Salt Lake Marathon plans announced

Scott Kerr has run eight marathons, just never "in" a marathon. But in a figurative sense, he might be about to start.

Kerr has been named race director for the Salt Lake City Marathon and 5K, an ambitious, newly created event officially launched Wednesday morning during a press conference at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Along with officials of both the institute and Devine Racing, the event's organizer, former U.S. Olympic hockey hero Mike Eruzione, joined Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman at the podium during the press conference.

Kerr is no stranger to such events, having served the past eight years as director of the Deseret Morning News marathon, 10K and 5K events held each year on July 24. He will relinquish that position in 2004 to focus on the SLC Marathon.

His goal, and that of Devine Racing, is to "create a world-class event that will attract runners both locally and nationally." In his role with the Deseret Morning News races, Kerr traveled to many other cities where similar events were held. He longed to bring some of those events' elements to Utah — a weekend race each year (it will always be run on a Saturday), a festive atmosphere along the race course, big-time prize money and a daylong celebration. That's the plan Devine Racing has for the inaugural Salt Lake City Marathon and 5K that will be run April 24, 2004.

"We'll have a pre-race health and fitness expo on Friday, the 23rd," he said. "The marathon will start on Saturday at 7 a.m., the 5K fun run and fitness walk at 9 a.m., and the awards program and concert that evening at the Gallivan Center."

The marathon will be sanctioned through the USATF and will serve as a qualifier for both the Boston Marathon and the Olympic trials. He added that a number of race clinics and events will lead up to the race over the next eight months.

Kerr also wanted to create a marathon course that was basically flat with a few downhill segments, "a sub 2:10 course" he said, referring to a potential top marathon time.

"It has to appeal to both the experienced marathoners and those just beginning," Kerr said. "I think we've accomplished that with the course."

The outlined course starts at the Olympic Legacy Bridge just below the Huntsman Cancer Institute, proceeds along the east bench of Salt Lake City, travels through both Sugarhouse and Liberty parks, then finishes at the Olympic Legacy Plaza at the Gateway.