HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (06-Nov) -- Phil Lockwood, who has directed the Steamboat Classic 4 miler in Peoria, Ill., since 1994, was honored as the MarathonFoto/Road Race Management Race Director of the Year here tonight. The award was presented by the Running Network's Lary Eder at the welcome reception of the annual Road Race Management race directors' meeting and trade exhibit which runs through Saturday.
Lockwood, 48, has directed the Steamboat for 15 years on a voluntary basis, and has been involved with the event for a total of 32 years.
"The event and I grew up together," said Lockwood who joked that his total earnings as a race director amounted to 25 cents. "I once found a quarter after the race," he quipped.
Under Lockwood's direction, the race has attracted top athletes despite being held in the midst of the track season. Fourteen runners who competed in the Beijing Olympics had participated in the Steamboat Classic over the years, including marathon gold medalist, Constantina Dita, and world half-marathon champion Lornah Kiplagat.
"Yes, running does play in Peoria," said Lockwood as he accepted his award which included a giant aspirin tablet, symbolizing what a headache race directing can be. "But we have to be creative. Part of it is melding the old and the new."
The four-miler had 2296 finishers this year, but the companion 15-K had 584 more. Ridouane Harroufi of Morocco and Kim Smith of New Zealand were the 2008 race champions in 18:17 and 20:00, respectively.
The event is always held the Saturday of the Father's Day weekend; the 2009 edition will be held on June 20.
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