Road Runner Akron Marathon to Host 2008 USA Women’s 8 km Championship

AKRON, Ohio, September 8, 2008 – The 2008 USA Women’s 8 km Championship will be held in association with this year’s Road Runner Akron Marathon (September 27, 2008). The race, sponsored by the Akron Community Foundation, will start at 7:30 a.m., following the beginning of the marathon at 7:00 a.m. Runners are expected to rocket through the city and cross the finish line in Canal Park Stadium in less than 30 minutes.

Spectators are encouraged to cheer on these elite runners bright and early on race day and as they cross the finish line. “This is a chance for the people of Akron to come together and act as ambassadors of our city,” said Amy Freeman, Operations Director of the Road Runner Akron Marathon. “Hosting this event truly is an honor, and we have the opportunity to show these tremendous athletes what a great community we have. This is Akron’s time to shine.”

The 2008 USA Women’s 8 km Championship is the seventh stop for women on the 2008 USA Running Circuit (USARC). USARC is a USA Track & Field road series that features USA Championships from 5 km to marathon distance. The 2008 circuit has nine events for men and women. The top ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prize purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. Deena Kastor leads the women with 45 points.

To qualify for the event, all women must have equaled or surpassed one of the following standards: 5 km in 18 minutes and 36 seconds (18:36), 8 km in 30:00 or a 10 km in 37:12, since January 1, 2006. Deena Kastor currently holds the American women’s 8 km record with a time of 24:36 set in 2005. The world record presently stands at 24:28 by Morocco’s Asmae Leghzaoui set in 2002.

“Being selected to host this event is a great accomplishment for Akron. The women running in this race represent some of the best distance runners in our country,” said Dave Hunter, Co-Chair of the Road Runner Akron Marathon. “It will be quite an experience to see these women in action.”

One such athlete competing in the event is two-time Olympian, Elva Dryer of Gunnison, Colorado. Her accomplishments include participation at the 2004 (10,000m distance) and 2000 (5000m distance) Olympic games, and 3rd place at the 2007 USATF 10 km Championship. She also participated in the marathon and 10,000m distance trials for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“I think the USA Women’s 8 km Championship is a great addition to the series. This is a distance that many runners typically don’t have the opportunity to run in competition,” said Dryer. “My goal for this race probably is similar to the other women: to do my best and win if the opportunity presents itself. I certainly want to be one of the first to cross the finish line!”

Women participating in the 2008 USA Women’s 8 km Championship will be competing for a $23,500 prize purse. Additional benefits include free race entry and invitation to the Akron Roundtable, Mayor’s Reception and The University of Akron Health & Fitness Expo.

This will be the first year the USA Women’s 8 km Championship will be held in Akron. In previous years, Akron has hosted the North American Men’s Relay Championship and the USATF Club Road Relay National Championship, both in 2003 and 2004. Akron was also a finalist in the site selection process for the 2008 Olympic trials.

The Road Runner Akron Marathon is organized by the Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation, a nonprofit group that is dedicated to promoting health and fitness. Additional information on the Road Runner Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Team Relays is available at www.akronmarathon.org or by calling (330) 375-2786 (2RUN).

Check back on RUNOHIO’s web site for more info and results: http://www.runohio.com