CHAMPAIGN, IL (CHAMBANA TODAY) — Race officials have decided to cancel the Friday night 5K in Champaign-Urbana due to an escalating demonstration on the University of Illinois campus.
“At 5:30 p.m., it was determined that we would need to cancel tonight’s 5K event. We will do everything possible to hold a 5K event in the near future,” an email from race media reads.
Race officials ill reach out to runners in tomorrow’s races at 9 p.m. Friday with an update.
*Correction made to title
STATEMENT:
Shortly after 4 pm, we became aware of the escalation of tensions at the demonstration at the Alma Mater statue on the campus of the University of Illinois, the location of our 5K route. We immediately called a meeting of our Race Operations Command team, to discuss options for adjusting the plans for tonight’s 5K event.
Our initial plan that resulted from that meeting was rerouting the 5K course while staying in contact with our law enforcement partners.
At 5 p.m., we were informed by our law enforcement partners that all police assigned to our 5K course were reassigned to assist with the incident on campus.
At 5:30 p.m., it was determined that we would need to cancel tonight’s 5K event. We will do everything possible to hold a 5K event in the near future.
Runners and volunteers impacted by this cancellation are being notified via app notifications, email, social media and text messaging.
At this time, our Saturday events are set to continue forward as planned. We anticipate reaching out to runners in tomorrow’s races at 9 p.m. this evening with an update