USATF Foundation elite grant recipients sparkle at 2011 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships

INDIANAPOLIS - At the recently completed 2011 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships held at Hayward Field, Eugene, OR, a total of sixty-three current and former elite athlete grant recipients competed for national titles and an opportunity to wear the USA singlet at the upcoming IAAF World Championships this summer in Daegu, South Korea, announced Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld.

In total, sixteen of those athletes won medals - seven gold, five silver, four bronze – and in the process, earned a berth on Team USA and the right to challenge for medals on the world stage.

The following athletes made the World Championship team this week in Eugene:

• Kibwe Johnson (‘11, ‘10 grantee) – 1st place (hammer throw)
• Kara Patterson (‘10 grantee) – 1st place (javelin throw)
• Mike Hazle (’11, ’10, ’09, ’08, ‘07 grantee) – 1st place (javelin throw)
• Stephanie Brown Trafton (’08, ‘07 grantee) – 1st place (discus throw)
• David Oliver (’08, ‘07 grantee) – 1st place (110 meter hurdles)
• Morgan Uceny (’09, ‘08 grantee)  – 1st place (1500 meters)
• Kylie Hutson (’10 grantee) – 1st place (pole vault)
• Jon (Ryan) Harlan (’06 grantee) – 2nd place (decathlon)
• Dan Huling (’10 grantee) – 2nd place (3000 meter steeplechase)
• Aretha Thurmond (’09, ’08, ‘07 grantee) – 2nd place (discus throw)
• Maggie Vessey (’09 grantee) – 2nd place (800 meters)
• Rachel Yurkovich (’10, ‘09 grantee) – 2nd place (javelin throw)
• Kyle Alcorn (’08 grantee) – 3rd place (3000 meter steeplechase)
• Lance Brooks (’11, ‘10 grantee) – 3rd place (discus throw)
• Alice Schmidt (’09 grantee) – 3rd place (800 meters)
• Sarah Stevens-Walker (’11, ‘10 grantee) – 3rd place (shot put)

Athletes achieving the IAAF “A” standard are: Kibwe Johnson, Stephanie Brown Trafton, David Oliver, Morgan Uceny, Kylie Hutson, Kara Patterson, Aretha Thurmond, Maggie Vessey and Alice Schmidt.

Athletes achieving the IAAF “B” standard are: Jon Harlan, Dan Huling, Kyle Alcorn, Lance Brooks, Sarah Stevens-Walker, Mike Hazle and Rachel Yurkovich. 

Final roster spots will be announced in the coming weeks.

There were also seven athletes that narrowly missed making the podium, finishing in 4th place: Chris Helwick (decathlon), Mark Hollis (pole vault), A. G. Kruger (hammer throw), Suzy Powell Roos (discus throw), Jamaal Torrance (400 meters), Bettie Wade (heptathlon) and Russ winger (discus throw).

Twenty-two other grantee athletes finished in the top ten in their respective events.

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 and agree to participate in the Win With Integrity program.

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 on 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.

For complete results, CLICK HERE.