Erin Bennett isn’t thinking of winning the inaugural 10K Crosstown Unity Run.

“I just hope not to get lost,” said Bennett, a Lawrence High School senior on the track and cross country teams.

Plans are under way for 10K and one-mile races Aug. 17 to raise money for the Free State High School and LHS running programs.

The 10K will start on the track at Free State, wind through West Campus and Daisy Hill at Kansas University and finish on the track at LHS. The mile run will begin and end at LHS.

“We’re hoping for a couple hundred runners,” said Steve Riley, one of the event’s organizers.

Riley said the fund-raising aspect of the Unity Run reflected the Lawrence school district’s ongoing struggle to finance schools, including athletics programs. About $3 million in budget cuts and fee increases were adopted in June by the board to balance the 2002-2003 budget.

Proceeds from the event will be split by the two high schools.

Steve Heffernan, Free State’s track coach, said the event would promote sportsmanship in the community.

“It’s a unique idea,” he said. “It’s good for relationships between Free State and Lawrence High.”

He said an unusual twist was that graduates of Free State would compete as a team against current students. LHS graduates and students will do the same.

The 10K begins 8 a.m. Aug. 17 at Free State, with the one-mile fun run set for 9:30 a.m. at LHS. Bus transportation from LHS to Free State will be provided from 6:15 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. race day. The bus pass is $2.

The 10K early-entry fee is $15. After Aug. 6, the fee is $18. The mile run is $10. T-shirts and awards will be issued.

Heffernan said it was healthy to suspend the natural rivalry between high schools for one Saturday morning.

“Unity for a sport like cross country is helpful,” he said.

For more information, see www.freestaterunning.com/INFO.html.