Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Browns' roster nearly devoid of consistent players
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
Does it work? Test team returns to try out new products advertised on television
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Browns vs. Lions live …
Akron Zips:
Akron trounces Howard to reach .500
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Robiskie, Harrison inactive
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 47-13
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
The Sunday Sanity Challenge
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (69) The Brookings Institute Study on "Bending the Curve" – Four General Strategies
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
A Random Rant on Testing
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Akron to host USA Women's 8K Championship next year, hoping it's a steppingstone to Olympic Trials in 2012
By Stephanie Storm Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Thursday, Sep 27, 2007
The fifth annual Road Runner Akron Marathon is now only two days away, but the day's biggest news features a highlight for the 2008 race.
Road Runner officials will announce today that Akron has been chosen to host the 2008 USA Women's 8K Championship as part of next year's race.
''We're a known quantity with the leadership at USA Track and Field,'' said Dave Hunter, an Akron attorney and spokesman for the Akron Marathon Charitable Corp. ''They've been watching what we've been doing since our inception and recognize our energy and focus. They know that Akron has a great tradition of being a city that can rally and come together to put on a world-class event.''
It helped Akron's bid to host the women's 8K that for two consecutive years (2003-04) the city hosted the North American Men's Relay Championship as part of the marathon's events.
In turn, hosting the women's race helps pad the city's resume when it comes to the possibility of hosting even bigger running events in the future.
''The women's 8K helps highlight our marathon and brings greater visibility to our area,'' said Steve Marks, the Akron marathon founder. ''We have our sights set on hosting the Olympic Trials in 2012, and this is a steppingstone toward that goal.''
Akron was one of the finalists for hosting U.S. Olympic Team Trials this year, but Boston was selected for the women's marathon trials and New York City for the men.
So, while Akron is out of the mix for hosting trials for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the city is building toward hosting events for elite runners with sights set on London in 2012.
In the meantime, next year's women's 8K distance will be making a return to the women's USA Running Circuit schedule for the first time since 2005. It features some of the best U.S. distance runners.
Runners who could come to Akron include Olympic medalist Deena Kastor from California, multiple national champion Katie McGregor from Minneapolis, 2004 Olympic team member Jen Rhines of California and Amy Rudolph, the 1998 and 1999 8K winner from Providence, R.I.
''The 8K is one of those distances that doesn't fit into the host city's schedule every year,'' explained Jim Estes, the USATF programs manager in Colorado. ''But when a city does host it, it can do a lot to demonstrate that area's ability to address a variety of needs the elite athletes present and shows a commitment to a higher level of planning and displaying professional running.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
The fifth annual Road Runner Akron Marathon is now only two days away, but the day's biggest news features a highlight for the 2008 race.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
