Cross country usually is a fall sport reserved for high school and college runners. Herb Cratty and Jim Pitts have brought cross country scoring to a spring road race.

This Saturday's 10 a.m. Sharon Speedway Battle on the Border 5-Miler brings the excitement of cross country running to road racing with a unique team scoring concept.

The event pits Pennsylvania residents against Ohioans. Runners from other states are welcome, but must declare allegiance to one side of the border.

Equal numbers of participants from each state will be scored according to finishing place. As in a cross country race, the team with the lowest number wins. All finishers from the winning state earn medals.

Runners will have no problem identifying their competition during the race. Pennsylvanians will wear blue bibs while Ohio runners sport red ones.

There are no political implications in the color choice.

"I just had a lot of red and blue bibs," said Cratty, who provides bibs to many races through his Miles of Smiles timing service.

Battle on the Border is a joint venture between Cratty and Jim Pitts of Sharon. The two are friends who run together at least every two weeks. Cratty measured the flat-and- fast, out-and-back course that Pitts suggested for the event, which starts and finishes at Sharon Speedway.

Pitts resides and runs in the Sharon area, which is a few miles from the state line, and has many running friends from each side of the border. Sharon Speedway is located about one mile into Ohio on the way to Hartford, Ohio.

The five-mile course unfortunately does not include a trip around the stock car track; however, runners are welcome to attend speedway opening day events for free. Those events include a swap meet and stock car warm-ups in the morning, with racing later in the day.

Cratty and Pitts are experienced racers and know what runners appreciate in a road race. The course is very fast and racers will be chip-timed for accuracy.

Battle on the Border offers T-shirts to all pre-registered runners and walkers and to day-of-event registrants while supplies last.

Cratty is hoping for at least 100 participants, both runners and walkers, for this first-year event.

"A lot depends on the weather," he said.

Regardless of this year's participation, Cratty and Pitts plan to make this an annual event.

Pitts and Cratty's wife Bonnie will be on duty on race day, as Herb will be timing the Cure Autism Now 5K in State College.

This 5K run and 2-mile walk to raise awareness of autism is a much larger event, with more than 200 runners and more than 400 walkers, mostly Penn State University students.

For information about Sharon Speedway Battle on the Border 5 Miler, call Herb Cratty at 724-758-2506 or Jim Pitts at 724-962-0371.

For directions, visit the Sharon Speedway website at www.sharonspeedway.com/location.asp

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running group run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.comSaturday, 9 a.m.: Great Shamokin Path 5K Run-Walk, Rural Valley. Out and back on one of the major Native American trails in the area. 814-938-2006 or mertzy@verizon.netSaturday, 9 a.m.: WPTLA President's Challenge 5K Run-Walk, Pittsburgh. Benefits Pittsburgh Steelwheelers organization for wheelchair sports. 412-487-7644 or www.wptla.orgSaturday, 9 a.m.: Deloitte Run Your Heart Out 15K Run-5K Run-Walk, South Park. Starts at Allegheny County Fairgrounds, benefits Highmark Caring Place for grieving children, adolescents and families. 412-402-5012 or www.deloitte.com/us/15kSaturday, 10:30 a.m.: A Rabbit Runs Though It 5K, Latrobe. Flat and fast, starts at Memorial Stadium. 724-537-4331 or latroberecreation.orgSaturday, noon: Cure Autism Now 5K, State College. www.psucureautismnow.orgSaturday, noon: YMCA Healthy Kids Day, Brookville. Free swimming, games, prizes. 814-849-7355Sunday, 9 a.m.: Rock, Roll and Stroll 5K Race, Slippery Rock. sruapac@yahoo.comApril 21, 9 a.m.: Kittanning YMCA Big Foot Half Marathon and 5K, Kittanning. 724-545-1566 or k_knepshield@yahoo.comApril 21, 9 a.m.: UPMC Health Plan Genesis Riverside Run, Pittsburgh. Choice of 10K or 5K. 412-766-2693 or www.genesis.orgApril 21, 9 a.m.: Riverside Band Boosters Band-Aid 10K Run, Ellwood City. 724-752-3029 or razkoz@yahoo.comApril 21, 10 a.m.: Riverside Band Boosters 5k Run-Walk, Ellwood City. 724-752-3029 or razkoz@yahoo.comApril 25, 7 p.m.: Sunset Sprint 5K, Grove City. The 22nd running, loop course with downhill finish. 724-264-1276 or Langerar1@gcc.eduApril 28: Country Music Marathon and Half Marathon, Nashville, Tenn. 615-742-1660 or www.cmmarathon.comMay 12, 10 a.m.: Run for Sight 5K Run, Butler. Run through VA Hospital grounds benefits Butler County Blind Association. 724-287-4059May 20, 7 a.m.: Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K, Cleveland, Ohio. 800-467-3826 or www.clevelandmarathon.com

