The National Black Marathoners’ Association (NBMA), a non-profit organization, will hold its 12th annual summit during the 2016 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon race weekend , organizers announced today.
Hundreds of NBMA members from across the United States will travel to Columbus to participate in the 37th running of the Columbus Marathon and 11th edition of the ½ Marathon on October 16, 2016.
The announcement was made following the 11th annual NBMA summit, held as part of the Dallas Marathon in December.
“We’re humbled to have the opportunity to host the NBMA for the 12th annual summit in 2016 and are already working to create a fun, enjoyable weekend for the group and its members as part of our exciting event,” said Darris Blackford, Race Director of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon.
The 12th annual NBMA (http://www.blackmarathoners.org/) summit will feature the National Black Distance Runners Hall of Fame Banquet, which honors lifetime runners, community service volunteers and prominent running clubs. Previous inductees include Ted Corbitt, Marilyn Bevans, Frederick Davis III, Angela Ivory, Francis Gilbert and Elzy Warren. The 2015 honorees included Olympians Meb Keflezighi, Robin Campbell, and Jon Rankin, and Cincinnati’s Avondale Running Club. This event is also a fund-raising opportunity for the NBMA’s scholarship program. The NBMA has awarded more than $19,000 to deserving, college bound high school seniors.
NBMA members will be visible around Central Ohio throughout race weekend and on the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon course during race day, offering encouragement and support to all participants in the event.
The weekend’s events will include the second annual Jesse Owens Jog, a fun run/walk focusing on African-American health & wellness in partnership with the Columbus Urban League and paying tribute to the Ohio native and American track & field legend, who ran for and graduated from The Ohio State University.
“The NBMA is very excited about converging in Columbus and participating in the weekend activities,” said Tony Reed, Executive Director of the National Black Marathoners’ Association. “We were impressed with the 2015 Jesse Owens Jog and the Columbus Marathon and look forward to the 2016 editions.”
About the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon
The 37th Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 16 and have a capacity of 6,000 full marathoners and 12,000 ½ marathoners. The Columbus Marathon is the largest marathon in Ohio and the 17th largest in the United States. Registration for the 2016 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon opens February 1. For more information visit www.columbusmarathon.com
About the National Black Marathoners’ Association
The National Black Marathoners’ Association (NBMA) is the largest nonprofit organization in the U.S. dedicated to encouraging Black Americans and others to pursue a healthy lifestyle through distance running and walking. It is open to everyone, regardless of his or her athletic ability or previous marathon experience. The NBMA hosts an annual multi-race summit. Previous races and locations have been Lewis & Clark (St. Charles, MO), New Jersey (Long Branch, NJ), Cleveland (OH), Lost Dutchman (Apache Junction, AZ), Cowtown (Fort Worth, TX), Georgia (Atlanta), Bermuda International Race Weekend, Deadwood-Michelson
(Deadwood, SD), Madison (WI), Richmond (VA), Windermere (Spokane, WA) and Dallas Marathons. For more information, visit blackmarathoners.org.