| Challenge Grants awarded to three groups
07-07-2010
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| INDIANAPOLIS -The USA Track & Field Board of Directors announced three inaugural recipients of USATF’s 2010 Excellence Challenge Grants, with groups receiving as much as $50,000 for developmental programs. These grants, established at the 2009 USATF Annual Meeting, support the advancement of performance excellence in five specific areas: Race Walking, Youth, Masters, Long Distance Running and Disabled Athlete Programs.The Excellence Challenge Grants recipients were chosen based on their proposals’ demonstration of their ongoing support of USATF’s strategic plan. Winners include the Team USA Minnesota-USATF Minnesota Association, the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation, and the USATF Masters Track & Field Committee.USATF President and Chairman of the Board Stephanie Hightower expressed the board’s enthusiasm for the grant program.
“These investments will support the forward movement of track & field,” said Hightower. “As a board, we are excited about being able to award the folks on the front line who are improving and advancing excellence in our sport.” Team USA Minnesota-USATF Minnesota Association was awarded $50,000 to support the advancement of long distance running. Funds will go toward Web Site development as well as the development of a professional distance running camp in Minneapolis. The Randall’s Island Sports Foundation was awarded $37,375 to fund a series of five youth track & field/cross-country meets for athletes between the ages of 8-18. The events will feature a one-day track & field skills clinic with elite-level athletes and coaches. The USATF Masters Track & Field Committee was awarded $11,900 in support of the Masters Track & Field-Recruiting New Members initiative. The grant will fund the purchase of projection equipment and supporting materials for seven region coordinators in support of the masters committee (Forever Fast) initiative to recruit masters athletes. “The advancement of our sport requires fresh new ideas. These winning applicants areexcellent examples of this kind ofinnovative thinking,”said, Board Vice Chair Jack Wickens. USATF Board member and Hall of Famer Willie Banks looks forward to seeing the results of the grants as they are partnered with the recipients’ innovative thinking. “Each of these grant recipients will serve as a direct pipeline to furthering education and participation in track & field, road running and race walking around the country,” said Banks. “With the help of these funds, opportunities will be created for athletes to continue their development, while at the same time broadening the base of USATF. As a board, we are excited at the opportunity to assist each of these programs.” The USATF Board of Directors has requested more information regarding the proposals for racewalking before making a final decision. No proposals were submitted for Disabled Athlete Programs. About USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world’s oldest organized sports, the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. Led by President Stephanie Hightower and CEO Doug Logan, USATF is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization with a staff of professional program administrators at the National Office in Indianapolis.
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