black and white bed linen

Barber Classic / Jeep Davis 5K & Fun Run

5K Run and a Separate 1/2 Mile Fun Run

Saturday, September 19, the Barber Classic / Jeep Davis 5K will start at 8 AM, and the Fun Run will start at 9 AM. Location: 248 Robinson Ave. Barberton, Ohio (at the Barber Piggery!) Most of 5K Race will take place on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath!.

Inside the Piggery, beautiful pictures of the Anna Dean Farm and Barber's Mansion (inside and outside pictures) will be on display. Members of the Barberton Historical Society will be on hand to answer questions about the history of our city. Books about the city's history will be on sale!

In addition, we will have Jeep Davis memorabilia on display. Jeep Davis' closest friend will be on hand to tell you about the memorabilia to rekindle memories of Barberton's premier athlete, Jeep Davis!! Jeep set multiple world records in hurdle and flat races, while winning four gold Olympic medals!

There will also be a mini-silent-auction. All runners will receive 5 free tickets which can be used in the silent auction! Additional tickets will be available for runners and non-runners alike for a small cost.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2025 Barber Classic 5k and Fun Run! We are grateful to the runners, the volunteers, the City of Barberton Street, Safety, Police & Fire Departments, and all of our great Sponsors! Thank you!!

Registration is not yet open. Come back soon. We are working to get online registration set up! Thank you!

Prize Money to Top 3 Female and Top 3 Male Runners Overall, Medals (they are handsome medals) to Top 3 Female and Top 3 Male Runners in Each of 9 Age Groups, Commemorative TEE for All Participants.

Lower Race Turnout Makes It Easier to Come Away with a Medal!

$100 to 1st place Female and $100 to 1st place Male overall; $50 to 2nd place Male & Female overall; $30 for 3rd place.

There are 9 age groups: 10 and under, 11-15, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and up. Medals to 1st, 2nd, 3rd place Male & Female in each age group.

Everyone (participants in 5K and in Fun Run) gets a handsome commemorative TEE. Note: appearance of actual Tee will be different from shown in picture.

an abstract photo of a curved building with a blue sky in the background

Cost to enter 5K is $30. Cost for Fun Run is $15. Packet pickup on Friday, September 18th between 4:30 and 7:00 pm and also Saturday morning, September 19th 7 - 7:45 am at the Anna Dean Piggery located at 248 Robinson Ave. in Barberton. Registration on day of race is $35 for 5K and $20 for Fun Run. Cash prizes and medals for 5K run. No cash prizes or medals for participants in Fun Run. Commemorative TEE for all participants of either 5K or Fun Run. Door prizes (in the format of a mini-silent-auction) are available for all who attend - runners and non-runners alike! See details under "event." Free coffee for all. Salty snacks available for all 5K and Fun Run participants.

Register by clicking button below:

5K Race Is 3.12 Miles in Length. Race Course Is Displayed Below. Fun Run Is 1/2 Mile and Is Intended for the Less Ambitious Runners and Walkers. Strollers, Walkers, and Dogs (must be on a leash) Are Welcome to Participate in the Fun Run. Feel Free to Attend to Cheer for Your Child or Spouse. No Cost to Attend as a Cheer Person!

Or, come to see the amazing pictures of Anna Dean Farm and the Barber Mansion!

Or, come to see the Jeep Davis memorabilia and talk to one of Jeep Davis' good friends!

Most of the Race Course for 5K race is on Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath. Sorry - no dogs allowed to run in the 5K but they are welcome as visitors and to participate in the Fun Run!

Strollers, Walkers, and Dogs (must be on a leash) are welcome to participate in Fun Run. Note: We decided against the use of bicycles because of the nature of the race course.

Come to cheer for your child/spouse and enjoy free coffee and snacks.

We are honored this year to have the opportunity to merge with the Jeep Davis 5K Run! An important purpose of our Barber Classic /Jeep Davis 5K and Fun Run will be to rekindle memories of Jeep Davis, to inform - and to remind - the City of Barberton's residents that one of the truly great athletes of our era grew up in and represented our great city!

Glenn "Jeep" Davis

(1934–2009)

Who was Glen "Jeep" Davis? Glen Davis was born in 1934 in West Virginia. His family brought him to Barberton as a youngster. He showed athletic prowess at an early age.

Barberton High School won the Class A State Championship in track in 1954. Astonishingly, Jeep won all 20 of their points with individual performances.

Selected to represent the United States in the 1956 Melbourne Games, Jeep won a gold medal in the 400 meter hurdles.

In 1958, he was awarded the James E. Sullivan Award identifying Jeep to be the top amateur athlete in the United States.

Later, in the 1960 Rome Games, Jeep won two more gold medals: one in the 400 meter hurdles and another in the 4x400 meter relay.

After high school, Jeep attended Ohio State University where he competed in hurdles, sprints, and the long jump. He was a Big Ten champion eight times.

Jeep played in the National Football League in 1960 and 1961. He played for the Detroit Lions as a wide receiver.

Jeep was a highly decorated athlete. One of his many awards, Jeep was Inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame (1974) and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame (1986).

He later coached track at Cornell University.

He eventually became a teacher for the Barberton school system where he influenced a number of younger individuals. I know, because Jeep was a substitute teacher for one of my history classes when I was in the eighth grade. He was a truly nice person.

Bill Allen, a close friend of Jeep's, will be on hand during the Barber Classic / Jeep Davis 5K and Fun Run in the Piggery to show you a number of Jeep's many memorabilia. Runners and non-runners are welcome to come to the Piggery to see this amazing collection!

This Event Is Hosted Jointly by Barberton Kiwanis Club and Barberton Historical Society.

The 52-room Barber Mansion when constructed was considered to be the finest mansion between New York and Chicago.

Members of the Barberton Historical Society will be on hand to answer any questions you might like to ask about the history of Barberton.

Barberton Historical Society Members Will Also Be On-Hand Inside the Piggery.

About Barberton Kiwanis Club

Join us for a 5k race or a fun run to help support our community.

We are always interested in finding new members. To learn more, visit barbertonkiwanis.org.

Barberton Kiwanis Club is over 100 years old. We are an all-volunteer club. We perform fund-raisers like this one and use the money we raise to help improve the Barberton Community, its children in particular.

Contact Us

Reach out for event inquiries and sponsorship opportunities.