IT services firm Earthlink (News - Alert) has again been named the official data center provider of the 2012 Boston Marathon. The company, which maintains a strong presence in the local Boston area, will provide the infrastructure to enable the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) to manage the data-driven foot race.

Earthlink's business unit will host the B.A.A's website and securely store participants' registration information and their statistics. The IT firm will also manage the runner data and make it accessible to organizers, spectators and the worldwide media.

“With thousands of runners and hundreds of thousands of spectators, access to data is critical to allowing us to track all of our runners and manage all of the information flow required to support this event,” said T.K. Skenderian, marketing and sponsorship manager, Boston Athletic Association.

“Thanks to EarthLink, our event organizers and 26,895 participating runners know they have safe and convenient access to a high-performance website that has the information they need both before and on race day,” Skenderian added.

In addition to its technical support, Earthlink is providing three invitational race entries to a select group on non-profit customers. The Boston Living Center, Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries and domestic violence agency RESPOND have each been granted race waivers that will combine to help raise tens of thousands of dollars for those in need.

“As a result of our EarthLink-sponsored race waivers, we expect to raise almost $15,000,” said James Harder, director of Communications at Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries, which provides job training and meaningful work opportunities to people with disabilities. “These additional funds will go a long way towards supporting our youth programs at Goodwill.”

The Boston Marathon kicks off on Monday, April 16 at 9 a.m., when mobility-impaired participants will begin their race. The elite men's and women's heats will commence later in the hour.