Atlanta will host trails for 2020 marathons

Atlanta has won a bid against three other cities to host the U.S. Olympic team’s marathon trials for both men

and women in 2020. USA Track and Field and the U.S. Olympic Commit- tee announced Monday that the trials, which will deter- mine the three men and three women to represent

the U.S. in the marathon at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, will be held in Atlanta on Feb. 29, 2020.

The Atlanta Track Club will serve as the local organiz-

ing committee for the trials. USA Track & Field said there were three other “interested bidders” — Chattanooga, Tenn.; Austin, Texas;

and Orlando, Fla. Atlanta Track Club executive director Rich Kenah said he felt there were two key reasons Atlanta landed the event.

“First, Atlanta is a great destination for an event like this because of its airport and because of the walkability of our downtown start and finish location,” Kenah said. “And second, I would point to the history and the respect that the Atlanta Track Club has within the running community and the running space.” The Atlanta bid referenced the city’s hosting of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, carrying a theme of “Olympic Legacy: Olympic Future.” Max Siegel, CEO of USA Track & Field, said in a statement: “Atlanta’s legacy in the sport, their creative commitment to athlete support and the experience of their event management team were compelling.” The looped course hasn’t been finalized, but plans call for it to start and fin- ish at Centennial Olym- pic Park, organizers said. “We’re trying to find that balance between being spec- tator-friendly, being athlete-friendly and, of course, hitting special iconic landmarks,” Kenah said.

Some 300 to 400 qualifiers are expected to com

pete. Kenah anticipates a large turnout of spectators.

“We have a vibrant running community (with) about 125,000 people who finish our events each year,” he said. “We look forward to bringing out not only the running community but also general sports fans. … So 200,000-plus is what we would love to see out there.”

The track club’s bid included travel stipends and hotel accommodations for all athletes who qualify for the trials. “We will deliver a race weekend where all qualifiers are treated like champions,” Kenah said.

The trials will be held on the day before the annual Atlanta Marathon, which is set for March 1, 2020.

The marathon trials most recently were held in Houston (2012) and Los Angeles (2016).