Fourteen USATF Foundation Elite Athlete Grant recipients named to Pan American Games team

9-20-2011

INDIANAPOLIS - Fourteen current and past recipients of a USA Track & Field Foundation Elite Athlete Grant will be representing Team USA and competing at the upcoming Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, October 24-29, 2011 announced Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld today.

“Donning a Team USA uniform is an honor and the Foundation is very proud of every athlete named to the team,” said Jackovic. “We look forward to seeing some of these athletes going to the Olympic Games in London 2012.”

Kibwe Johnson, the 2011 National Champion and World Championship team member in the hammer throw leads the men’s team into Guadalajara. This will be his second appearance at the Games, having won a silver medal in 2007.

The women are led by Aretha Thurmond, a three-time Olympian, two-time Pan Am gold medalist (1999, 2003) and 2011 World Championship team member in the discus throw.

Rounding out the men’s team are Noah Bryant and Russ Winger (shot put), Jamie Nieto and Jim Dilling (high jump) and Rubin Williams (4x100 meter relay).

The women’s team also features Leslie Cole (200/400 meters), Virginia Crawford (100 meter hurdles), Consuella Moore (4x100 meter relay), Sarah Stevens-Walker (shot put), April Bennett (pole vault), Yvette Lewis (triple jump) and Shameka Marshall (long jump). 

The Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) oversees the Games, which are held every four years in the year before the Olympic Games. PASO is made up of 42 nations from the Americas (North, South & Central) as well as the Caribbean.  The events program features the 28 sports contested at the Summer Olympic Games plus additional disciplines that the host country and the International Federations put forward.

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 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.