By William Soquet, Entertainment Editor | City of Davidson, Dodge County

Tucked away in the Badger Boys State schedule on Friday is the cross country race.

It takes up a mere half-hour in the middle of the day on Friday, but there is much more than what meets the eye.

For those unfamiliar with cross country, high school cross country races are run at a distance of five kilometers, which is equivalent to 3.1 miles.

A cross country course traditionally includes sections run on dirt, grass, gravel or other natural surfaces and may involve a twisting course or a large hill or two.

Now, where on Ripon College’s campus would there be an area like the one previously described?

The answer lies in the prairie beyond the lower campus. The course map, given to the Athletic Director of every county, shows a myriad of twists and turns. It begins and ends by Willmore Hall, a great spot for encouragement.

Besides the course, there are more special perks of the cross country race.

It is the only athletic event at BBS to feature unlimited entries for every county, making it a completely wide-open event for counties to gain or lose points on the last day of athletic competition. The lack of complex rules in cross country simply makes it an easy event for those who are unfamiliar with the sport to jump right in and potentially give their county a surprise advantage.

The only catch is that the cross country race is the only event at BBS that requires pre-registration, so citizens should make sure to find time to register if they wish to participate.

The purpose of the pre-registration is to make logistics easier for Ripon College cross country volunteers that facilitate the race on Friday, so they can solidify a roster.

Registrations can be submitted at http://bit.ly/BBSxc until Wednesday for any citizen interested in participating.