Hot Pursuit 5k & 1 Mile Catch-A-Cop @ The Airport

The Fourth Annual Hot Pursuit 5K Run/Walk & 1 Mile Catch-A-Cop will be held on Saturday, April 18 2026 ! This is a chip timed race starting and finishing at the Pickens County Airport along the taxiways and runway!

The 1 mile Catch-A-Cop will be open to kids ages 5th grade (10 years old) and under. These participants will attempt to "catch a cop" and collect flags as they chase law enforcement officers down the runway. After the conclusion of their race, they will get into police cars and ride back to the race start area in a parade. 

ALL PROCEEDS from this race will go towards purchasing a wheelchair accessible swing to be placed in Liberty, SC. 

Youth Leadership Academy is charter middle school in Pickens, SC serving 300 students in grades 6-8. Each year, the students at YLA participate in a service project that will benefit the local community. In the past, students participated in a Burpeethon to raise funds for special needs children in the area. This year, the focus is on providing wheelchair accessible swings to the playground at the Doodle Park to benefit a wider range of people throughout the whole community. 

The kids Catch-A-Cop event will begin at 9:00am. The 5K race will begin at 9:30am after the kids race and the police car parade has concluded. Awards will be presented around 10:30am after the last participant has finished.

Awards for 1st/2nd/3rd overall for M/F under 40 years, and 1st/2nd/3rd M/F overall for ages 40+ (Masters Male and Female). First place awards will be given in 10 year age intervals as well. 

Registration costs include race entry w/ timing, race t-shirt, and finishing medal. Cut off date for a t-shirt is April 9 . If registered after April 9, no t shirt will be included. 

RACE PACKET PICK UP WILL BE ON FRIDAY, APRIL 17 FROM 5:30PM-7:00PM AT THE SCOOP AT THE AIRPORT (155 Technology Place Liberty, SC 29657).

MORNING PICK UP WILL BE FROM 7:30AM-9:00AM AT THE SAME LOCATION. 

RACE PARKING, START/FINISH, AWARDS WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE CORNELL DUBILIER/SCOOP AT THE AIRPORT AREA ON TECHNOLOGY PLACE! DO NOT GO TO THE MAIN AIRPORT TERMINAL FOR EVENT. 

THE SCOOP AT THE AIRPORT WILL BE OPEN AFTER THE EVENTS TO HOST YOUR FAMILY FOR SOME POST RACE ICE CREAM AND FUN! 

SPONSOR INFORMATION:

COURSE/EVENT SPONSOR ($3000)
Name/logo on signs throughout 
Name/logo on banner at event
Name/logo on race t-shirt
Social media/website recognition
5 race entries

FINISH LINE SPONSOR ($1000)
Name/logo on signs  
Name/logo on banner at event
Name/logo on race t-shirt
Social media/website recognition
3 race entries

STARTING LINE SPONSOR ($750)
Name/logo on sign
Name/logo on banner at event
Name on race t shirt
Social media/website recognition
2 complimentary race entries

MILE SPONSOR ($500)
Name/logo on sign
Name/logo on banner at event
Name/logo on race t-shirt
Social media/website recognition
2 race entries

HALF MILE SPONSOR ($300)
Name/logo on sign
Name/logo on banner at event
Name/logo on race t-shirt
Social media/website recognition

QUARTER MILE SPONSOR ($100)
Name/logo on sign 
Social media/website recognition

Join fellow runners on April 18, 2026 for the Hot Pursuit 5k & 1 Mile Catch-A-Cop @ The Airport. It's a fantastic 5K, Free Catch-A-Cop (5th grade and younger only), Law Enforcement Officer Sign Up- Please use LEO email to register featuring a flat and fast course in Liberty.