LOS ANGELES, CA — Skechers has been named the Official Footwear and Apparel Sponsor for LA Track Fest through a multi-year partnership with Sound Running. In collaboration with the USATF Foundation, Skechers will enhance the event by introducing its innovative Skechers AERO Series of performance running shoes and supporting the running community at UCLA. The historic Drake Stadium will host this year’s LA Track Fest, the biggest and best early season Elite outdoor track meet, on May 23, 2026.

The USATF Foundation has been a leading supporter of elite track and field athletes, awarding over $24.5 million in direct grants over the past 20 years. The Foundation’s partnership with the LA Track Fest marks its first effort into supporting high level domestic meets and providing opportunities for U.S. athletes to compete on home soil.

Part of the USATF Tour, LA Track Fest is a World Athletics Silver Label event that will feature the best athletes in the world in races from the 100m to the 5000m, along with certain field events — and will offer Gold Level prize pools for many of the premiere events.

“We’re expecting the best athletes in the world to put on a show for the LA track community,” said Jesse Williams of Sound Running. “In the past few years, Sound Running events have featured world-class athletes including Grant Fisher, Sifan Hassan, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and Cole Hocker — and we expect strong participation amongst the USATF Foundation’s tremendous elite grant community this year.” 

“Our goal is to provide an amazing opportunity for the athletes, and to give the fans the best possible experience with a festival vibe,” Williams added.  “The set-up of accommodations and facilities at UCLA is ideal, and we plan to create a high-energy atmosphere that surrounds the highest levels of athletic competition.”

“As the Official Footwear and Apparel Sponsor of LA Track Fest this year, we’re looking forward to connecting with some of the world’s most talented runners and showcasing our Skechers AERO Series of technical running shoes,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers. “Our participation not only allows athletes to experience the signature comfort and innovation of our products firsthand but also underscores our brand’s dedication to the sport and offers a unique opportunity to engage with passionate track & field fans and the broader running community.” 

As part of its sponsorship, Skechers will present two marquee races at this year’s LA Track Fest – the SKECHERS Running Women’s 1500m and SKECHERS Running Men’s 1500m. Attendees can also visit the Skechers exhibit space at UCLA’s Drake Stadium to experience Skechers AERO running shoes in person. Additionally, Skechers will provide footwear to all event staff, officials, and the broadcast team from Flotrack.  

“The USATF Foundation knows this will rank among the finest and most innovative meets in the country this year,” said Tom Jackovic, CEO of the Foundation.  “We’re delighted to provide prize money and competition support to US athletes from the Foundation, and we look forward to celebrating the sport with our deep community of track and field athletes, sponsors, and directors.” 

Flotrack will deliver live coverage of Track Fest, ensuring fans everywhere can experience the excitement of the event.

Athletes, coaches, agents and managers can find more information at LA Track Fest 

The USA Track & Field Foundation announces that Vince Ciattei, elite American middle-distance runner, is the recipient of an Adopt an Athlete grant, funded by USATF Foundation Board Member Robert Hill.

“I am proud to continue our family’s support for Vince as he continues to improve and excel at the national and international level in the mile and 1,500 meters,” said Robert Hill. “Having known Vince as he has competed after college, I have seen firsthand his incredible dedication to the sport and it is a privilege to support not only an elite athlete but a true friend in his quest to compete at the highest levels.”

Vince competed collegiately for Virginia Tech University, where he earned runner-up finishes in the mile at the 2018 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships and the 1,500 meters at the 2018 Outdoor Championships. He was also a key member of the winning Distance Medley Relay team at the 2018 Indoor Championships.

Since turning professional, Ciattei has continued to elevate his performance. In April 2022, he captured the national title at the USA 1 Mile Road Championships. Most recently, he delivered a standout performance at the US Olympic Trials, finishing fourth in the 1,500 meters with a personal-best time of 3:31.78.

