Meijer LPGA Classic 5k Run & Walk presented by Kellogg's to Add Course Certification This Year

Registration is now open to run #forehunger during the sixth annual event

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Feb 27, 2019, 12:00 ET

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 27, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Meijer LPGA Classic 5k Run & Walk presented by Kellogg's® will return for tournament week as an official 5k, giving runners the opportunity to use their times to qualify for other USA Track & Field (USATF) events.

The course will be measured later this spring and sanctioned by the USATF to ensure that every possible path of the course that begins and ends at Rockford High School is at least 3.1 miles long.

"We recognize this community has numerous competitive runners, and we're pleased to align our 5k in a way that helps them in future races," said Cathy Cooper, Executive Director of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. "But the great thing about our race is you don't have to be a professional athlete to take part in it. It's a great way to get the entire family involved in a healthy lifestyle all while helping feed those in need."

Registration for the run and walk is now open online.

As in previous years, the race will be powered by Gazelle Sports, and will start at 8 a.m. June 15 at Rockford High School. Each participant will receive a branded T-shirt, two daily tickets to the golf tournament, valid any one day, Tuesday through Sunday, and a complimentary breakfast provided by Kellogg's after the race.

The cost to participate in the run or walk is $25 per person, ages 18 and older, and $15 per person, ages 17 and under. Strollers are welcome and encouraged on the course. The top three runners in each age group will receive $500, $250, and $100 in Meijer gift cards, respectively.

Additionally, children ages 10 and under are invited to participate in a half-mile kid's fun run that will take place in conjunction with the 5k run and walk. The cost is $10 per child.

Local companies, community organizations, families and schools throughout West Michigan are encouraged to put together a team of five to 10 runners to participate in the Team Challenge. The cost to participate is $150 per team; the top five finishers in each team will be scored.

Dathan Ritzenhein, a Rockford, Mich. native and professional long-distance runner, said it's exciting the race will be USATF certified for those who are focused on the competition aspect.

"Participants will know that their times on race day are 100 percent accurate and they can attack this fast course looking for a PR (personal record)," said Ritzenhein, who placed 7^th in the 2015 Boston Marathon.

The 2019 Meijer LPGA Classic will host a full field of 144 of the best women golfers for 72 holes of stroke play over four days of competition. Proceeds from the tournament – and each of the week's festivities – will once again benefit the Meijer Simply Give program that restocks the shelves of food pantries across the Midwest. The 2018 tournament alone raised $1.1 million for local food pantries through Simply Give. In total, the five tournaments have generated more than $4.2 million for the Meijer Simply Give program.

For more information on the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give or to register for the Meijer LPGA Classic 5k Run & Walk presented by Kellogg's please visit meijerLPGAclassic.com.

About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates more than 240 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer has a fundamental philosophy aimed at strengthening the communities it serves and proudly donates more than 6 percent of its net profit each year to charities throughout the Midwest. With hunger as a corporate philanthropic focus, Meijer partners with hundreds of food banks and pantries through its Simply Give and food rescue programs. Meijer also supports education, disaster relief, and health and wellness initiatives. For additional information on Meijer philanthropy, please visit www.meijercommunity.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.

About Blythefield Country Club: Located just north of Grand Rapids, Blythefield has been providing families the best golf and social experience in West Michigan since 1928. With the Rogue River flowing through, Blythefield boasts one of the most beautiful championship layouts in Michigan. Previously, Blythefield has hosted the 1953 Western Amateur, the 1961 Western Open, won by Arnold Palmer, and the 2005 Western Junior won by Rickie Fowler. Beginning in 2014, Blythefield is honored to host the Meijer LPGA Classic. Learn more about Blythefield Country Club at www.blythefieldcc.org.

SOURCE Meijer