The list of entrants to this year's Casper Marathon reads much like that of a circus: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls and children of (almost) all ages.

Sunday's event, which includes a marathon, a half-marathon and a marathon team relay, allows for a wide array of athletes, and this year's might be the most diverse yet.

Race director Eric Easton said there were more than 300 registered runners as of Friday afternoon, with registration continuing until 7 p.m. tonight. There will be runners from at least 34 states, including a 71-year old man from Connecticut running the full marathon and a 12-year old boy from Arkansas running the half.

"We're up in numbers," Easton said. "We had 363 the first year (2003), but we also had a 5 (kilometer) that year. This is probably our second biggest."

Among those in the field are a group of students from St. Anthony Tri-Parish School in Casper.

Race co-director Dawn Easton, a teacher at the school, has been directing an "exploratory" running class for the past six weeks, preparing students for the Casper Marathon. Three of her students will run the half marathon while 10 others will combine to form two relay teams.

"I figured we might as well train to run in the marathon and they were all for it," Dawn Easton said. "It's been so much fun. I've been going out and running with them and it's just sort of taken off.

"The whole school is excited about it."

Easton hopes she has introduced them, and a few of her colleagues, to a sport that they can enjoy for the rest of their lives.

"I just said to go out and have fun and experience a marathon," she said. "It doesn't take any great skill. You don't have to be fast, you just have to go out and enjoy running."

That is their plan, and the goal for the half-marathoners will be to complete the race.

"I'll probably cry," Dawn Easton said. "I'll be so proud of them. I'm starting to cry just thinking about it."

Robert Onders' goal will be much different.

The Cody resident won the race a year ago, posting a time of 2 hours, 43 minutes, 45 seconds - nearly nine minutes faster than the second-place finisher. Onders is registered to compete again on Sunday.

New this year to the competition will be the use of chip timing. Each competitor will receive a chip with a timer that starts and stops at the start and finish lines.

The marathon course is the same as last year's, with the start at the Casper Events Center and the finish line at the Holiday Inn on the River.

With one of the biggest fields in history and a good forecast (70-degree temperatures and sunny skies), the race could be as intriguing as its field of competitors.

Contact sports reporter Eric Schmoldt at (307) 266-0578 or eric.schmoldt@casperstartribune.net

Marathon Tracker

n WHAT: The fifth annual Casper Marathon.

n WHEN: The race begins Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m with a 6-hour time limit to complete the course.

n REGISTRATION: Online registration ended Thursday at midnight, but competitors can still sign up at the Holiday Inn on the River.

n VOLUNTEERS: Those interested in volunteering with the race can still sign up at the Holiday Inn, as well, and will receive a free race t-shirt.