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Hall Headlines Gasparilla Runs

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By BILL WARD

wward@tampatrib.com

Published: February 6, 2009

TAMPA - Despite a weak economy and city seemingly stretched to the limit by parades and a Super Bowl, the Publix Supermarkets Gasparilla Distance Classic is experiencing a record number of runners signing up for the annual road races in downtown Tampa.

At its current pace, total entries for one of the four races slated are likely to exceed the record of 16,959 set last year.

"I just think that with all these difficult things going on with the economy, a lot of people are hungry for a good, fun, healthy, wholesome event they can do as a family," said the event's executive director, Susan Harmeling. "I think it also helps that the race weekend is a little later this year, which gives people more time to think about training and prepare for the event."

The 15k and 5k races are slated for Feb. 28. The Sports Authority Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay are March 1.

U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials winner Ryan Hall, who finished 10th in last summer's Beijing Games, is expected to compete in the 15k race as a tune-up for next month's Boston Marathon.

Hall is the U.S. record holder of the half marathon (59 minutes, 43 seconds) and the only American to break the one-hour barrier.

This year's races will also feature a first for the event: a timing system using disposable tags instead of chips, which have been used for the past several years by Gasparilla.

Reporter Bill Ward can be reached at (813) 259-7456.

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