The Seattle University cross country team will host the annual Emerald City Open this Saturday, Oct. 13, at Lower Woodland Park.

The women's six-kilometer race, three loops of the two-kilometer course, will start at 10:30 a.m. The men will make four loops of the course in their eight-kilometer event, scheduled to start at 11:15 a.m.

Besides Seattle University, participating runners will represent Central Washington University, Seattle Pacific University, Simon Fraser University, Trinity Lutheran University, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Olympic College, Everett Community College, Club Northwest, Eastside Runners, and Seattle Running Club.

For the Redhawks, this begins the final stretch towards championship season. The top six male and top six female finishers for Seattle U will earn a spot on the travel squad for the Western Athletic Conference Championships Oct. 27 in Ruston, La. The other runners will have one final chance to qualify for the championships, as the final two spots on each team will be determined at the Beaver Classic Oct. 19 in Corvallis, Ore.

After the college kids have run the Emerald City Open, Seattle University alumni and friends are invited to participate in the two-kilometer fun run at Lower Woodland Park this Saturday beginning at 12 noon. It is one loop of the same course that the student-athletes will previously use in their competitions. Entries are $5 in advance and $7 on Saturday, with a special T-shirt available for $10 more for those who register in advance, with proceeds benefiting the Redhawk cross country program. For more information about the 2K Fun Run, contact assistant track and field coach Chad Pharis at pharisc@seattleu.edu or (206) 296-2356.