Sold out National Interstate 8K kicks off Akron Marathon race series

10K half marathon set for Aug. 10

Israel Merkle from Akron and Emma McCarron from Mansfield were the respective winners in the men’s and women’s races at last weekend’s sold-out National Interstate 8k & 1 Mile, the first race of the 2019 Akron Children’s Hospital Akron Marathon Race Series.

The National Interstate 8k & 1 Mile welcomed 2,087 athletes from 18 states, with ages 3 to 80, who competed June 29. The race began by highlighting The University of Akron’s campus with a unique tour of downtown Akron. Although it was designed for speed, the course supported both runners and walkers as they made their way to the finish line on Summa Field inside InfoCision Stadium.

The morning’s first to cross the finish line in the 1 Mile race were Dylan Garritano from Akron and Brianna Nieset from Chardon. National Interstate Insurance, in its fourth year as presenting sponsor for this first race in the Akron Children’s Hospital Akron Marathon Race Series, had more than 100 employees involved with the race.

“Today, we were proud to bring our team together for the National Interstate 8K & 1 Mile race,” said Tony Prinzo, AVP, Human Resources of National Interstate. “Our volunteers and runners take pride in supporting Akron Children’s Hospital and the Akron Marathon Race Series. We enjoyed kicking off the race series today, and hope it was a special day for the hero patients and their families.”

Every year, Akron Children’s Hospital selects several hero patients to feature along the race routes, highlighting their fighting spirit and superhero-like powers. The partnership between the Akron Marathon and Akron Children’s Hospital has raised more than $1.68 million to care for the region’s children since 2016.

This year, more than a dozen hero patients were selected to represent the hospital, as part of its role as the title beneficiary of the Akron Children’s Hospital Akron Marathon Race Series. All of the heroes were together before the race began—cheering on the runners and walkers as they crossed the start line.

An event favorite for participants was having the opportunity to meet the 2019 honored hero patient from Akron Children’s Hospital, Saige Carpenter, a five-year-old from Orrville, who has undergone three major heart surgeries to repair a heart defect.

For info, visit akronmarathon.org/meet-our-heroes.

“Today’s race was special,” said Anne Bitong, President/Executive Director of the Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation. “We celebrated our fifth year of the race series, witnessed strong performances while honoring Akron Children’s Hospital patient heroes.”

The day’s winners included:
8K FINAL RESULTS
** MALE – ISRAEL MERKLE, AKRON – 26:38; DAVID PETRAK, MAYFIELD HEIGHTS – 26:42; VERRELLE WYATT, STOW – 26:56

** FEMALE – EMMA MCCARRON, MANSFIELD – 31:07; REBECCA NUSSBAUM, LAKEVILLE –31:08; MEGHANN FEATHERSTUN, KENT – 31:30

** MASTER’S MALE – DAMON BLACKFORD, AKRON – 30:33; DAVID STEWART MOGADORE – 30:53; RICHARD WISNESKI, AKRON – 31:04

** MASTER’S FEMALE – TERESA FERGUSON, POWELL – 34:14; MICHELLE FARR, MEDINA – 34:33; DIANNE LAHETA, BROADVIEW HEIGHTS – 35:49
1 MILE FINAL RESULTS

** MALE – DYLAN GARRITANO, AKRON – 4:40; CHARLES NOVAK, CUYAHOGA FALLS –4:47; CRAIG NIESET, CHARDON – 4:57

** FEMALE – BRIANNA NIESET, CHARDON – 5:43; RENEE HARDEN, MEDINA – 5:46;KRISTIN TRIPI, AKRON – 6:19

** MASTER’S MALE – DEREK BORK, LAKEWOOD – 5:27; PAT DILLON, CORTLAND –5:38;STEVE SMOLINSKI, NORTON – 5:39

** MASTER’S FEMALE – SHARI GEIGER, MEDINA – 6:55, DIXA DHITAL, COPLEY – 7:42; HANNAH GREBELSKY, AKRON – 7:43

The Goodyear Half Marathon and 10k is set for Aug. 10, and the marquee event — the FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon, and Team Relay — will follow the blue line through the streets of Akron on September 28, 2019.

This year, the Akron Marathon team will host more than 15,000 runners across its 2019 events all supporting Akron Children’s Hospital. Runners looking for a deeper level of engagement with the hospital can join the race as a Children’s Champion, a race participant committed to raising $250 to $1,000 for Akron Children’s Hospital.

Race registration and volunteer opportunities for the remaining two race series events may be found at AkronMarathon.org.