Dallas Athletes Racing is hoping to get a big crowd on Sunday willing to give a triathlon the old college try in Denton.

The Old College Tri, which is in its fourth year (and second in Denton), will offer participants a 300-meter swim, a 16-mile bike ride and a 5-kilometer run in that order.

The sprint triathlon will start at UNT’s Pohl Recreation Center, where competitors will take the 300-meter dip at 7 a.m.

The bike course will then wind from its starting point near the intersection of Sycamore and North Texas Boulevard, heading south on Bonnie Brae and then west on Airport Boulevard nearly seven miles and back.

When the contestants return to the original bicycle start, they will be faced with a 5K run outlined by Hickory Street to the north, Welch to the east, Highland to the south and Avenue E to the west.

What race director Dan Jones hopes to accomplish with his events is an atmosphere of fun as well as competitiveness. Most of the participants in the Old College Tri in the past have been through their college days, but are encouraged to wear gear supporting their alma mater.

Another of Dallas Athletes’ events, the Monster Tri, will be held in Denton on Oct. 18. In that one, participants are actually encouraged to wear Halloween costumes while racing.

“Of course these races promote health and fitness,” Jones said. “But the cool thing about triathlon participants is that they are a very tight-knit group. The person who finishes last — it’s just as rewarding to them as it is the person who finishes first. The whole thing we try to do as a company is theme our events so there’s an air of fun and camaraderie.”

Sprints are basically beginner triathlons, which still require a lot of training, Jones said.

“These types of races are where people really get addicted to the sport,” Jones added. “It’s really rewarding to see groups of these people move up to Olympic tri’s and even Iron Man tri’s, but it’s also a huge accomplishment for someone who’s never done this before.”

The Old College Tri will take someone in the middle of the pack about an hour and a half. Interested parties can get in on last-minute registration by calling Jones at 214-502-9837 or e-mailing him at danejones@verizon.net .

MATT MARTINEZ can be reached at 940-566-6873. His e-mail address is mmartinez@dentonrc.com .