What top U.S. training group will be the third grant recipient and be feted during the Running USA Hall of Champions Dinner and Live Auction on Sunday, January 15 in Houston?
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - (January 4, 2012) - At Running USA 2012: The Industry Conference, Running USA will present the third Allan Steinfeld Development Award during the Hall of Champions Dinner and Live Auction presented by Competitor Group on Sunday, January 15 at the Hyatt Regency Houston, Texas. The annual $25,000 grant goes to a top U.S. training group.
"At our conference, we again will acknowledge and honor another deserving, successful U.S. training group with our Allan Steinfeld Development Award. Since our inception in March 1999, Running USA's mission has also included athlete development and this aptly-named award builds on that foundation," said Susan Weeks, Running USA CEO.
The development award is named after Allan Steinfeld, a long-time leader in the sport, who jump-started the U.S. distance running resurgence when as head of the New York Road Runners he allocated $20,000 seed money ($1 per U.S. entry at the 2000 New York City Marathon) for the development program Team USA Distance Running launched in November 2000 that produced training groups such as Team Running USA (two Olympic medals in 2004 and major marathon wins) and Team USA Minnesota and inspired the formation of others.
Five U.S. distance training groups applied for 2012 funding, and at its annual conference, Running USA will award $25,000 from its live and silent auction proceeds to one training group who will be represented and celebrated at the Running USA Hall of Champions dinner.
One of the following training groups will be the third recipient of the annual award: Bay Area Track Club, Club Northwest, Mammoth Track Club, TeamROGUE or ZAP Fitness.
Last year's recipient of the second Allan Steinfeld Development Award was Team USA Arizona, who will have several athletes vying for U.S. Olympic team spots in 2012 for the London Games this summer. Team USA Minnesota was the inaugural award winner.
In 2011, Team USA Arizona used part of the grant to promote and encourage good health and physical activity among children, youth and families in northern Arizona. For a summary of their 2011 community outreach via school visits, afterschool programs and community events, see: TeamUSAArizona.org.
For more information on the Allan Steinfeld Development Award or Running USA 2012, contact Ryan Lamppa at (805) 696-6232 or ryan@runningusa.org or go to: RunningUSA.org.
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