USATF Foundation Doubles Olympic Bonus

INDIANAPOLIS — USA Track & Field Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeldhave announced that the Foundation, after its board meeting June 30, will double the original Elite Athlete Grantee bonus pool cap of $50,000 announced on April 11 to $100,000.

“We are thrilled to see the extraordinary performances of our Foundation’s grantees at the Olympic Trials,” said Jack Wickens, Foundation Director. “The number of grantees who have earned their way to be on the Olympic team has far exceeded our most optimistic projections.”

With the 2012 Olympic Trials at historic Hayward Field now in the books, there are 19 Foundation grant recipients who have punched their tickets to London. Jackovic and Greifeld have announced that each London-bound athlete will receive a $5000 bonus.

The 19 Foundation sponsored athletes who have been named to Team USA more than doubles the 2008 result when 9 grantees qualified for the Olympic team. They include:

• Kyle Alcorn: runner-up, steeplechase
• Keisha Baker, 1600 meter relay pool (5th place, 400 meters)
• Lance Brooks: champion, discus throw
• Stephanie Brown Trafton: champion, discus throw
• Becky Holliday: runner-up, pole vault
• Cyrus Hostetler: 5th place, javelin throw#
• Molly Huddle: runner-up, 5000 meters
• Kibwe Johnson: champion, hammer throw
• A.G. Kruger: 3rd place, hammer throw
• Jamie Nieto: champion, high jump
• Kara Patterson: runner-up, javelin throw
• Jeff Porter, 3rd place, 110 hurdles
• Alice Schmidt: 3rd place, 800 meters
• Amanda Smock: champion, triple jump
• Aretha Thurmond: runner-up, discus throw
• Morgan Uceny: champion, 1500 meters
• Jason Young: 3rd place, discus throw
• Rachel Yurkovich: 4th place, javelin throw+

#First and second did not have “A” standard
+Third did not have “A” standard

In addition, the USATF Foundation board awarded a $3500 John W. James Endowment grant, as well as the $5000 bonus, to Amanda Bingson. Amanda, a recent UNLV grad, thrilled the crowd at the Nike campus last Thursday when she set multiple personal records, met the Olympic “A” standard and made her first Olympic team in the hammer throw.

The Foundation Elite Athlete Grant Program contributes to the pursuit of world class performances by American post-collegiate track and field athletes. Athletes must meet minimum performance and financial need standards to be eligible.

The USATF Foundation provides a means to attract and guide funds to new and innovative track and field programs with an emphasis on providing opportunities for youth athletes, emerging elite athletes, distance training centers and anti-doping education. The Foundation depends upon donations from its Board of Directors and from generous fans of track & field.

For more information, or to contribute to the USA Track & Field Foundation, visit www.usatffoundation.org or contact Tom Jackovic at (412) 398-2484 or tom.jackovic@usatf.org