PITTSBURGH – Robert Hill has been named a Director of the USA Track & Field Foundation Board, USATF Foundation CEO Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld announced today.
Robert is a President and
owner of Retail Sites, LLC a real estate development and investment firm in
Maple Shade NJ that specializes in development and acquisition of retail
shopping centers and build-to-suit projects which he founded in 2007. Retail Sites, LLC has become a leading
developer of neighborhood and regional centers in the Philadelphia Metropolitan
area. Retail Sites, LLC also assist retailers in build to suit programs to grow
their stores throughout the Mid-Atlantic states. Prior to founding Retail
Sites, LLC, Robert was a partner with Interstate Commercial Real Estate, Inc.
Robert is a long-time Board Member and Vice
Chairman of Urban Promise, a non-profit organization serving the children and
families of Camden, NJ. Urban Promise provides after-school, summer and jobs
programs to over 500 children in Camden, in addition to other leadership and
educational programs along with a private school from first grade through high
school.
A graduate of the Wharton School of University
of Pennsylvania, Robert has followed and participated in track and field since
competing in cross country and track in high school, and still competes as a
Master’s Runner in local road races.
“For over 45 years I have had the joy of competing in track and field from high school to Master’s events, and as spectator at the local and international level. I am excited to have the opportunity to assist athletes in reaching their potential and to help grow the sport of track and field as a member of the USATF Foundation,” stated Hill.
After a grueling 10 days of hard-fought battles at Khalifa
International Stadium, Team USA and the USATF Foundation Grantees brought home
the hardware. The final medal tally from Doha included 29 medals – 14 gold, 11
silver, and 4 bronze. All-time USATF Foundation Grantees that competed in Doha
contributed 18 medal winners, 14 individuals and 4 in relays. Foundation grantee performances were
highlighted by Dalilah Muhammad’s world record in the 400m hurdles and an epic duel between
Joe Kovacs and Ryan Crouser in the men’s shot, in what many are saying is one
of the greatest field competitions ever.
USATF Foundation board member Preston Johnson
remarked, “We at the Foundation were excited to witness such a strong
performance by our grantees and Team U. S. A., one of the best in history at a
World Championships, and gratified by the excellent emerging depth in so many
of the events which we support.”
Dalilah Muhammad celebrates her world record
The 2019 Stephen A. Schwarzman grantees to bring home medals
were:
Donavan
Brazier - Gold medal with a new American record of 1:42.34 in the 800m
Joe
Kovacs – Gold medal in shot put with a throw of 22.91 m
Dalilah
Muhammad – Gold medal and a new world record in 52.16 in the 400m hurdles,
breaking her previous world record by four hundredths of a second and third leg
for the victorious Team USA in the 4x400m relay in 3:18.92
DeAnna
Price – Gold medal in hammer throw with a heave of 77.54 m
Phyllis
Francis – Lead off leg for gold medal winning Team USA in the 4x400m relay
Will
Claye – Silver medal in the triple jump with a jump of 17.74m
Ryan
Crouser – Silver medal in shot put with a heave of 22.90m
The 2019 Elite Athlete Development grantees to bring home
medals were:
Jeff
Henderson – Silver medal in long jump with a jump of 8.39m
Brittany
Brown – Silver in the 200m with a time of 22.22
Morolake
Akinosun – Bronze medal in the 4x100m in 42.10
Taking
into account all of the Foundation grantees the past few years, the impact is
even larger. Seven out of the 10 athletes to bring home an individual gold
medal were Schwarzman grant recipients. These include Sam Kendricks (2017), Nia Ali (2017), and Christian Taylor (2018)
in addition to two 2019 award winners.
Additionally,
six out of the 11 athletes to bring home an individual silver medal were
Schwarzman grant or Elite grant recipients. These include Sandi Morris (2018) and Kendra Harrison (2017)
One
out of the 3 athletes to bring home an individual bronze medal was a Schwarzman
grantee Vashti Cunningham (2017).
Lastly,
Vernon Norwood and Kendall Ellis were in the 4x400 prelims for relays that won
gold.
In a very competitive contest, track & field icon and USATF Foundation Director Willie Banks was elected to the IAAF Council last week in Doha, Qatar. Banks will serve a 4-year term as an “Individual Council Member”.
As a former world record holder, Willie is no stranger to being a high-profile personality in the track & field world. He represented Team USA in 18 national competitions, including the 1984 and 1988 Olympic teams. Willie was a member of the 1987 World Championship team and he brought home silver for the U.S team at the 1983 Championship. In addition, Willie invented the “rhythmic clap”, a move that has been utilized by countless athletes that have followed in his footsteps.
Banks, however, believes his greatest accomplishment is his election to the IAAF Council.
“Being elected to the IAAF Council is more than an honor, it is the most thrilling and rewarding accomplishment I have had in my athletic career. To be able to give back and help shape the future of the sport that has given me so much, is the epitome of a blessing, said Banks.”
Banks added, “My main focus will be on ridding our sport of the scourge of drug cheats, expanding opportunities for our athletes, supporting the private and IAAF competitions financial viability, supporting innovation in our sport, and changing the culture of our sport to make it more constituent and fan friendly and entertaining for those young and old! I want to work on the concept that, it is better to partner for stability than to wrestle for control.”
The USA Track & Field Foundation provides a means to attract and guide funds to new and innovative track & field programs with an emphasis on providing opportunities for youth athletes, emerging elite athletes, and distance training centers. 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 and participation in Run With US! (www.runwithus.org). Youth athletes are supported via monetary grants to youth clubs.
As a former world record holder, Willie is no stranger to being a high-profile personality in the track & field world. He represented Team USA in 18 national competitions, including the 1984 and 1988 Olympic teams. Willie was a member of the 1987 World Championship team and he brought home silver for the U.S team at the 1983 Championship. In addition, Willie invented the “rhythmic clap”, a move that has been utilized by countless athletes that have followed in his footsteps.
Banks added, “My main focus will be on ridding our sport of the scourge of drug cheats, expanding opportunities for our athletes, supporting the private and IAAF competitions financial viability, supporting innovation in our sport, and changing the culture of our sport to make it more constituent and fan friendly and entertaining for those young and old! I want to work on the concept that, it is better to partner for stability than to wrestle for control.”