Chris Geddis of Cranberry Township won the last two Raider Maze 5K races, but a scheduling conflict will keep him from running this year's event Saturday.

JACKSON TWP— The Raider Maze 5Khas a new date and a new venue.

Race officials hope it has the same results.

The 18th annual race takes place Saturday morning on the grounds of Seneca Valley High School. It previously ran in late August through the streets of Zelienople.

"I'm the one who requested that change,"said Jim Nagle, Seneca Valley High School cross country coach. "A lot of our kids like to run that race and the previous date conflicted with our practice and conditioning schedule.

"Last year, 50 to 75 percent of our kids ran the Raider Maze. I'm anticipating at least that many this year."

Proceeds from the race, which is sponsored by the school's Cross Country Boosters, benefit the Seneca Valley cross country program.

For the first time, both the Raiders boys and girls cross country squads qualified for the state meet last fall. The boys finished 10-0 in section meets, second in the WPIALand eighth in the state.

The Raider girls finished fourth in the WPIALand 18th in the state.

"We've got a good set of runners here right now,"Nagle said. "We've got great kids who work hard."

Seneca Valley graduate Chris Geddis, a senior business management major at Slippery Rock University and a member of SRU's cross country team, is the two-time defending champion of the Raider Maze and holds the previous course record of 15 minutes, 41 seconds.

He will not participate in this year's race because of a scheduling conflict.

"I liked the old race because it was something I could run just before going back to school,"Geddis said. "It's a huge honor holding that course record because a lot of top local runners, Chad Hartzell, Herb Cratty and others, have run this race.

"My feeling is that (incoming SVsenior cross country runner)Chris Cipro will establish the new record."

Race director Jim Scarnati said the new course will start and end in NexTier Stadium. About 1.5 miles of the 3.1-mile race can be viewed by spectators.

The high school provides the cross country team with uniforms, sweats and transportation. Money raised by the Raider Maze has provided accommodations for road trips, an annual banquet and a $3,000 tent.

"I went to states my last two years in high school and the boosters paid for pretty much everything,"Geddis said. "This race does a lot for the runners that way."

The Raider Maze is an annual sponsor of the Butler Road Race and contributes $500 per year to the BRR's scholarship program.

It was the Butler Road Race, in fact, that gave former SVcross country coach Randy Huey the idea to get the Raider Maze started as a fund-raiser.

"The Butler Road Race was going really well and a lot of smaller races were going strong in the area,"Huey said. "I figured, why not try to run our own race in the community as a one-shot deal and use it as a fund-raiser?

"It may have been my idea, but the boosters took it and made it work. The biggest reason for its consistent success is the work of the parents."