“I am so grateful to receive an Adopt an Athlete grant from Robert Hill and the USATF Foundation,” said Vince. “This support is important for me financially, as it helps offset healthcare and nutrition costs so I can stay focused on training. It is also very meaningful mentally to have the support of Robert Hill and the USATF Foundation as I get closer to goals I’ve had for many years as a professional. The US Road Champs and outdoor track season can’t come soon enough!”

The USA Track & Field Foundation looks forward to following Vince’s continued success and supporting him as he trains to make his dreams a reality.

Interview by Parker Neumeier, Journalism Student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison 

Meet Laulauga Tausaga-Collins, the first American ever to become a world champion in women’s discus: a Marvel movie nerd, Twilight Team Edward loyalist and Jeep off-roading enthusiast. 

Introduction to Track & Field 

With Samoan roots, Tausaga-Collins was born in Honolulu and grew up in San Diego. As a kid, she laughed, recalling how she was “forced” to play sports by her mom. 

“You’re a tall girl. Go do basketball,” her mom told her. 

But her basketball coaches said she needed more speed. When track season came around in high school, she initially said “heck no” to running. Then she learned she could “throw a ball and be on varsity.” She was sold. That marked the beginning of her discus career. 

High School and Beyond 

Before long, it was time to think about life after high school. Tausaga-Collins had always planned on joining the military. She comes from a military family: her mom and younger brother are in the Navy, her sister married someone in the Navy, and her dad served in the Army. The military felt like the logical next step. 

That changed when her school counselor called her in after colleges began inquiring about her talent. The counselor told her she had a real opportunity to pursue throwing in college — if she raised her grades. 

Tausaga-Collins ended up retaking freshman-year classes as a senior after encouragement from her counselor, who was determined to make sure she didn’t miss her opportunity. 

When Tausaga-Collins asked why she was going to such lengths to help, her counselor responded: 

“I see it. I don’t want to see another one slip through the cracks.” 

That belief became the push she needed. Eventually, she received a call from the University of Iowa. 

At first, she was hesitant. She loved being close to family and laughed remembering that she wasn’t even sure where Iowa was at the time. But during her visit, she met another Samoan student — who turned out to be her cousin. That connection provided just enough of a sense of home. 

The Sign That Sealed Her College Decision 

Though she still wasn’t entirely sold on Iowa and remained set on West Point, something unexpected happened. 

After returning home, she randomly pulled out a gray T-shirt with pink lettering that read: Iowa Hawkeyes. 

She saw it as a sign. 

“Hyperventilating… I told my mom, ‘This is it.’” 

She liked the coach. She liked the idea of cold weather as a change from sunny California. She even joked that her “biggest dream was to get caught in a blizzard.” 

Iowa it was. 

Continued Support Through Adversity 

After committing to college, the road to becoming a professional athlete required ongoing support from those closest to her. Training for elite competitions while balancing college isn’t cheap. 

“It’s expensive to be an athlete, especially when you’re not in the top 1%,” she said. 

Fortunately, her close-knit family stepped up. Her sister, who works for Hawaiian Airlines, helped her find discounted flights for competitions. Her mom runs a food distribution organization that expanded to help fuel athletes, knowing how difficult it can be to meet protein goals on a college budget.  

Before she could afford her own car, her family helped her get to practice — whether that meant rides, taking time off work or helping cover Uber costs. At the same time, Tausaga-Collins balanced school, training and work. She DoorDashed and picked up odd jobs to make ends meet during one of the busiest seasons of her life. 

The First American Woman to Win It 

At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest Tausaga-Collins started in last place, admitting she just wanted to finish 11th instead of 12th. 

Then something clicked. 

“Uh-uh. We’re not gonna lay down,” she told herself. 

This was her third World Championships appearance. In 2019, she said she “laid down,” chalking it up to being young and scared. In 2022, she blamed nerves in her first professional year.  

In 2023, she made herself a promise: 

“I’ll be damned if I get anything other than 11th or up.” 

From there, it was “all gas, no brakes.” 

