Two groups are vying to run the same race in Jim Thorpe Borough.

Schuylkill River Runners put on the inaugural Jim Thorpe Half-Marathon earlier this year, but Michael Ragozzino and Tristan Edwards split from the organization, calling last year’s race “unorganized.”

Now both sides are asking Jim Thorpe Borough Council and the Carbon County Commissioners for permission to host the race on April 14, 2019.

“We broke from that group after this year’s race,” Ragozzino said. “Basically, they had us doing all of the logistical planning and execution of the event. We had to keep making up for the mistakes that group made.

“They failed to inform the borough the marathon was even happening in 2018. We got a call three weeks before the event from the borough manager.”

Before the borough knew of the fractured relationship, it approved Schuylkill River Runners to hold the 2019 race.

After hearing Thursday night from Max Kasten, of Schuylkill River Runners, council rescinded that motion.

Kasten said his group’s race would start in Tamaqua and come down Broadway in Jim Thorpe, ending in front of the Inn of Jim Thorpe.

That, Police Chief Joe Schatz said, would require a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation permit, which Kasten said he applied for, and a police services contract due to the multiple officers which would be required.

This year’s event didn’t require police services, Schatz said, because the route started at the county lot and headed toward Nesquehoning.

“All we did last year was give them a few barriers,” he added.

Ragozzino’s planned 2019 route also starts in Tamaqua, near Owl Creek Reservoir, but keeps mostly along the old Switchback Trail before eventually ending in the parking lot connected to the Carbon County Administration Building.

“We have met with local businesses and they are in favor of this as it will help generate revenue for the town with the runners sticking around after the race to eat or shop,” Kasten said.

Kasten said if Schuylkill River Runners got permission to run the race, it would benefit the Summit Hill Heritage Center, which supports entities such as the Summit Hill Food Pantry and the Summit Hill library.

“So you want to run a race and use up Jim Thorpe’s police resources, and you’re giving money to Summit Hill?” Mayor Mike Sofranko asked Kasten. “We have a library right here in town that would love that money. I can’t support the borough getting involved in a fight between two entities. I say you don’t have the event at all until you learn how to get along. I can’t put our police into a situation like that.”

The 2018 event drew around 2,000 runners to the area.

Ragozzino said last week he intended to let county commissioners decide who would get the race since his planned route ended in the county’s parking lot.

“We are meeting with the county on Aug. 23,” he said. “Working with Schuylkill River Runners is just something we would not do again. We just feel their mismanagement could open us up to potential lawsuits.”

His group’s race, he said, would benefit Turn To Us, a nonprofit located in Jim Thorpe.

Council President Greg Strubinger said Thursday that the borough had agreed to take a wait-and-see approach to get the county’s comments on the situation.

“We don’t want to get in between two organizations,” he said.