FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tel:229.434.8700
ext. 210
“SNICKERS® MARATHON ® Energy Bar marathon”
Earns USA Track and Field (USATF) Certification
ALBANY, GA – Local officials received notification today that the
“SNICKERS® MARATHON ® Energy Bar marathon” is now a USA Track and Field
certified event.
“This is great news,” says Virginia Parker, speaking on behalf of
Masterfoods, USA, Albany, producers of the SNICKERS® MARATHON ® Energy Bar
and the name sponsor of the event. “As we work to grow the event and our
name recognition, this certification is an important achievement for the
course and the community.”
Masterfoods has been manufacturing the SNICKERS® MARATHON ® Energy Bar
since 2003. The idea of the Albany marathon was exciting to the Albany
site because not only is it an inaugural event, but it also aligns the
company’s belief that most active, healthy people benefit from sustained
energy and extra nutrients, Parker explains.
“The SNICKERS® MARATHON ® Energy Bars are made for people with healthy,
active lifestyles,” she adds.
“The certification will help us attract even more runners from across the
United States,” according to Dr. Jose Tongol, noting that the flat terrain
of southwest Georgia should make for some fast running times.
Dr. Tongol has been spearheading the effort to create a marathon for SW
Georgia to promote healthy lifestyles and to help raise funds for
construction of the Willson Hospice House.
Proceeds from the 26.2 mile event will go toward building the in-patient
hospice care facility for the Southwest Georgia area.
The purpose of the USATF course certification program is to produce road
race courses of accurately measured distances.
For any road running performance to be accepted as a record or be
nationally ranked, it must be run on a USATF-certified course. In addition,
the certification program is very important to the average road racer, as
well as those of exceptional speed.
Most runners like to compare performances run on different courses, and
such comparisons are difficult if course distances are not reliable. No one
can truly establish a personal best if the course distance is not accurate.
The official USATF certification number for the marathon is: GA07003WC and
the half marathon is: GA07002WC.
As of February 1, 2007 twenty states are represented in current “SNICKERS ®
MARATHON ® Energy Bar marathon” registrations, including: Georgia, Florida,
South Carolina, Alabama, New Jersey, Virginia, Wisconsin, California,
Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, Maryland, Tennessee, Louisiana, Colorado,
Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, West Virginia. There is also
a runner from Japan planning to attend!
Sponsors to date include:
MasterFoods USA-SNICKERS® MARATHON ® Energy Bar
Phoebe Cancer Center Central Monitoring
Security Bank Albany Civic Center
City of Albany Nantze Springs Water
Berg Eyecare Cytomax Sports Drink
The Pointe South Georgia Wildcats
Albany Technical Institute Albany Herald
Albany Internal Medicine Pinnacle Infusion
Albany Journal Georgia Sports Medicine & Orthopedic
Water station sponsors include:
Albany State University Albany Technical College
Darton College Dougherty County
First Baptist Church MCLB
Junior League Girl Scouts
Comfort Zone WALB
The Pointe American Red Cross
Christ United Methodist Church Phoebe Hospital
Westwood Church
Excellence.com is the primary sponsor and Palmyra Hospital is the medical
sponsor of the Georgia Cup MAXXIS Series Cycling Criterium set for March
3-4. Also sponsoring the event is Michelob Ultra. The cycling event gets
under way at 8 am on Saturday with the start/finish line located in front
of the county courthouse and city/county office complex on Pine Street. The
races will last until 5 pm and will move to Lee County on Sunday, March 4
for the longer races of 15, 30 and 45 – miles.
The City of Albany Recreation & Parks Department and Youth Becoming Healthy
are spearheading the One-Mile Fun Run set for the same day, March 3rd, 7:15
am. Children, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are being encouraged
to participate as $1 of each registration for the Fun Run will go to the
school listed by the participant.
Volunteers are needed for all events:
Mardi Gras – shifts to check IDs and collect entry fees
Marathon, Half-Marathon – road marshals, etc.
Bike Race – road marshals
Please contact Sara or Lisa to be added to the volunteer list. All
volunteers receive a free volunteer t-shirt and free entry to the Mardi
Gras festivities.
www.snickersmarathonenergybarmarathon.com
# # #
|
