USATF Foundation Ultimate Art Auction spotlights Bill Rodgers, American distance running legend

INDIANAPOLIS - The USA Track & Field Foundation has announced Bill Rodgers will be among the distance running greats that will appear on a commissioned piece of art entitled, "Running Legends: A Signature Piece," honoring 12 of the greatest living American distance runners of all time. All proceeds from the auction will benefit USA Track & Field Foundation grant programs for emerging elite athletes and youth clubs.

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In addition to Bill, the piece created by renowned artist Roald Bradstock, includes the likenesses and original signatures of Joan Benoit Samuelson, Frank Shorter, Mary Slaney, Steve Scott, Jim Ryun, Dave Wottle, Billy Mills, Bob Schul, Alberto Salazar, Lynn Jennings and Craig Virgin.

Interested parties may bid on ebay.com beginning Friday, June 18 at 1:30 PM EST and ending on Sunday, June 27 at 1:30 PM EST, the last day of the Outdoor National Championships in Des Moines, IA. Please insert item number “130397667863” into the search box to access the auction web page.

Additionally, 25 limited edition prints (also with original signatures) will be available for purchase for $2,500. Interested parties may contact USATF Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic at tom.jackovic@usatf.org or (412) 398-2484 for more information.

BILL RODGERS BIOGRAPHY:

Date of Birth: December 23, 1947
USATF Hall of Fame Induction: 2002

Events
15,000 Meters (43:39.08)
25,000 Meters (1:14:12.00)
Marathon (2:09:27)

A four-time winner of both the Boston and New York City Marathons, Bill Rodgers was one of the prime movers in the American distance running boom of the 1970s. He took up distance running on a serious note at Wesleyan University but stopped in 1970. After being inspired by seeing Frank Shorter win the 1972 Olympic marathon, Rodgers came out of retirement and blossomed in 1975 when he finished third in the World Cross Country Championships. A month later, he won the Boston Marathon. He culminated his year ranked number-one in the world by Track & Field News and was runner-up for the Sullivan Award for the nation's outstanding amateur athlete. In 1976, Rodgers ran the marathon at the Montreal Olympics but a cramp dropped him to 40th place. He dominated U.S. distance running for the rest of the decade, winning four national distance titles and setting a pair of American marathon records. He set a personal best of 2:09.27 while winning the 1979 Boston Marathon. Over a five-year period from 1975 through 1979, he was ranked first in the world three times and second on another occasion. As a master's athlete, Rodgers has set age group records at various distances from 5000 meters to the half-marathon.

Records Held
World Record: 25,000 Meters - 1:00:14.12 (February 21, 1979)
American Record: 15,000 Meters - 43:39.08 (August 9, 1977)

Championships
1976 Olympics: Marathon (40th)

Education
High School: Newington (Newington, Connecticut), 1966
Wesleyan (Middletown, Connecticut), 1970

Occupation
Sporting Goods Entrepreneur
Public Speaker
Writer

The USATF Foundation provides a means to attract and guide funds to new and innovative track & 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.

BILL RODGERS