-day registration fee is $20.

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