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Olympic Trial May Be Held in Akron: City One of Four Finalists to Host 2007 Marathon Championship and 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials

Posted on: Thursday, 29 December 2005, 09:00 CST

By Paula Schleis, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Dec. 29--Which U.S. athletes get to compete in the 2008 Olympic Marathon could be decided in Akron.

The city is one of four finalists in the running to host the 2007 U.S. Marathon Championship and the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.

And since one city will be chosen for the men's event and another for the women's race, Akron has a 50/50 chance of winning one of the spotlights.

The fact that the other three cities in the race are New York City, Boston and Minneapolis doesn't intimidate Steve Marks.

"I think we have a better than even chance," Marks said, noting that Akron was recently included on a list naming the 50 best marathons in the country. "We've got momentum on our side."

Marks, founder of the Road Runner Akron Marathon, said efforts are under way to raise about $1 million needed to host the two events.

They'll need to show they can get that money when they submit their final proposal by Jan. 9. The winners are expected to be announced in April.

Already, Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic has pledged $150,000 subject to City Council approval. The city would also guarantee another $450,000 in support if race organizers fall short in getting the money from somewhere else, Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth said.

"Our confidence level is high that if we're selected, the group will be able to raise the money they need," Lieberth said.

Summit County Executive James B. McCarthy said he has also pledged $150,000 in county support subject to the County Council's approval.

"I think it's a good idea and I'm willing to help," he said.

The rest of the money will have to come from foundations, Marks said. Organizers can't solicit from corporations because Akron won't have any say on who event sponsors are.

Marks said the effort to bring the Olympic trials here is a great example of regional cooperation.

The Akron team of Marks, David Hunter and Bret Treier has been working on it for two years with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.

"This is the classic situation where you have a Cleveland organization working with an Akron organization to put on an event that benefits the whole region," Marks said.

If held in Akron, the 2007 U.S. Championship would be held the day after the annual fall Road Runner marathon. The Olympic trials would then be held the following spring.

While the Road Runner race would take the regular meandering path that covers much of the city, the race for the national title and the Olympic qualifier must be "fast" and "spectator friendly," co-organizer David Hunter said.

The route would begin at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, become a 10-kilometer loop through downtown that would be repeated three times, and end at Canal Park.

A confident Hunter said he thinks Akron has an edge because in a big city like New York or Boston, "an event like this is a blip on the radar screen." In Akron, it's a "big, big deal."

Marks said the area economy would benefit some, with athletes and their friends and family coming to town. But the real bonus is something intangible.

"People will be talking about it months and months before the event, and months and months after the event," he said. "They'll be talking about Akron."

Or as Hunter put it: "The region keeps asking, how can we be cool? What can we do to be cool?

"Well, this is our chance to be cool!"

Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Staff writer Lisa Abraham contributed to this article.

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

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Source: Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

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