COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team got back to its helpful ways over the weekend by volunteering at the fifth annual After Dark – Race for the Park 8K and Kids for the Park 1 Mile Fun Run.

Under the guidance of head coach Daniel Brizard, the players arrived early to the race and helped set up luminaries along Dixie Avenue for the children’s 1 Mile Fun Run. The team then teamed up with the kids and ran the mile-long race, which, along with the Race for the Park 8K, served as a benefit for Cookeville's Dogwood Park.

“It’s always fun to come out here and be with the community and be with the kids,” said senior midfielder Keri Reid. “We really enjoy it. It’s a nice break from soccer and it’s great to come out here and give back. The bonding we do here is some of the most fun we have. It’s really fun to run with the kids, as well, because it fosters a sense of getting outside and playing outdoors that is really just lost in kids today.”

In what marked the third straight year the Golden Eagle soccer team volunteered at the event, the players stationed themselves at water stations every two miles. Beyond the water they handed out, the team also offered encouragement to the runners to keep on pushing through the pain.

The soccer team is also coming off a fantastic 8-0 exhibition win over Tennessee Wesleyan on Saturday. The win marked the biggest test of the preseason for the players, as they head back out to practice with just three days left before the regular season opener. The Golden Eagles will host East Tennessee State on Friday at 3 p.m. CT. Admission to the match is free.

Photos by Mike Lehman