USATF Foundation awards development grants to 12 elite athletes

INDIANAPOLIS - The USA Track & Field Foundation has presented Elite Athlete Development Grants to 12 athletes, USATF Foundation Director Tom Jackovic announced Thursday.

The USATF 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 standards to be eligible.

Athletes receiving $3,000 grants include hammer throwers Loree Smith and Bethany Hart, discus thrower Aretha Thurmond, pole vaulter April Steiner, hammer thrower Travis Nutter, javelin throwers Mike Hazle and Leigh Smith, triple jumper Tiombe Hurd, 110m hurdlers David Oliver and Robby Hughes, and pole vaulters Justin Norberg and Darren Niedermeyer.

A three-time SEC men's javelin throw champion at the University of Tennessee, Leigh Smith finished third at the 2004 Olympic Trials and fourth at the 2005 USA Outdoor Championships. He was the fourth-ranked U.S. thrower last year.

Aretha Thurmond ended the 2006 campaign ranked #1 in the U.S. in the women's discus by T&FN for the fourth consecutive year. Her season was highlighted by her third career U.S. Outdoor national title and the best throw by an American in 2006 (64.41m/211-4).

The fourth-place finisher in the women's hammer throw at the last two USA Outdoor Championships, Loree Smith won the NCAA title in that event in 2006 competing for Colorado State.

A finalist in the men's pole vault at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials, Justin Norberg enjoyed his finest season in 2005 highlighted by his fourth-place finish at the USA Outdoor Championships.

Bethany Hart has ended six seasons ranked in the top ten in the U.S. by Track & Field News, with her highest ranking following the 2005 season when she ranked #2 in the country.

Steiner has become a fixture at the top of the U.S. rankings. Steiner has competed in the last five USA Outdoor Championships, with her best finishes in 2005 and 2006 when she placed sixth at each.

The third-place finisher at the 2004 Olympic Trials, men's hammer thrower Travis Nutter has been ranked in the top ten nationally in seven of the last nine years and will look to improve upon last year's fifth-place finish at the USA Championships

A collegiate standout at Southwest Texas State University, Mike Hazle has made a steady progression through the ranks of the nation's best men's javelin throwers. The sixth-place finisher at the 2006 USA Outdoor Championships, Hazle finished that season ranked #3 in the country, which is the highest end of the year ranking of his career.

A two-time USA Outdoor champion and an Olympian in 2004, Tiombe Hurd has been one of America's finest women's triple jumpers since 1993. Four times she has been ranked #1 in the country, and she is the American record holder.

In an event where the U.S. has been dominant for many decades, David Oliver has emerged as one of the new, great young talents in the men's 110m hurdles. Oliver had a huge breakthrough season in 2006 in posting a new personal best (13.20 seconds) and finishing the campaign ranked #7 in the world and #5 in the U.S. by T&FN.

Darren Niedermeyer was third in the men's pole vault at the 2007 AT&T USA Indoor Championships in Boston, with an indoor personal best clearance of 5.60 meters/18 feet 5.50.

The 2001 NAIA champion while a standout at Life University, Robbie Hughes was sixth in the 110-meter hurdles at the Olympic Trials and ended the season ranked #7 in the U.S. He was fourth at the 2006 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships.

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 and anti-doping education. The Foundation depends on donations from its Board of Directors and from generous fans of track & field.

The Foundation assists people of all ages, all walks of life, and all ability levels in finding enjoyment and accomplishment and achieving fitness through our inclusive sport.

For more information on the USA Track & Field Foundation and USATF, visit www.usatffoundation.org