Black Squirrel 5K Walk/Run/Roll & 1-Mile Walk/Run/Roll
About this race
Please join us for our annual spring race which will take place on Saturday, Apr. 10, 2027. The race, named after Kent State University's unofficial mascot, will be available for anyone to participate. The traditional 5k course is a loop course which begins and ends near the entrance to the Beverly J. Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center on the campus of Kent State University. The course will be marked if you are in Kent and would like to run the actual course. The course takes you through the campus via the Esplanade. A few small hills adds to the experience but be on the lookout for the infamous black squirrels!
On race day, post your photo or video on your social media account and tag us at #KSU2027BlackSquirrel.
Registration Fees
- Up through Sunday, Mar. 21 (T-shirt included)
- $30 (5k)
- $20 (1-mile)
- Monday, Mar. 22 - Saturday, Apr. 10 (no T-shirt)
- $25 (5k)
- $15 (1-mile)
T-Shirts
- All participants registered by Mar. 21 will receive a performance race shirt. Race shirts may be available for purchase on race day based on availability.
- T-shirts and race bibs will be available for pick-up as follows at the Beverly J. Warren Student Recreation & Wellness Center located at 1550 Ted Boyd Drive, Kent, Ohio 44242.
- Friday, Apr. 10 from 4 - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Apr. 11 starting at 7 a.m.
- Friday, Apr. 10 from 4 - 6:30 p.m.
Race Course
Race course map can be found online at https://www.kent.edu/recwell/black-squirrel-5k-race
Prizes:
- Cash prizes for overall male and female winners
- First Place $75
- Second Place $50
- Third Place $25
- First, second and third place male and female winners in the following age groups will receive medals:
- 6 - 9
- 10 - 14
- 15 - 19
- 20 - 24
- 25 - 29
- 30 - 34
- 35 - 39
- 40 - 44
- 45 - 49
- 50 - 54
- 55 - 59
- 60 - 64
- 65 - 69
- 70 - 74
- 75 - 79
- 80+
Cancellation policy
Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable to another person, event or year. The 2027 Black Squirrel 5k Run & 1-mile Walk/Roll/Run will be held rain or shine. Recreation and Wellness Services reserves the right to refuse any entry.
Pick your distance
Running
2027 15th Annual Black Squirrel 5K Walk/Run/Roll
2027 Black Squirrel 1-Mile Walk/Run/Roll
Typical race-day weather
Based on 10 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Kent, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 6:53 AM and sets at 7:59 PM local time (EDT) in Kent on April 10, 2027 — 13h 06m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
Reviews
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Results — Black Squirrel 5K Walk/Run/Roll & 1-Mile Walk/Run/Roll
Other races near Kent
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Squirrel City Half
Rainbow Weekend 5K
The Wurst 5K & 1 Mile Brat Trot
2026 Kent Turkey Trot
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Kent
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Kent 5K Races 10 races
- Kent Running Calendar 2026 10 races
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 10 Kent events
Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.