Akron Among Final 4 In Running For Olympic Marathon Trials

Posted February 15, 200619 yr

Forgot to post this a few weeks ago. There's a story about it on NewsNet5.com today.

Akron Among Final 4 In Running For Olympic Marathon Trials

Olympic Committee To Make Selection In April

POSTED: 7:24 pm EST February 14, 2006

AKRON, Ohio -- Olympic officials were in Akron Tuesday, which is one of the final four cities in the running to hold the U.S. marathon trials for the 2008 Olympics.

Akron is competing with some heavyweight cities to hold the trials, and not being a huge city may be in its favor, reported NewsChannel5's Jonathan Costen.

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http://www.newsnet5.com/news/7057652/detail.html

February 15, 200619 yr

From the Akron Beacon Journal 02/15/2006

U.S. track delegation tours Akron courses

Committee seeks site for 2008 Olympic Marathon

TrialsBy Paula Schleis

Beacon Journal staff writer

New York has a lot to offer. As do Boston and Minneapolis.

So in a pitch Tuesday to become one of two cities to host the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, Akron race organizers argued that the event here would be a star attraction whereas in the other larger cities it would get lost among many other activities.

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http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/13876222.htm[/i]

February 15, 200619 yr

I hope they get it!!!!

February 15, 200619 yr

Once again, it seems Akron is "the little city that could". They don't mess around....to even be considered in the running with those other big cities is impressive.

February 15, 200619 yr

That would be great. Is there a map of the proposed route?

February 15, 200619 yr

There's a map available at the following link:

http://www.akronmarathon.org/map.asp

The map is for the annual Roadrunner Marathon. I believe the Olympic trials route would be roughly the same.

2 months later...

April 25, 200619 yr

Oh well, looks like our long shot chance may be slipping away.

From the Akron Beacon Journal 4/25/2006

Akron tries to keep up pace in bid for qualifier

Report says other cities to score Olympic trials

By Paula Schleis

Beacon Journal staff writer

Akron's chances for hosting a U.S. marathon trial for the 2008 Olympics may be dimming.

Citing unnamed sources, a recent report in the Boston Globesaid Boston was the front-runner to host the women's qualifying event and New York was the first choice for the men's race.

But USA Track & Field and the U.S. Olympic Committee are reportedly at odds over sponsorship issues, delaying a planned mid-April announcement.

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http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/14422348.htm[/i]