If you haven’t heard of the Chase Charlie 5K and Kiddie 100, it celebrated its 22^nd year, at 8:45 a.m. on the morning of October 22, 2022.  There was a total of 218 participants between the in-person and virtual race options.  Runners lined up at City Hall and continued along the campus parade route. They crossed the finish line at Emens Auditorium on Riverside Avenue.
The students in Sport Administration (SPTA) 402 – Event & Facility Management class within the Sport Administration Undergraduate Program put on the event annually. They help with many facets of the operation, from promotions, registration, and day of duties, such as handing out water and snacks to the runners, and many other roles. This is an immersive learning opportunity for these students. The efforts are led by Dr. Eric Klosterman, Associate Lecturer of Sport Administration and Coordinator of Undergraduate Sport Administration Program.  He said, “We had 24 students in class during the Fall ’22 semester, with student volunteers from SPTA 190 – Introduction to Sport Administration and Health Science 180 on event day. We also had a few Exercise Science students distribute flyers/information about proper recovery and stretching that should be done after a 5K event.”

The Kiddie 100 had 216 registered participants this year, which was huge, in addition to the fun run this year, they also were able to partner with Muncie non-profit Classroom Connections of East Central Indiana to support literacy. Books for children and families were available while supplies lasted at the registration table for anyone who wanted a book.

The event isn’t just for fun, or because it’s become a Homecoming tradition, the proceeds from the race go directly to the Fund for Excellence, which awards scholarships to high achieving Sports Administration students. They raised nearly $2,000 with this year’s event.  In addition to raising funds for the scholarship, according to their website, the event has a three-part mission.

• To create a unique and quality series of races that compliments other activities occurring on campus during Ball State University’s Homecoming Weekend.
• To provide undergraduate students with a valuable immersive learning opportunity that benefits the Sport Administration Fund for Excellence, which provides scholarship and professional development opportunities for high achieving sport administration students.
• To educate and prepare the Muncie community for a lifetime of healthy living.

So next time you’re looking for a 5K to run in person or virtually or have kids who would love the experience of running across the football field at Scheumann Stadium, now you know who to support, which is more than just running a race, it’s creating one-of-a-kind opportunities for College of Health majors to practice their craft while still on campus.

Klosterman said, “I am proud of the SPTA 402 class this year!  As the faculty member, it was great to see how the entire class came together to accomplish goals that were set forth at the beginning of the semester.” You can keep up to date with all the Chase Charlie info at https://www.chasecharlie.com/