** Via Marathon Responds to Train Incident **
Despite absolute assurances from Norfolk Southern Railroad that trains would be suspended from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the morning of September 11, 2016, a train was dispatched just before 8 a.m., holding up runners in the seventh mile of the race.
Via Vice-President Gerry Yasso held a meeting on June 22 and exchanged multiple emails with Norfolk Southern officials, where race logistics, runner safety and public safety on the course were discussed in great detail.
“This is the tenth anniversary of this race, and all 10 races have crossed the Norfolk Southern rail tracks on Albert Street to enter Canal Park in Allentown,†said Yasso, Vice President of Development for Via. “Each and every year, we have contacted Norfolk Southern to assure runner safety, spectator safety and public safety at this intersection, and all other intersections that we cross. The incident is especially regrettable and was quite unexpected.â€
Runners affected by this incident should contact
events@vianet.org
with pertinent data and details on how the train effected their time. Times will be addressed on a runner-by-runner basis.
Race category award winners will be notified by the end of next week. Awards will be distributed by mail or available for pick-up at Via’s offices.
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