USATF Foundation grant recipients excel at USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships

INDIANAPOLIS - At the recently completed 2010 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships held in Des Moines, IA, and under very trying, hot and muggy conditions, numerous elite athlete grant recipients excelled in their quest for a national title, announced Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld.

“That fourteen of our athletes won medals, three of which were gold, is extremely gratifying,” said Jackovic. “We look forward to seeing many of these, and other grantee names, representing Team USA at next year’s IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea and at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.”

Foundation grants were awarded to individual athletes based upon criteria that includes each athlete’s achievements, performance potential and financial need.

Leading the way was first-time grantee Kara Patterson, 2008 Olympian and Olympic Trials record holder, who set an American Record in the Javelin on her last attempt with a throw of 66.67 meters (218’8’’), bettering the previous record set by Kim Kreiner in 2007. Kara had 4 throws over 200 feet and with her winning throw, is now the 13th best performer of all time.

Mark Hollis, a first-time grantee and rising star in the pole vault, who took first place at the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden earlier this year, won his first national championship with a vault of 5.60 meters (18’4.50”). 

Dan Huling, also a first-time grantee, won the 3,000 meter steeplechase in a time of 8:27.87. Dan finished second at the 2009 Outdoor National Championships and represented the U.S. at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Berlin last summer.

David Oliver, who received a 2006 grant and went on to win a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the 110 meter hurdles, turned in a blistering performance in his specialty, winning with a time of 12.93, tying him with Renaldo Nehemiah as the 7th fastest performer of all time. David’s mark was just six-hundredth’s of a second off the world record of 12.87 set by Dayron Robles in 2008. 

Other grantee athletes who stood on the medal stand in Des Moines were:

• Brianna Glenn - 3-time grantee - - 3rd place Long Jump
• Mike Hazle - 4-time grantee - - 2nd place Javelin Throw
• Britney Henry - 3-time grantee - - 3rd place Javelin Throw
• Nicole Leach - 2-time grantee - - 2nd place 400 Meter Hurdles
• Jamie Nieto – ’08 grantee - - 3rd place High Jump
• Sarah Stevens – ’10 grantee - - 3rd place Shot Put
• Jamaal Torrance – 2-time grantee - - 3rd place 400 meters
• Stephanie Brown Trafton – 2-time grantee - - 3rd place Discus Throw
• Maggie Vessey – ’09 grantee - - 2nd place 800 Meters
• Bettie Wade – ’10 grantee - - 3rd place Heptathlon
• Rachel Yurkovich – 2-time grantee - - 2nd place Javelin Throw 

The Foundation also had 5 grantees that narrowly missed making the podium:

• Monica Hargrove – ’09 grantee - - 4th place 400 Meters
• Stevi Large – '10 grantee - - 4th place Hammer Throw
• Cory Martin - ’09 grantee - - 4th place Shot Put
• Aretha Thurmond - -3-time grantee - - 4th place Discus Throw
• Russ Winger - 2-time grantee – - 4th place Discus Throw

Eleven other grantees also finished in the top ten in their events.

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. 

For more information or to contribute to the USA Track & Field Foundation, visit www.usatffoundation.org.

View complete results HERE.

Kara talks to Flotrack about her American record throw HERE.