USA Track & Field Foundation Awards Pitch Johnson Grants to 50 Elite Track & Field Athletes

USA Track & Field Foundation Awards Pitch Johnson Grants to 50 Elite Track & Field Athletes

PITTSBURGH – To put an exclamation point on a record-setting year of grants, the USA Track & Field Foundation is excited to award a final round of grants to elite athletes with the announcement of 50 Pitch Johnson travel grant recipients.  These grants total $75,000 and are funded by the generosity of USATF Foundation Director, Franklin “Pitch” Johnson to honor his late father, also named “Pitch”.  The elder Pitch Johnson was a 110m hurdler and competed in the 1924 Paris Olympic Games.  He was also the track & field and cross-country coach at Drake and Stanford Universities, the Director of the Drake Relays, and a Founder of the National Collegiate Track Coaches Association.

Pitch Johnson and his family are staples in the world of track & field and the USATF Foundation is grateful for their continued support of these dedicated athletes. Reid Johnson, a Foundation Board member himself and son of Pitch Johnson is proud of the family tradition of financially assisting American track & field hopefuls and helping them realize their dreams. “It’s great to see my Dad doing this with the USATF Foundation. He loves the sport and supporting the athletes.” stated Reid Johnson.

The Foundation announced that 50 talented athletes will receive $1,500 each as part of a grant travel program that was created in 2019 by Pitch.  In order to be eligible for a travel grant, athletes are required to submit a grant application through the USATF Foundation website each year. Many professional track and field athletes are faced with out-of-pocket travel costs associated with domestic and international competitions, training camps and injury care. These grants are intended to provide support for travel expenses as athletes often must fly across the country or even overseas to find elite competitions.

The following 50 athletes will receive grant awards in the amount of $1,500 each:

Aaron Mallett110m Hurdles
Alicia Monson5000m/10000m
Allie Wilson800m
Amere Lattin400m Hurdles
Ashtin MahlerHeptathlon
Brannon Kidder800m
Bridget GuyPole Vault
Brittany Brown200m
Chase EaleyShot Put
Chris BenardTriple Jump
Curtis ThompsonJavelin Throw
Daniel MichalskiSteeplechase
Darrell HillShot Put
Dez Bryant200m
Harrison WilliamsDecathlon
Heather MacLean1500m
Helen Schlachtenhaufen1500m
Isaac UpdikeSteeplechase
Janee’ KassanavoidHammer Throw
Jelena RoweHigh Jump
Josette Norris1500m/5000m
Kelsey CardDiscus Throw
Kord FergusonDiscus Throw
Lalauga TausagaDiscus Throw
Leah FallandSteeplechase
Malaina PaytonLong Jump
Marisa HowardSteeplechase
Marvin Bracy-Williams100m
Mason FerlicSteeplechase
Michael ShueyJavelin Throw
Micaela HazlewoodDiscus Throw
Michaela Meyer800m
Michelle AtherleyHeptathlon
Molly SeidelMarathon
Morgann LeLeux RomeroPole Vault
Morolake Akinosun100m
Rachel McCoyHigh Jump
Sam MattisDiscus Throw
Sam Prakel1500m
Sean DonnellyHammer Throw
Shakeela SaundersLong Jump
Shannon Osika1500m
Shelby McEwenHigh Jump
Tamara Clark200m
Tiffany FlynnLong Jump
Tonea Marshall100m Hurdles
Trey CulverHigh Jump
Val ConstienSteeplechase
Vernon Norwood400m
Vincent Ciattei1500m


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 and experienced elite athletes, along with guidance on future career paths. The Foundation depends upon donations from its Board of Directors, major gifts, and from generous fans of track & field.

Elite athletes are supported by the Foundation via monetary grants, career counseling (mentoring and jobs) and participation in Run With US!. Youth athletes are supported via monetary grants to youth clubs.

For more information, or to contribute to the USA Track & Field Foundation, Click Here or contact Tom Jackovic at (412) 398-2484 or tjackovic@usatffoundation.org.