Lakefront Marathon creates Claws vs. Paws collegiate challenge

This could be the beginning of a beautiful rivalry.

The 2012 Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon will have a collegiate contest pitting a team from Concordia University Wisconsin against one from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

It will be Falcons vs. Panthers (Claws vs. Paws) running for a traveling trophy awarded to the squad with the best average finishing time. Students, staff and faculty will be eligible to compete.

Kristine Hinrichs, the Lakefront Marathon director, crafted the idea and found enthusiastic support from the running leaders of both schools along the race course. UWM Chancellor Mike Lovell and Concordia President Rev. Patrick Ferry are veteran marathoners.

Ferry called the race the start of his "comeback tour" after several years away from serious running. He may give up some ground to Lovell, who trains regularly with his chancellor's running club, but promises to have a few secret weapons on Oct. 7.

Lovell and his Panthers will be ready.

The chancellor sent out a campus wide email on Friday to recruit runners and tout the training support being organized for the next eight months.

Information sessions will be held in the UWM Union at 5 p.m. Wednesday night and from noon to 1 p.m. on Feb. 14.