COLUMBIANA — The mission of the Clipper Cross Country Series has remained the same for 27 years — getting kids experience on a course before the prep season starts, a pressure-free race for all ages and to have fun.

The Clipper Cross Country Series runs four straight Wednesday nights beginning July 30 at the Ward Athletic Complex behind Columbiana High School.

“The series was started by Don Groubert, who has a lot of passion for the sport,” said Columbiana cross country coach Crystal Siembida Boggs. “He continued that atmosphere when I came into the program (in 2014). I had passion for it because of my husband’s history with it.”

“I came up with it because we reinstated the cross country program into the Columbiana school district,” Groubert said. “I wanted to give the kids the experience of a cross country race instead of waiting for the first one.”

There were 602 finishers over the four weeks last year, including a high of 240 in one week.

“We make sure we have quality shirts and prizes, anything we can do to make it relevant,” Siembida Boggs said.

“It has done tremendously because we have other schools coming here — just to get their kids an experience of a cross country meet,” Groubert said. “I’ve been at meets for the Suburban League where they’re like a deer caught in the headlights. This is just a summer series, there’s not pressure on a kid if he can’t finish.”

Cost is $10 per week. Runners who compete in all four races receive a T-shirt.

“They do travel for it,” Siembida Boggs said. “Plus $10 for a race is a lot cheaper than doing $35 to $40 for a 5K somewhere else.”

Proceeds benefit the Columbiana cross country and track programs.

The top six males and females will receive awards in each of seven divisions — pre-middle school, middle school, high school, open, masters, grand masters and senior masters.

The July 30 and Aug. 13 races are on the middle school 3K course and the Aug. 6 and Aug. 20 races are on the high school 5K course. The series started with just 5K races, but have changed that.

“Most coaches didn’t want their kids to do a 5K week after week,” Groubert said. “This way has kept the numbers up.”

“Our preregistration right now is ahead of last year, that’s a positive sign,” Siembida Boggs said. “We’re getting more people to register for all four weeks before the first week.”

Races start at 7 p.m. An overall series male and female champion will be crowned based on their finishes in the four races.

The series also has chip timing, which most runners demand nowadays.

“We used to have index cards passed out at the finish line and put their name on a clipboard,” Groubert said. “With chip timing, we will have results immediately instead of screaming at a kid who hasn’t turned in his card.”

While the high school cross country season officially opens Aug. 18, the opener for most area schools will be the Salem Early Bird Invitational on Aug. 23. Until then, runners will have four weeks of the Clipper Cross Country Series to get them ready.

Groubert is the race director and runs the series with Siembida Boggs and her husband, Josh Boggs.

“I’ve let them do more,” Groubert said. “Crystal and Josh will keep carrying on after I have to step aside or retire.”