16 May USATF Foundation Awards Adopt an Athlete Grant to Jacory Patterson with Support from the Burgess Family Foundation
PITTSBURGH –
The USA Track & Field Foundation is thrilled to announce sprinter Jacory Patterson has been awarded an Adopt an Athlete Grant, made possible through funding from the Burgess Family Foundation.
Patterson is coming off an excellent indoor season, where he earned bronze in the 400m at the 2024 World Indoor Championships and helped secure gold for Team USA in the 4x400m relay. His success has continued outdoors, most recently clocking a world-leading time of 43.98 seconds in the 400m at the Miami Grand Slam.
Despite these world-class performances, Patterson remains unsponsored and supports himself by working overnight shifts loading trucks at UPS—a reality that makes his achievements even more remarkable. Patterson’s situation is precisely what the Foundation’s Adopt an Athlete program was designed for.
USATF Foundation Director John Burgess stated, “With the help of the USATF Foundation we are thrilled to support Jacory as he continues to pursue his athletic dreams.”
“This grant gives me the opportunity to supply my needs—treatment, recovery, groceries, gas—all the things that help me be the best athlete I can be,” Patterson said. “It gives me more comfort financially to not have to worry about making ends meet.”
Patterson shared that he has often had to skip recovery tools or training enhancements due to cost. “I want to do Pilates, the cold flush tank—just little things that help, especially because I’m working at night, so my body is tired. I already do massages and acupuncture, but I’m always trying to find what works best for my body. This grant allows me to try new things to take care of myself properly,” Patterson explained.
The 24-year-old sprinter also spoke about the deep personal motivation that keeps him going. “Growing up, a core lesson I’ve been taught is to never quit and to persevere. I feel in my heart that it’s not time to give up track yet. I’ve always wanted to be able to support my family. That’s one of my number one goals in life—without them I wouldn’t even be here, so I just want to be able to repay them.”
Looking ahead, Patterson’s sights are set on continued progress in the 2025 outdoor season. “My number one goal is to stay healthy, and this grant will help me do that by letting me invest in my body and recovery. I’ve never made an outdoor team—I made an indoor team, but not outdoor. I’ve never even made the finals [at nationals], so that’s a huge goal for me this year,” he said. “The outdoor season so far has been good, and I’ve just been using it as confidence and momentum to keep the ball rolling. That’s been my saying this year: keep the ball rolling.”
The USATF Foundation’s Adopt an Athlete program, supported by individuals and families like the Burgess Family Foundation, provides financial assistance to Olympic hopefuls who are training at an elite level but lack sponsorship and resources.
Patterson’s story is a powerful example of dedication, grit, and raw talent. The USATF Foundation is proud to support his journey and help ease the burden so he can turn his focus completely to training and his goals.