Akron, OH (Aug. 16, 2021) — More than 2,000 athletes gathered at Goodyear Global Headquarters for the second race in the 7th annual Akron Marathon Race Series presented by Summa Health, with a recording-breaking race in the men’s overall 10k.
At the sold-out Goodyear Half Marathon & 10k, Aiman Scullion from Akron and Catherine Joecken from Bay Village were the respective winners in the men’s and women’s Goodyear Half Marathon, finishing at 1:09:07 and 1:24:50. The men’s 10k title was taken by Antonio Cardona Rodriguez from Puerto Rico, beating the previous 10k record of 33:14 with a time of 31:09, and the women’s 10k winner, Paola Ramos Lugo from Puerto Rico, finished with a time of 36:07.
The Goodyear Half Marathon & 10k welcomed runners ages 12-85 competing on Sat., Aug. 14, 2021, beginning at 6:30 a.m.
This year, the Goodyear Half Marathon & 10k hosted a hybrid approach to its second race in the Akron Marathon Race Series presented by Summa Health keeping several mitigation strategies in place to ensure the safety of all runners, including all participants completing a COVID-19 questionnaire 72 hours before the race. Additionally, 200 runners at a time began socially distant and in five separate waves for the Half Marathon and in eight separate waves for the 10k—each spaced three minutes apart as part of the teams’ COVID Operational & Safety Guidelines.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the athletes, volunteers, partners, and spectators that filled the sold-out Goodyear Half Marathon & 10k, and we share our deep appreciation for their flexibility and cooperation in support of the new health and safety measures at this iconic race,” stated Anne Bitong, President & CEO of the Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, in its seventh year as presenting sponsor for this second race in the Akron Marathon Race Series presented by Summa Health, provided support with more than 140 Goodyear associates, who laced up to run or volunteered at the day’s event.
Since the Marathon’s inception, Summa Health has proudly supported medical aid stations across its events. This year, the Summa Health team made the transition to presenting sponsor of the entire Akron Marathon Race Series, as well as continuing to run vital aid stations for runners. As stated by Cliff Deveny, M.D., the president and CEO of Summa Health, “Giving back to the community is one of the most important things that we do.” Dr. Deveny also participated in the 10k.
