First Youngstown Marathon set for June 4

May 21, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

First Youngstown

Marathon June 4

Cleveland has one. Akron has one. Cincinnati has one and finally, Youngstown will have one, too.

On June 4, the city will host its first marathon. Race organizer say it’s another step in the revitalization of the city.

“I think Youngstown is at a point where it’s getting a fresh start with a lot of cool local businesses opening downtown,” marathon president Courtney Poullas said. “There’s real estate coming. We’re building a hotel. We have the Covelli Centre and the possibility of an amphitheater, so I think the marathon fits with where Youngstown is going and can help it get there even faster.”

In the most recent count, there are 828 runners already registered and counting. That number breaks down to 213 full marathon runners, 436 running in the half-marathon, 152 for the 5k and 17 in the Kids Run, which takes place June 3. Registration continues and Poullas expects to reach 1,000 participants by race day.

Some of the notable names participating are Team USA members Tony Migliozzi, a marathoner from Canton, and Boardman race walker Michael Mannozzi. Both participated in the 2015 Olympic trials.

Runners will takes their marks for the 26.2-mile race at Second Sole on 224 in Boardman, which is also the finish line. After a half-mile on 224, they’ll make their way into Mill Creek Park, where the bulk of the race will be run. The park is what separates Youngstown’s marathon from its counterparts in other cities.

“Akron, Pittsburgh and Cleveland run their marathons through the city, which is really cool, but we have Mill Creek Park,” Poullas said. “We wanted our unique touch to it, but we’ve been looking to other races in terms of having success with volunteers and course logistics and stuff like that.

“On the back end, we’re looking at the bigger races. On the front end, we want it to be unique,” she added.

Downtown Youngstown makes an appearance 12 miles into the race. After going along Mahoning Avenue, runners will make the right onto West Federal Street and head to Federal Plaza to turn around and head back through Mill Creek Park. The back end of he race features three hills to climb and a detour near Mill Creek Golf Course’s par-3 course.

In its current state, the Youngstown Marathon cannot be used as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon — that status should come in 2018 — and does not feature a monetary prize for the winner, but the top runners will not necessarily walk away empty-handed.

“We’re not doing prize-money this year, but we do have awards made by a local Youngstown artist,” Poullas said. “We haven’t really revealed them yet, but they kind of go with the theme of Youngstown.”

Visit www.youngstownmarathon.com to register for the marathon and the other races.