PITTSBURGH, PA – A growing movement at the USATF Foundation connecting elite athletes with youth running communities is expanding, as five additional youth clubs have been awarded funding through an anonymous elite athlete grant award winner turned donor, who chose to give back to the next generation of runners.

These grants are intended to help offset costs associated with equipment, travel, training, and competition, providing critical resources that allow young athletes to train, compete, and grow through track and field. The grants will support the following clubs:

These clubs represent strong, community-driven programs that are shaping young athletes through dedicated coaching, inclusive environments, and supportive team cultures.

This round of grants reflects a broader effort to intentionally bridge youth clubs and elite athletes, fostering mentorship, inspiration, and long-term development in the sport of track and field. A key component of this growing connection is the Run With US! event series, where USATF Foundation elite athlete grantees regularly visit youth clubs to share their stories, assist with practices, lead warm-ups, and support young athletes directly.

To date, nine Run With Us! events have taken place, featuring participation from elite athletes including Bailey Hertenstein, Josette Norris-Andrews, Shelby Frank, Marcus Gustaveson, Bailey Lear, Alaysha Johnson, Amy Davis-Green, Caroline Garrett, Heather MacLean, Kate Mitchell, Katrina Coogan, Maia Ramsden, Helen Schlachtenhaufen, Valarie Allman, and Sam Kendricks. These visits give young runners the opportunity to engage with role models who demonstrate what long-term commitment to the sport can look like.

The USATF Foundation remains focused on expanding access and deepening the connection between developing athletes and elite athletes.

PITTSBURGH, PA – For decades, American jumpers defined greatness — soaring higher, flying farther, and standing atop podiums around the world. Now, a new generation is being fueled to carry that legacy forward.

The USATF Foundation has awarded the first grants from its newly established Jump to Glory Fund, a targeted initiative designed to elevate U.S. performances in the vertical and horizontal jump events. The grants provide $1,000 in supplemental funding to elite American athletes competing in the high jump, long jump, triple jump, and pole vault.

The Jump to Glory Fund was conceived by Foundation Board Member Henry Park, a former University of Chicago long jumper, and reflects a broader commitment among Foundation leadership to reinvest in jump disciplines that once defined U.S. dominance on the global stage.

“This inaugural year of the Jump to Glory Fund represents an important step in reinvesting in American jumpers and providing them with the support needed to return to the top of the podium,” says Henry Park. “We’re proud to support these athletes as they work toward the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.”

Modeled after the Foundation’s highly successful John W James grants and Operation Hammer Sweep initiative, the Jump to Glory Fund addresses a critical need within the jump disciplines. Like throwers, jump athletes often face limited competitive opportunities, smaller prize purses, and high training and travel costs, making supplemental funding a meaningful difference-maker.

Former world-record holder and Foundation Board Member Willie Banks emphasized the importance of sustained institutional support for jump athletes. “As a former world-record holder in the triple jump, my passion and perspective lie deep in the art and athleticism of the jumps,” said Banks. “By building the Jump to Glory Fund within the USATF Foundation, we can reinvigorate depth and excellence in the horizontal and vertical events and restore America’s dominance in the field.”

The 30 recipients of the inaugural Jump to Glory grants include:

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the USATF Foundation for its support of jumpers in our pursuit of excellence. This fund will play a vital role in helping us return to the podium on the world stage,” said grant recipient Jarrion Lawson.

Each Jump to Glory Fund grantee receives $1,000 in supplemental support, awarded in addition to any existing Foundation Elite Athlete or Stephen A. Schwarzman grants.

The Jump to Glory Fund reflects the USATF Foundation’s broader mission to strategically invest in disciplines where targeted support can unlock world-class results. With dedicated Board leadership and athlete-centered funding, the Foundation aims to reignite American excellence in the jumps — one takeoff at a time!

To learn more or contribute to the Jump to Glory Fund, visit USATFFoundation.org.

PITTSBURGH, PA – The future of American track & field is being shaped at the grassroots level, and in 2026, the USA Track & Field Foundation is making a significant investment to ensure that future is accessible, inclusive, and strong.

The USATF Foundation has awarded $100,000 in youth club grants to 50 programs nationwide. The funding will help organizations expand access to competition, improve training environments, and reduce financial barriers for families within their program.

“We’re excited to provide grants to youth clubs, particularly in underserved communities,” said Youth Committee Member Bob West. “Participation in track and field requires discipline, focus and goal setting. These are skills that can be applied to both personal and professional life. We look forward to seeing what our grantees will achieve on and off the field.”

Grants are distributed through a competitive application process and evaluated by the USATF Foundation Youth Club Committee. Consideration is based on a combination of financial need, organizational leadership, and the quality of supplemental opportunities provided to athletes, ensuring funding reaches programs positioned to make a lasting impact.

For many recipients, the support extends far beyond a single season.

