PITTSBURGH, PA — The USATF Foundation is proud to announce that Emma Robbins, an elite hammer and weight thrower, is the first recipient of the Michael Venning Hammer Grant.

Michael Venning was a lifelong fan, athlete and student of the sport of track and field. Michael competed in many disciplines both on the track and in the field. He found his passion for the hammer throw later in life and became an accomplished Masters hammer thrower. Michael regularly threw at the World Masters meet and even made the podium a few times. If Michael wasn’t throwing, you could usually catch him watching a track meet. He was a regular attendee at USATF national, NCAA’s and Olympic Trials.

“We are so pleased that The USATF Foundation has found a way that friends and family of Track & Field fans like Michael Venning can take their spirit and pass it to the next generation of American talent,” said USATF Foundation Board Member Joe Fabris.

In his spirit, the Michael Venning Hammer Grant is aimed at helping an aspiring NCAA graduate get their start as a professional and hopefully represent the USA at the highest level of sport. Emma Robbins has built an impressive collegiate career excelling in both the hammer and weight throw. During her time at Kansas State, she was a three-time Big 12 runner-up in the hammer and weight throws. In her final season at Kansas State in 2023, Robbins broke the school’s hammer throw record and earned a fourth-place finish at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships, with a throw of 69.89 m.

Prior to her time at Kansas State, Robbins competed for LSU, where she achieved historic success in the hammer throw. In 2021, she became the first woman in LSU history to win the SEC hammer throw title, setting a school record toss of 67.17 m. She also qualified for the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships that year.

Robbins has continued her trajectory of excellence. In her 2023 season, she was named a First-Team All-American for the first time after her fourth-place national finish at the NCAA meet. Most recently, in her final season competing at the collegiate level for Oklahoma State University, Robbins again placed fourth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, threw a new mark of 69.27 m on her first attempt, and earned First-Team All-America honors for the second time. During that season she also established school records in both the hammer and weight throw and was a runner-up in both events at the Big 12 Championships.

“I’m incredibly honored to receive the Michael Venning Hammer Grant from the USATF Foundation. This support means so much as I take the next step in my professional career. I’m grateful for the Foundation and to the Michael Venning’s family and friends for recognizing athletes like me who are working toward representing Team USA at the highest level,” said Robbins.

PITTSBURGH, PA — The USATF Foundation is excited to announce the creation of the Jump to Glory Fund, a new initiative designed to elevate American performances in both the vertical and horizontal jump events on the world stage. The program was conceived by Foundation Board Member and former University of Chicago long jumper, Henry Park.

“I grew up in the golden era of USA jumping in the 80’s and the 90’s where the likes of Carl Lewis flew through the air. I am passionate about jumping and I would like to help these athletes continue and get to prominence in the events that the US once dominated,” said Henry Park.

The Jump to Glory Fund will provide supplemental grants to elite athletes who compete in high jump, long jump, triple jump and pole vault, modeled on the success of the Foundation’s Operation Hammer Sweep, which has contributed to a surge of U.S. medal-winning performances in the hammer throw over the past five years. Like hammer throwers, jump athletes often face limited competitive opportunities and prize money, making additional support essential to their development and training.

“As a former world-record holder in the triple jump, my passion and perspective lie deep in the art and athleticism of the jumps. I believe wholeheartedly that jump events deserve an institutional support program — one that provides sustained resources, recognition, and opportunity. 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,” said Olympian and Board Member Willie Banks.

To contribute to the Jump to Glory Fund, please visit USATFFoundation.org.

PITTSBURGH, PA — The USATF Foundation crossed over into the world of golf last month by showcasing some of its prominent stars at the LPGA Commissioner’s Reception during the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.  The event was presented by P&G and hosted by Rapiscan Systems and Chief Strategy Officer Ted Alston.

Three Foundation grantees — Joe Kovacs, Trevor Bassitt, and Krissy Gear — along with Board Member proxy Rebecca Mehra, attended the event, which also featured a USATF Foundation Fun Run. The evening celebrated community, athletic excellence, and the shared mission of supporting athletes both on and off the field.

The USATF Foundation extends its heartfelt thanks to Rapiscan Systems and Chief Strategy Officer Ted Alston for hosting the USATF Foundation Fun Run and LGPA Commissioner’s Reception at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.

Special appreciation goes to Craig Kessler, LPGA Commissioner, for his partnership and vision, and to Courtney Naudo and the Walmart team for their outstanding community leadership. Sincere thanks also to Andy Bush, Founding Partner of Outlyr, for producing a world-class event that celebrates both athletic excellence and has a meaningful impact.

