USATF Foundation Awards Michael Venning Hammer Grant to Emma Robbins

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.