Huntsville High School to Host First Race at John Hunt Running Park

Published on September 23, 2017

The debut of Huntsville’s new cross country course is bringing together more than 1,000 runners to celebrate the event.

The Twilight Panther Prowl Cross Country Invitational will take place Saturday, Sept. 23 at the new John Hunt Running Park, located on the site of the former Becky Peirce Municipal Golf Course.

Huntsville High School, the Huntsville Sports Commission and the City of Huntsville Parks & Recreation Department have worked together to host this inaugural event. There are some 37 teams from Alabama and Tennessee registered to compete and the Huntsville Sports Commission anticipates an economic impact of nearly $300,000.

The Panther Prowl will have several races, for both the public and for interscholastic competitors. The course is expected to be a fast one as it utilizes some of the grass fairways from the old golf course while also incorporating some of the existing hills. There are 5K and 2.5K courses that have been marked.It begins with a Fleet Feet Fun Run and Community Run at 4 p.m. ending with Varsity/B-Team Girls and Boys 5K races at 6:45 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. The last races will be during the twilight hours.

Coach Blake Borden of Huntsville High School, who serves as race director, is pleased with the course and the response to participate in this first-time meet.

“I am excited to see the kids and community enjoy the new John Hunt Running Park, as well as have fun during the later races in the evening. Bringing this many runners together is certainly something special.”

Parking is available around the course area on the south side of John Hunt Park by The Tennis Center and the old golf course clubhouse area.Huntsville City Council voted at their June 22 meeting to transform the former municipal golf site into a multi-use park to include a cross country running track, walking trails, a mountain bike venue, dog park and disc-golf course.