A week full of action and entertainment concludes for NJCAA cross country runners in Fort Dodge on Tuesday with the Half Marathon national championship race.

The 13.1-mile event begins at 10 a.m. for the women and 10:10 a.m. for the men at the Crimmins Building, located at 14th St. Southwest and 11th Ave. SW. Nearly 400 runners from over 70 different programs from across the country will be participating.

Athletes will follow a route that takes them through several areas of the community, including Sunkissed Meadows, Loomis Park and the city trail system. The finish line is at the city bike path inside Kennedy Park.

Temporary road closures and traffic restrictions may impact road availability during the morning hours. Please plan alternate routes if necessary, and keep an eye out for all marked intersections and trail crossings. Additional travel time may be necessary in the following areas:

– 11th Ave. SW, Merriwether Drive and S. 7th St.

– Portions of 9th Ave. SW, 10th Ave. SW and 14th St. SW.

– City trail crossings near the Karl King Viaduct, Riverside Drive and Loomis Park.

– National Ave., 170th St., Orchard Ave., 160th St. and the city trail north of Rogers Sports Complex into Kennedy Park.

Fort Dodge police, event marshals and signs will be in designated areas to guide traffic and ensure public safety throughout the event.

Iowa Western is the defending champion on the men’s side. The women’s winner in 2024 was Salt Lake Community College.

Weather conditions, which were dominated by snow and cold for the NJCAA championships last Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course inside Kennedy Park, are anticipated to be ideal. Temperatures in the morning hours are slated to start in the upper-30s and work to the upper-40s by noon. Clearing skies and light winds are expected.