The 38th annual Run for the Roses 5K walk/run will be held this Saturday, April 13 in Prentiss.

The Run for the Roses 5K event is one of Mississippi’s premier road races produced by the Run for the Roses Committee and community participation.

Registration fee proceeds from the race will be used to support the college scholarship fund and community improvement projects.

The 5-K Run/Walk will begin at 8 a.m. The one-mile walk/run will begin shortly after the conclusion of the 5-K at approximately 9 a.m., and the quarter-mile preschool walk/run will follow at approximately 9:30 a.m.

The quarter-mile preschool run is for children 6 years of age and under.

All participants are urged to arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of event start time in order to check-in and pick up race t-shirts. Participants are asked to register online at www.raceroster.com.

Awards will be given to the overall winner, male and female, first Jefferson Davis County runners, male and female, Masters male and female, Grand Masters male and female, and top three finishers in each age group, male and female.

In the one-mile, awards will be given to the top three finishers in each age group (0-15) regardless of sex; and the top two finishers (16 and up) regardless of sex.

An award will be presented to the Jefferson Davis County school with the most participants.

There will also be an Oldest Participant award.

The Overall Winner, male and female, will receive awards and $100 cash.

The Masters Winner, male and female, will receive awards and $50 cash.

T-shirts with race logo and sponsors will be presented to all participants registered prior to March 31.

To honor a longtime tradition roses will be given to the first 100 female finishers.

There will be a $500 cash award offered this year to the male and female who break the 5K course record.

The male course record of 15:03 was set in 2001 by Brian Pope.

For the first time in Run history, the female record was broken twice in 2019.

Ffion Price with a time of 17:16 and Gladys Cheboi. Cheboi’s with a time of 17:56 broke the 18:15 record set in 2016 by Tiffany Ann Dudly.

Both Price and Cheboi received the $500 cash award for breaking the course record.

The MS Race Timing will time all run events with chip timing.

All participants are eligible to win multiple awards.

In conjunction with the Run for the Roses 5K event, high school seniors will have an opportunity to compete for scholarship funds to be applied to higher education expenses at the institution of their choice. Applicants must be a resident of Jefferson Davis County, a high school senior graduating in 2024 and must be enrolled in Jefferson Davis County High School or Prentiss Christian School.

Along with the completed application, applicants must write an essay of 200 words answering “What advancement would you like to see in your community that would encourage you to return to Jefferson Davis County after graduating college?”

Scholarships will be chosen based on the essay and how the student defends his or her answer. It will not be based on ACT score or grade point average.

Winners of the $750 scholarship will be announced at senior awards day at JDCHS and PCS. Scholarship money will be sent to the college of the recipient’s choice upon proof of registration. Applications for each can be obtained from and turned in to the school guidance counselor at both schools.  The deadline for entry is April 19.

Participation in the Run for the Roses 5K event is strongly encouraged for all students.

Over 12 Food and craft vendors have signed up to participate including Carol’s Candle House and More, LLC, Martha Malloy with hats, purses and more, Angie Bridges with Paparazzi Jewelry, American Red Cross, JDC Chamber of Commerce, Windstream – Kinetics, Milton Bass with homemade quilts, Linda Hamilton with candles, Novella Graves with hats, t-shirts and more, C & R Accessories, Evon Rhodes with cakes, Shirley Dampeer with fish and chicken wings, Kizzie Corkket  with jewelry and more and Sno Cones.

The Vendor Market is sponsored by the Jefferson Davis County Chamber of Commerce and will be located in the Longleaf Trace Park.

Make sure to come out to the Prentiss Longleaf Trace Park this Saturday for the festivities. Whether you watch or participate in the runs Saturday morning, it will be a good place to meet your friends or bring your family for food, fun and entertainment.

For further information about the Run for the Roses events, contact Missy Jones at 601-792-5196.