<B>Cook Forest Half Marathon, March 31:</B> Josh Peterson, 1st Overall M, 1:15:56; Mindy Sawtelle, 1st Overall W, 1:21:49; Leslie Kramer, 4th Overall W, 1:29:46; Paul Geibel, 2nd 20-24 M, 1:26:15; Brent Collins, 2nd 40-44 M, 1:31:41; Robert Crawford, 3rd 60-69 M, 1:38:28; Ashley Brooks, 3rd 20-24 W, 1:43:52; Sandy Beck, 2nd 45-49 W, 1:50:45; Lauren Williams, 3rd 19 and under W, 2:26:23; Bob Miller, 1:40:33; Bob Markovich, 1:42:26; William Marsh, 1:43:20; Evan Lowe, 1:44:22; Elizabeth Witmer, 1:45:58; Silvio Andreassi, 1:46:25; Lori Thomas, 1:46:58Bert Hepner, 1:50:58; Bret Atwood, 1:50:58; Neal Franchock, 1:51:11; Rita McClelland, 1:51:57; Cindy Waltemire, 1:52:44; Carol Donahey, 1:54:05; Craig Chodkowski, 1:54:25; Jerry Heinz, 1:55:46; John Mullen, 1:58:50; Scott Williams, 2:00:00; John Harding, 2:02:22; Robert Cook, 2:02:56; Dianne Brooks, 2:04:09; Michael Floro, 2:06:59; Joe Davis, 2:09:08; Crystal Lasko, 2:43:05; Laura Warmbrod, 2:48:25<B>Cook Forest 5K, March 31: </B>Brian Bauer, 1st Overall M, 17:45; Tristen Rankin, 1st Overall W, 20:11; Christopher Bloch, 23rd 45-49 M, 21:56; Chrissy Valentine, 3rd 20-24 M, 22:24; Dave King, 1st 50-54 M, 22:55; Patricia Neubert, 1st 50-54 W, 24:03; Wayne Toy, 3rd 50-54 M, 24:54; Kathy Shoaf, 1st 60-69 W, 27:10; Beverly Lowe, 2nd 40-44 W, 30:20; Margretta Lutz, 1st 70 and over W, 31:47; Eliza Lowe, 27:12; Ruth Parry, 28:53; Paula Berry, 29:44; Julie Witmer, 30:08; Ruth Cypher, 30:45; Debra Witkowsti, 38:35<B>Martha's Run 10K, April 7: </B>Charlie Ban, 1st Overall M, 34:37; Mark Courtney, 3rd Overall M, 37:59; Lindsey Scottoline, 1st Overall W, 42:20; Curt Grimm, 1st 55-59 M, 44:34; Cindy Grimm, 1st 55-59 W, 46:15; Gregory Ripper, 49:33; John Daley, 50:58; Ron Kurnava, 58:27; Hemanth Kapoor, 1:00:25Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone or fax: 724-352-4395. Email: bigp16@connecttime.netPat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.