Run, swim, shoot hoops this weekend for good causes

Whitman College students pride themselves on their ability to take on challenges. Now, Whitman’s varsity swimming and basketball and the Student Health Advisory Council is giving students the opportunity to participate in challenging their bodies in several upcoming events including the Triathlon and 3-v-3 Basketball Tournament.

The annual Triathlon, run by Whitman College’s varsity swim team, offers students the chance to compete and exercise to help raise money for the swim team.

“It’s a really important event because we need extra support to travel outside the region in the winter, but it’s also a really fun event for students,” said swim coach Jennifer Bloome.

The event is really “user-friendly” according to Bloome, because the event’s courses are relatively short, with a 10k cycling course, 500-yard swim and 5k run.

“There’s not the really big intimidation factor, unlike larger triathlons,” said Bloome. “Students end up running with professors and enjoying the community. It’s just a really great way to have fun and get motivated to be healthy.”

The Triathlon also brings students closer to the town via the small businesses helping support the event.

“It’s a really fun community event,” said Bloome. “A lot of the downtown businesses such as Hot Poop, Big Cheese Pizza, The Patisserie, Pete’s Ski Shop and Sweet Basil are donating to the event. We don’t have big corporate checks… we’re really local.”

The Triathlon entry is $30 for individuals and $45 for a team and takes place Saturday, May 2. Students can register at the Baker Fergusson Fitness Center before or at the event.

The Student Health Advisory Council (SHAC) also put on a Fun Run to raise money for the Doctors Without Borders Program.
“We have been hosting this race for a few years now and all the profits this year are going to the program,” said Vice President of SHAC Fritz Siegert. “It’s a great program that funds and coordinates excursion trips for physicians to third world countries to practice medicine in areas where health care is lacking or practically nonexistent.”

The yearly event consists of a 5k and 10k course that runs the same course as the Triathlon.

“The run was really great,” said Seigert. “We had a lot of alumni show up. We found one alumni there who has been running it [the FunRun] for over 20 years.”

The event took place on Saturday, April 25 and raised over $300, all of which was donated to Doctors Without Borders.

The men’s basketball team is putting on a campus-wide 3-on-3 Tournament Saturday, May 2 to raise money for the team and let Whitman students participate in a non-varsity basketball program.

“We are hoping this tournament will help fill the gap in the intramural’s program that resulted in the Sherwood renovation,” said men’s basketball Assistant Coach Matt Airy. “Essentially we wanted to give Whitman students a day to get out and play some basketball with friends in an organized setting.”

The tournament consists of three divisions: competitive, recreational and women’s. All teams (except women’s) can be co-ed and are guaranteed a three game minimum.

Team rosters consist of a maximum size of four players. Varsity players are eligible to participate at a maximum of one per team. The cost per team is $50.

Whether you’d rather shoot hoops with friends or run against a professor, these programs offer non-varsity students the chance to participate in these important events for a good cause.