Enthusiasm, Energy at the Chamber’s Hospitality Table at WAC Marathon
Springfield residents, track enthusiasts, and business owners showed up in full force at the Springfield Chamber’s hospitality table to cheer on the participants of the World Athletic Championships Marathon last weekend!
For both the men’s event Sunday and the women’s event Monday, the 26.2-mile marathon course wound its way right in front of the Chamber Depot at 101 South A Street, as the athletes sped over the Main Street Bridge into Springfield at Mile 22.
Undeterred by road closures and early start times – both races commenced at 6 a.m. – onlookers at the Chamber’s gathering were privy to several unencumbered views of the athletes, as the looped course took runners past the Depot three times. Chamber staff set up a table with festive giveaway items, including sunglasses and noisemakers, and the cinnamon rolls, coffee, and juice donated by Wild Goat Sports Bar and Grill were a huge hit with spectators.
Whether present on Sunday or Monday morning – or both – those in attendance witnessed history. On Sunday, gray skies and cool temperatures gave way to sun later in the morning as Tamirat Tola of Ethiopa raced to a new championship record time of 2:05:37; and on Monday, warmer and sunnier conditions settled over the women’s event, where Gotytom Gebreslase, also of Ethiopia, ran a championship record and personal best time of 2:18:11 to grab the gold medal.
After the last of the runners had zoomed by, many members of the community stuck around, giving away overstocked food and water and helping each other clear paths for cleanup. The sense of community was palpable. Thanks to everyone who spent those two memorable mornings sharing their spirit and energy and helping “Welcome the World” to Springfield!
