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CLEVELAND — The 2025 Akron Marathon is taking off this weekend as the city continues to celebrate its 200th anniversary.
What You Need To Know
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Akron Public Schools laid off around 160 faculty members, including teachers, last summer
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Now, the district said it is looking to fill around the same number of jobs before school starts this week
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Statewide, the teacher attrition rate – or those no returning as a teacher – has risen in recent years, while the number of newly credential teachers has declined since 2013.
Akron Public Schools laid off around 160 faculty members, including teachers, last summer
Now, the district said it is looking to fill around the same number of jobs before school starts this week
Statewide, the teacher attrition rate – or those no returning as a teacher – has risen in recent years, while the number of newly credential teachers has declined since 2013.
Four months of training is paying off for Eric Westog who was the first half-marathoner to cross the finish line this year.
He is one of more than 8,000 participants who stood behind the start line at sunrise. Westog said he’s been running for around 15 years, but it’s only his second time participating in the annual Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Team Relay event.
“This year I was actually entered for the full marathon, and I switched this morning because my daughter has a fever back home. So I wanted to get done sooner so I can get back home,” said Westog who is from Michigan.
Anne Bitong, President and CEO of the Akron Marathon, said participants are traveling new revamped routes across the downtown area.
“This is an all new finish line this year,” Bitong said. “We had a change in the course, so we flipped the first 13 miles of the race course, and then we’re finishing right here on South Main Street, the heart of Akron with the all new renovated lot three. So, we think our runners are going to love it.”
And while the Marathon is celebrating it’s 23rd anniversary, Biton said the event is also recognizing a significant milestone in the city’s history.
“It’s Akron’s birthday, the bicentennial. So all of our participant shirts and medals feature the 200 Akron logo, and it’s just a great way to celebrate Akron with that foot tour. Traveling around our city with amazing landmarks,” she said.
Fhiannon Stevenson is an employee with FirstEnergy and long-time participant in the Akron Marathon. She is helping lift the spirit of celebration at the marathon.
“I have run every day for the last five years. So I’ve run on plenty of birthdays, never a race like this,” she said. “So I think I’m just going to pretend they’re all cheering for me.”
Still, for other participants, the race is only a piece of a longer journey that lies ahead.
“I would love to qualify for the Olympic trials in the marathon,” Westog said. “So I’m going to go plan to go for that in the spring.”
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Tanya Velazquez
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