Posted: October 28, 2004

Athletics: Chicago's Carey Pinkowski Receives the 2005 Fred Lebow Award for Lifetime Achievement

Commitment to Distance Running and Growth of the Chicago Marathon Recognized

CHICAGO (October 28, 2004) ? The National Distance Running Hall of Fame has named Carey Pinkowski the recipient of the 2004 Fred Lebow Award for lifetime achievement. As the Executive Race Director for The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon since 1990, Pinkowski has worked tirelessly to develop Chicago into one of the fastest and most runner-friendly courses in the world. Pinkowski will be honored with the fifth annual Fred Lebow Award on November 5 in conjunction with this year's ING New York City Marathon.

Lebow paved the way for American distance running. Prior to his death in 1994 from brain cancer at the age of 62, Lebow managed to run 68 marathons in 30 countries, and acted as Race Director of the New York City Marathon until 1993. He was instrumental in bringing the sport of distance running to the masses. It is this kind of commitment and spirit for the sport that award recipients exemplify.

"This is a great honor for me," said Pinkowski. "I had the wonderful pleasure of knowing Fred Lebow both as an athlete who competed in his events and as a fellow race director. Fred was a true original. He was a visionary, a leader and the ultimate promoter of distance running. All of the major marathons owe a great deal to Fred Lebow for his endless determination, innovation and his celebration of the human spirit."

Pinkowski has been a huge influence on distance running since beginning his athletic career in Hammond, Ind. The four-time cross-country state champion at Hammond High School also ran for Villanova University, becoming a three-time NCAA All-American in track and cross-country. He is the indoor track 5,000m record holder and a member of the record 4 x 1,500m relay team.

He has been awarded The Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) Gold Medal Award, The Jack Tranter Award for Service to the Chicago area community and the 2001 Road Race Management Race Director of the Year Award.

Pinkowski has become the face of The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon during his 14 years of leadership. He has also made Chicago one of the largest and most prestigious races in the world and is responsible for recruiting the world-class athletes that compete in Chicago.

Pinkowski will join the ranks of gifted leaders in the sport of running who have received the Fred Lebow Award including: Earle Reed, Founder of Utica Boilermaker Road Race, the largest 15K race with 10,000 runners annually - 2003; President of Darman Associates, Jeff Darman - 2002; Julia Emmons, Peachtree Road Race Director - 2001; Don Kardong, founder of the Lilac Bloomsday Run in Spokane WA -2000.

"I was happy to see Carey Pinkowski win this year's Lebow award," said John Petrone, Co-Director of the National Distance Running Hall of Fame. "Carey has done for Chicago what Fred Lebow did for New York."