Lincoln – – The Nebraska Sports Council invites Ogallala and North Platte area residents to run a mile with the State Games of America (SGA) Torch on Tuesday, June 16.   There is no entry fee and runners will receive a free T-shirt.

The Torch Run is the precursor to the 2015 State Games of America, which takes place July 28-August 2 in Lincoln, Omaha and surrounding communities. Competition is offered in 67 sports for an estimated 18,000 athletes, including national qualifiers from 46 states and host-state entries from 190 different Nebraska communities.

Locally, the Sidney High School Cross Country team will kick things off west of Ogallala around 7:30 a.m.  The Ogallala High School Cross Country team will take over in Ogallala around 9 a.m. and continue west on Highway 30.  The Torch will travel through Paxton, Sutherland and Hershey before members of the North Platte High School Cross Country team bring the Torch into the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in North Platte for a media stop.  At 7 p.m. Nebraska National Guard soldiers will make a special appearance with the Torch at the Demolition Derby at the Lincoln County Raceway.

Runners are responsible for their own transportation and will be scheduled on a first-come first-serve basis.  To sign up, please contact:  Pat Hagedorn at 402-471-2544 or [email protected]

The Torch Run, sponsored by the National Guard, completes its journey on Friday, July 31, when the caldron is lit at the Games’ Opening Ceremonies at Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium, home of the Huskers.  Olympic hurdler and bobsledder Lolo Jones and Olympic wrestler Jordan Burroughs will do the honors to cap off a show featuring the parade of athletes from 46 different states, exhibitions by the Metal Mulisha motocross team, the Army Golden Knights Parachute team and the famous Crevier family.

For State Games of America entry information and to register online log onto:  www.SGA2015.com or call 402-471-2544.