Chase County has seven signed up for Torch Run

    It’s a new year for a lot of activities, and the Cornhusker State Games Torch Run is one of them—this year it’s a “virtual” run.
    Rather than a personal handoff for each mile across the state, this year, Torch Run organizers are signing up runners in each county to run in their area.
    As of Tuesday, Chase County had seven runners signed up for its selected day to run on June 7, but it’s open to more.
    The run “officially” kicks off June 1 with runners from four Panhandle counties—Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan and Sioux.
     They will start the running of miles in their home counties in celebration of state unity and as a build-up to the 36th annual amateur sports festival for Nebraskans of all ages and abilities.
     The second-day schedule for June 2 includes runners in five counties—Banner, Cheyenne, Kimball, Morrill and Scotts Bluff.
    The Torch Run, which is sponsored by the Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association, continues through Thursday, June 25, crossing three to six counties daily.
    So far, more than 400 runners are registered to run in more than 60 counties.
    Organizers are still looking for at least one runner in 22 Nebraska counties with no runners signed up as of Tuesday. Planners would like having every county represented.
    The current county map can be found on the Torch Run Facebook Page, and the daily schedule with a registration link can be found at: CornhuskerStateGames.com.
     Runners, who participate free of charge, are required to register, run a minimum of one mile in a safe location in their home county and encouraged to post or email a photo or short video of themselves and include #CSGTorch.  
     Upon posting or emailing their photo, all runners receive a shirt (while supplies last) and are entered into a daily drawing for a Casey’s gift card and an overall drawing for a $250 VISA gift card from the Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association.  
     The Torch Run, typically run on a physical route through dozens of communities across Nebraska, is the precursor to the Cornhusker State Games, which offers competition in more than 60 sports at some 70 venues in Lincoln, Omaha and surrounding communities.
    This year’s virtual Torch Run format was created in response to directed health measures to stem the spread of COVID-19.