Run With US! hits Seattle Featuring Olympic athletes Dan O’Brien and Ben Blankenship

Run With US! hits Seattle Featuring Olympic athletes Dan O’Brien and Ben Blankenship

The USA Track & Field Foundation brought their exciting youth program Run With US! to a Seattle-based youth track & field club, announced USATF Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld.

The event featured a presentation from former decathlete, gold medal winner and USATF Foundation Director, Dan O’Brien as well as 2016 Olympian in the 1500m, Ben Blankenship. Both athletes addressed the kids and provided information about race day strategies, the importance of setting goals, overcoming adversity, healthy eating and making positive choices throughout life. O’Brien and Blankenship inspired the young athletes with personal stories of success and failure along with detailing their journeys to the Olympics.

This event signified an additional direction for the USATF Foundation’s Run With US! program as the Foundation connected Elite Athlete Development Grantees, such as Ben Blankenship, with Foundation-funded Youth Club grantees. Having athletes of all ages that are financially supported by the Foundation come together to inspire and share their stories was given rave reviews by the participants and will soon be repeated.

“We are grateful to the USATF Foundation for creating this opportunity. Our athletes had a great time interacting with Ben and Dan, asking questions, laughing and enjoying their stories and experiences. They could not stop talking about it at practice during the following week,” exclaimed Anthony Joseph, Head Coach of Speed Unlimited.

 



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.