The Panther Trail, located around the Campus Pond and some athletic facilities on campus, will be dedicated to a former cross-country coach at 11 a.m Saturday.

The current path will be renamed the Thomas Woodall Panther Trail in honor of Dr. Thomas Woodall. In addition to coaching cross-country, Woodall served as a kinesiology and sports science professor.

Current cross-country coach Erin Howarth said the idea for the trail dedication came about over a year ago when Lisa Larson pushed for a tribute of sorts to the retired coach.

Larson is the wife of former Eastern runner Mike Larson who ran during Woodall’s time as a coach.

Larson contacted other former runners and other longtime donors for financial support to give the trail an official name. By July 2015, Larson successfully raised the funds needed, and despite delays in the project, the trail will now be renamed.

The Kinesiology and Sports Science and Athletic Departments will host an informal ceremony near the Campus Pond south of Lantz Arena. The departments will unveil a sign with the trail’s new name.

The ceremony is open to anyone and will unofficially coincide with homecoming activities.

The two-mile cross-country course consists of both grass and stone-chips, much like the one Woodall and former Eastern runner Joe Sheeran trekked in Oregon over 35 years ago.

Sheeran, a former Eastern runner with the most NCAA All-American athlete honors in school history, returned from one of his many trips to the NCAA Division I track championships with an idea.

Both Sheeran and Woodall decided Eastern needed a safe path away from roads and other potential dangers for their cross-country and track teams, said Howarth.

The running path took two years to complete with the help of Eastern families, athletes, community members and Eastern grounds crews.

The KSS and Athletic Departments would like to thank all those who helped to construct the trail and those who supported the renaming project.

“It is nice to know that it provides an enjoyable exercise option for all who live in the area,” Howarth said.

Kaitlin Cordes can be reached at 581-2812 or krcordes@eiu.edu