Morehead State to host national orienteering competition
Morehead State University will host the first round of the Flying Pig XXV, an orienteering event attracting hundreds of competitors from around the country. The event takes place on Friday, March 24.
Orienteering is a navigation sport where competitors use a map and compass to find checkpoints on a course. The winner is the fastest person to locate all the checkpoints.
MSU will host the first race, the U.S. Sprint Championships. Carter Caves State Resort Park will host the second race Saturday, March 25. As of early March, 270 participants from 29 states, the District of Columbia and four Canadian provinces had registered for the event. More participants are expected. The campus last hosted the event in 2015.
"Since we were last here, the campus has been transformed. The investment in renovation of the buildings and greenspace will ensure this historic university remains current and attractive to students, faculty and staff," said event director Mike Minium. "It's also a great place for fast orienteering."
The Flying Pig, hosted by Orienteering Cincinnati, includes the U.S. Individual Orienteering Championships and recreational competitions for newcomers. Orienteering USA, the national federation of the sport, sanctions the event.
Olive Hill and Morehead are part of the Kentucky Trail Towns system. There are 25 Kentucky Trail Towns, all recognized for their draw to those interested in outdoor adventure tourism. People interested in trying orienteering can attend any event; beginner instruction is always available. In addition, there are permanent orienteering courses available at any time at five Kentucky State Park sites:
- Barren River Lake State Park
- Rough River Dam State Park
- E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park
- Taylorsville Lake State Park
- Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
For more information about the Flying Pig XXV and orienteering events around the country, visit www.orienteeringusa.org.
To learn more about the city of Morehead, go to visitmorehead.com.
Find out more about MSU’s campus and what makes it a Top 15 public regional university in the South by visiting moreheadstate.edu.