“The USATF Foundation youth club grant opens the door for more of our young athletes, regardless of their background, to experience national-level competition and see, firsthand, elite runners who look like them and reflect what’s possible,” said coach Scott Ruplinger from Austin Rising Runners. “That kind of exposure is powerful—it turns potential into belief. It also gives us the opportunity to introduce and develop disciplines that are often delayed in the U.S. system, helping us build a stronger foundation earlier and better prepare our athletes to eventually compete at the highest levels globally. With support from the USATF Foundation, we’re able to plan for the next decade—not just the next season—for these young athletes in running.”

Across the country, grant funds will be used to offset travel costs, purchase equipment and uniforms, access training facilities, and create equitable opportunities for young athletes to compete and grow within the sport.

The USATF Foundation also continues their partnership with Running Warehouse which will benefit all the 50 clubs. This partnership extends significant discounts to grant recipients on purchases of uniforms, warm-ups, and general gear via runningwarehouse.com.

The following 50 Youth Clubs will receive a USATF Foundation Youth Grant Award:

PITTSBURGH, PA — The USATF Foundation is proud to announce that elite shot put athlete Gabriella McDonald Morris has been awarded a Maternity Grant, supporting her return to competition following the birth of her son in August 2025.

In 2024, McDonald Morris became an NCAA Division I runner-up at the Outdoor Track and Field Championships and earned Mountain West Outdoor Female Athlete of the year, while achieving a personal best of 18.66 meters. She also competes in the discus, holding a personal best of 59.75 meters.

Following her 2024 season, she gave birth to her son, Truett, on August 30, 2025, and has since returned to training with renewed focus and determination.  “This support will help offset costs associated with postpartum recovery, coaching, travel to training opportunities and competitions, and the ability to remain fully engaged in high-level preparation without compromising recovery or family responsibilities,” says McDonald Morris.

Looking ahead, McDonald Morris has both immediate and long-term goals as she builds momentum in her return to competition. “My long-term goals in track and field are to return to consistent elite-level performance and compete successfully at major national and international championships for the USA. In the short term, my focus is on rebuilding my competitive foundation during the 2026 season, re-establishing myself in the world rankings, and gaining momentum as a professional athlete following childbirth.”

Beyond her competitive ambitions, McDonald Morris is committed to making a lasting impact on the sport through mentorship and advocacy. She says, “Beyond my competitive career, I plan to remain actively involved in track and field through coaching, mentorship, and athlete development. I am passionate about supporting the next generation of athletes, particularly women navigating high-performance sport while maintaining a full life and family.”

Her journey reflects both elite athletic achievement and perseverance through adversity, including competing during pregnancy and maintaining her connection to the sport throughout recovery. Now, as she returns to competition, she is focused on rebuilding progressively and sustainably, with the goal of establishing herself among the world’s best.

LOS ANGELES, CA — With the highly anticipated 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games approaching, the USATF Foundation proudly announces a three-year grant award funded by the Burgess Family Foundation. The grant will provide funding to support an elite Los Angeles based professional track & field training group coached by Olympic champion Joanna Hayes.

Over three years this substantial grant will support training, competition, and high-performance resources for Hayes’ elite athlete training group, The Hayestack, as they prepare to represent Team USA, on home soil for the 2028 Olympic Games.

“We are thrilled to support The Hayestack on their journey towards the LA 2028 Olympics!” says USATF Foundation Board Member John Burgess. “The team represent a unique talented group of decorated and distinguished veterans and recent college grads new to the professional ranks across multiple events. Under Coach Hayes’ guidance, mentoring and with her vast experience, we are excited to support these athletes as they continue to build, develop, and achieve their athletic and personal goals!”

The grant will benefit a world-class roster of athletes currently training under Hayes in Los Angeles, including:

• Rai Benjamin — Olympic champion and multiple-time World and Olympic medalist in the 400m hurdles
• Vernon Norwood — Olympic and World Championship medalist in the 4x400m relay
• Raevyn Rogers — Olympic bronze medalist in the 800m
• Shae Anderson — Olympian and World Championship competitor
• Jasmine Jones — Olympic finalist and World Championship silver medalist
• Allie Jones — World Championship Heptathlete
• Sammy Watson — 800m competitor
• Tade Ojora — Multiple-time British Athletics Champion in the 110m hurdles and 60m hurdles

Hayes brings a vast amount of experience to the athletes that she coaches. A six-time All-American at UCLA from 1996–99, she won seven Pac-10 titles and the 1999 NCAA outdoor championship in the 400m hurdles, leading UCLA to three consecutive Pac-10 team titles and two NCAA runner-up finishes. Her Bruin teams went an unprecedented 39–0 in dual meets during her collegiate career. In 2004, Hayes captured Olympic gold in the 100m hurdles, breaking a 16-year Olympic record with a winning time of 12.37. That same year, she earned the Jesse Owens Award as USA Track & Field’s Outstanding Female Athlete and finished ranked No. 1 in the world. She also won gold in the 400m hurdles at the 2003 Pan American Games.

Today, Hayes serves as the Sherie L. and Donald G. Morrison UCLA Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, while continuing to coach elite professional athletes at the highest level.