Her third throw guaranteed she would move up from last place. That was all she needed. The fire was lit, and the floodgates opened. 

Tausaga-Collins climbed her way back to win the world championship title in women’s discus, becoming the first American woman ever to do so. 

In that moment, she said, “track went from being this job to being the sport that I loved again.” 

What Saved Her From Quitting 

After becoming a world champion, Laulauga Tausaga-Collins faced a stunning setback when she was eliminated in the opening round of the women’s discus at the U.S. Olympic Trials after fouling three times. The grind of elite competition eventually became overwhelming. At one point, she questioned whether continuing was worth it. 

Coming off one of the lowest moments of her athletic career, she feared she wouldn’t receive the funding necessary to keep training because of her performance. She was close to walking away from the sport entirely. 

Then she received an Elite Athlete Development grant from the USATF Foundation. In fact, the Foundation had been supporting her journey for the past four years, awarding her Stephen A. Schwarzman and Elite Athlete Development grants annually since 2020. 

That funding carried her through the 2025 season—one of the strongest of her career. 

“That saved me from quitting the sport,” she said. 

Her Future 

Now, she says, “it’s time to have fun” and see how far she can go. 

Her sights are set on competing for Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics — and making the final on home soil in California. 

Eventually, she hopes to follow what she calls the “athlete-to-coach pipeline” at the NCAA level. Currently, she coaches at Cuyamaca Community College, where she’s passionate about identifying “diamonds in the rough” and helping mold them into competitors. 

As a coach, she draws from the philosophies of her own mentors and invests deeply in the next generation — just as others once invested in her. 

How She Wants to Be Remembered 

When asked what she wants her legacy to be, Tausaga-Collins doesn’t mention medals. 

She mentions her voice. 

“I have this habit of sitting down with a group of people and just… yapping,” she said with a laugh. 

She loves making people laugh and values her ability to connect with anyone, anywhere. Making people feel seen is what matters most to her. 

For Laulauga Tausaga-Collins, the sky’s the limit. The best may still be ahead — not just as an athlete, but as a coach, mentor and voice in the sport she loves. 

PITTSBURGH, PA — Steve Gerhart, a retired sales, operations, and human resources executive with a distinguished career in the healthcare sector, is joining the USATF Foundation Board of Directors. Gerhart brings decades of leadership experience, a passion for mentorship, and a lifelong connection to track and field to the Foundation.

A standout middle-distance runner, Gerhart won the NCAA Division II 1500m national championship in 1986 while representing the University of California, Davis. He continues to hold the UC Davis school record in the 1500m, a mark that has stood for more than four decades.

Throughout his professional career, Gerhart focused on leadership development, communication, and building high-performing teams. Four of the companies he worked for were successfully acquired as growth targets by larger organizations.

Gerhart is currently dedicated to mentoring individuals, developing commercial teams, and giving back. This commitment is deeply rooted in the support and mentorship he received during both his running and business journeys.

“Steve has a history of making significant contributions to non-profits and we look forward to his impact on track & field,” said USATF Foundation CEO Tom Jackovic.

PITTSBURGH, PA — Terry Coyne, Chief Financial Officer of Royalty Pharma and a lifelong runner, has been appointed to the USATF Foundation Board of Directors. A dedicated supporter of track and field, Coyne brings both a deep personal connection to the sport and extensive financial leadership experience to the Foundation.

Coyne is a graduate of La Salle University, where he competed on the track and cross-country teams and earned all-conference honors multiple times throughout his collegiate career. His passion for running has remained a constant thread in his life, shaping both his personal values and professional approach.

“Running has played a fundamental role in shaping who I am today,” said Coyne. “I am excited to give back to the sport that has given me so much.”

In addition to his role at Royalty Pharma, Coyne serves on the Board of Trustees at La Salle University, further demonstrating his commitment to leadership, education, and service. His financial expertise and lifelong engagement with the sport will be valuable assets as the USATF Foundation continues its mission to support athletes and advance track and field nationwide.