06 Nov USA Track & Field Foundation awards Pitch Johnson Grants to 50 Elite Track & Field Athletes
PITTSBURGH – The USA Track & Field Foundation is pleased to award its final grants of 2020, with 50 Pitch Johnson travel grants. These grants 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 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.
The Foundation announced that 50 talented athletes will receive $1,500 each as part of a grant travel program that was created last year in 2019 by Pitch. The grant criteria were expanded beyond travel expenses for 2020 due to the lack of travel opportunities athletes were experiencing in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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. “I am pleased to have the opportunity to utilize my 2020 travel grants for promising athletes, who did little travel this year, as financial aid, which is needed by essentially all of them in these times,” stated Pitch Johnson.
The following 50 athletes will receive grant awards in the amount of $1,500 each:
| Aaron Mallet | 110m Hurdles |
| Abdi Abdirahman | Marathon |
| Amere Latin | 400m Hurdles |
| Ariana Ince | Javelin |
| Ashton Zamzow-Mahler | Heptathlon |
| Brian Williams | Discus |
| Brooke Andersen | Hammer Throw |
| Chari Hawkins | Heptathlon |
| Chris Benard | Triple Jump |
| Chris Nilsen | Pole Vault |
| Conor McCullough | Hammer Throw |
| Daniel Haugh | Hammer Throw |
| David Kendziera | 400m Hurdles |
| Devon Williams | Decathlon |
| Donald Scott | Triple Jump |
| Emily Grove | Pole Vault |
| Freddie Crittenden | 110m Hurdles |
| Harrison Williams | Decathlon |
| Heather MacLean | 1500m |
| Jacob Riley | Marathon |
| Jaide Stepter | 400m |
| Jasmine Todd | Long Jump |
| Jeron Robinson | High Jump |
| Jessica Ramsey | Shot Put |
| Josh Thompson | 1500m |
| Kara Winger | Javelin |
| Kate Hall | Long Jump |
| Kayla White | 100m |
| Kelsey Card | Discus |
| Laulauga Tausaga – Collins | Discus |
| Mason Finley | Discus |
| Michelle Carter | Shot Put |
| Nia Akins | 800m |
| Obi Igbokwe | 400m |
| Olivia Baker | 800m |
| Payton Otterdahl | Shot Put |
| Rachel Schneider | 5000m |
| Reggie Jagers | Discus |
| Rudy Winkler | Hammer Throw |
| Sam Mattis | Discus |
| Sean Donnelly | Hammer Throw |
| Shadrack Kipchirchir | 10000m |
| Sha’Keela Saunders | Long Jump |
| Shakima Wimbley | 400m |
| Sherika Nelvis | 100m Hurdles |
| Solomon Simmons | Decathlon |
| Stanley Kebenei | Steeplechase |
| Trumaine Jefferson | Long Jump |
| Tynita Butts | High Jump |
| Woody Kincaid | 5000m |