BANK ONE JOINS ROAD RUNNER AKRON MARATHON AS SPONSOR OF MARATHON TEAM RELAYS

         AKRON , Ohio ( Feb. 9, 2004 ) – Bank One, a leading employer and financial services provider in the Akron community, has joined the Road Runner Akron Marathon as sponsor of the marathon relays.  The Bank One Marathon Team Relays includes all corporate teams, organizations and non-USATF teams that will be competing in Akron on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2004 for more than $10,000 in prize money.

         “Bank One is pleased to step up to this increased level of sponsorship for the Akron Marathon,” said Ted Walter, president of Bank One, Akron . “Bank One’s more than 800 Akron employees are proud of our community, and proud to support this important community event.”

         “With Bank One’s sponsorship and enthusiasm for the event, we expect many more teams to compete this year than we had last October,” said Jim Barnett, executive race director of the Road Runner Akron Marathon & Team Relays.  Some 280, five-person teams competed last year in three divisions:  all men, all women and mixed divisions.

         The course record of 2:38:53 for the five person men’s team was set last year by the team, Front Line Racing.  The women’s team record is 2:42:28 set by Meninas Rapidas and the mixed team record was set by the Running Ritchies with a time of 2:44.46.  “We’re expecting last year’s winning teams to return this year to defend their titles,” added Barnett.  The winning times should also be faster this year with the re-design of the first six miles of the course and the elimination of some stubborn hills.

         For additional information about the Road Runner Akron Marathon, or to register for the 2004 event on Saturday, Oct. 2, visit the Road Runner Akron Marathon website at: http://www.akronmarathon.org, or call toll-free at (877) 375-2RUN.