The Foundation extends its deep gratitude to the LPGA, Outlyr, and Walmart for their continued commitment to empowering athletes and creating experiences that inspire and uplift the next generation of champions.

PITTSBURGH, PA — The USATF Foundation proudly announces that Abel Teffra, a rising middle-distance talent, has been awarded the Dirk Rohloff 800m/1500m Grant, established in honor of lifelong track and field supporter Dirk Rohloff.

Since junior high school, Dirk Rohloff was known for his exceptional speed and passion for running. Focusing on the middle distances, he proudly considered himself  “a miler.” Dirk ran competitively as an NCAA athlete at UC Davis and maintained his love for the sport throughout his life. He attended USATF National Championships and Olympic Trials events across the country, and he made it a tradition to visit Hayward Field almost every year.

In his spirit, the Dirk Rohloff 800m/1500m Grant aims to help an aspiring NCAA graduate transition into the professional ranks and pursue the opportunity to represent the United States at the highest level of sport.

As this year’s grantee, Abel Teffra, a recent Georgetown University graduate, set an NCAA meet record with his 3:53.60 mile at the 2025 Indoor Championships. Teffra is continuing his academic journey in the Master of Professional Studies in Project Management program while training under Georgetown head coach Brandon Bonsey, following his recent signing with HOKA. The Foundation is proud to support his continued development as he embarks on his professional career.

“I’m very grateful to the USATF Foundation and the family and friends of Dirk Rohloff for this grant and for believing in my journey. It’s an honor to represent Dirk’s passion for the middle distances and the sport he loved deeply,” said Abel. “This grant motivates me to keep striving for excellence and to honor Dirk’s legacy as I pursue my professional running goals.”

PITTSBURGH, PA — The USATF Foundation is proud to support three inspiring women with maternity grants to help empower their return to competition as they navigate pregnancy and postpartum recovery.  Balancing bottles and starting blocks, sleepless nights and starting lines, the journey of a mother-athlete is one of the sport’s greatest challenges. Betsy Saina, Elle St. Pierre, and Amy Davis-Green have demonstrated resilience and competitive success while balancing the demands of motherhood and professional athletics. 

Betsy Saina is one of the fastest American marathoners in history. Saina, a long-distance specialist, won the 2023 Sydney Marathon in 2:26:47 and achieved a personal best of 2:19:17 at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon, finishing 5th, a performance that ranks her as the third-fastest American woman ever. She also won the 2024 USA 25K Road Championships, setting a new women-only U.S. record for the distance. 

Betsy, whose newest son is now three weeks old, reflects on her comeback journey saying, “When I had my first son, I decided to do things my own way. I was like I’m going to see what works because the biggest thing is listening to my body and that’s what I did. I took my sweet time, started with walking and exercise, and I started the process taking it one day at a time, and I was really surprised the way it came together when I ran my personal best for the marathon.” 

From that experience, Betsy offers encouragement to other women navigating parenthood and elite competition. “My biggest message to other mothers or aspiring athletes is—don’t fear starting a family. A lot of people take that fear and say, ‘I don’t want to have a baby because who knows, that could be the end of my career.’ Being a big example of this, I encourage everyone to have your family but take your time coming back. Don’t do what other people are doing, because everybody is different. Recognize that everyone is different, even from one child to the next. So just take your time, listen to your body, and you’ll surprise yourself by coming back really strong.” 

The Maternity Grant will help Betsy to return home to Kenya and afford reliable childcare, allowing her to focus on recovery and training. “I have a goal to come back before the middle of next year to have a very good marathon!” She exclaimed.  

Elle St. Pierre is an elite middle and long-distance runner who has become a model for athletic comeback and maternal strength. After giving birth to her first son in 2023, she returned to competition in historic fashion breaking her own U.S. indoor mile record (4:16.41) at the Millrose Games. She later captured gold in the 3000m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, setting both a championship record (8:20.87) and a North American record. 

Elle went on to win the U.S. 5000m title at the 2024 Olympic Trials with a Trials record of 14:40.34 and finished 8th in the 1500m final at the Paris Olympics, improving on her 10th-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics. 

Amy Davis-Green, currently seven months pregnant, is a dedicated long-distance runner, who ran a personal best of 53:36 at the USATF 10 Mile Championships while four weeks pregnant. She shared, “Honestly, I think this grant will give me the peace of mind to invest in strength training, pelvic floor therapy and little nuances I might not even be aware of. It gives me the ability and capacity to focus on these areas in ways I wouldn’t be able to otherwise.” 

As she looks ahead to her return, Davis-Green hopes to continue testing her limits. Sharing that her “desire to come back is to really capitalize on my gift and talent. I don’t yet know my full capability, but I look forward to wanting to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the marathon and using this gift in a way that is honorable.”