18 Jul USA Track & Field Foundation awards $51,000 in additional Stephen Schwarzman Elite Grant Funds
INDIANAPOLIS – In just three short weeks, the world will unite in the majestic city of Rio de Janeiro to watch athletes from across the globe compete at the highest level. During the ten days in Eugene, Oregon that comprised the Olympic Team Track & Field Trials, the USATF Foundation was honored to witness many Foundation grantees realize their dreams and become Olympians. 30 USATF Foundation past grantees will move on to compete at the Rio de Janeiro Games—this marks a new record for the USATF Foundation. In celebration of this success, the USATF Foundation is excited to award $51,000 in additional Stephen Schwarzman grants and Olympic Team bonuses, announced Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld.
The Stephen Schwarzman Grant Fund is dedicated to assisting those athletes at the top of their class with the potential to bring home an Olympic medal. The funding comes at an imperative time for these athletes as their focus switches to the ultimate competition ahead. In the next three weeks, they will plan their travel to Rio de Janeiro, work with their coach to sort out a training plan, obtain the necessary equipment and receive medical treatment to prevent injury. With no shortage of preparations to be done, the hope is these funds will ease financial stress and allow them to focus on winning medals.
“There is nothing more satisfying and riveting for our donors than to see the extraordinary athletes we support put their heart and soul on the line as they seek to “make the team”,” remarked USATF Foundation Director Jack Wickens. “Our group of grantees represents an excellent blend of youth and experience. Each athlete has performed under severe pressure and triumphed in arguably the toughest track and field competition in the world. We believe they contribute significantly in terms of character and talent to one of the best balanced track and field teams we have ever sent to the Olympics,” added USATF Foundation Director Preston Johnson.
The USATF Foundation will award grants of $2,500 to the following 16 athletes:
Nia Ali – 100h
Tavis Bailey – Discus
Chris Benard – Triple jump
Gwen Berry – Hammer
Kristi Castlin – 100h
Ryan Crouser – Shot put
Andrew Evans – Discus
Mason Finley – Discus
Sean Furey – Javelin
Cyrus Hostetler – Javelin
Felisha Johnson – Shot put
Miranda Melville – Race walk
Dalilah Muhammed – 400h
John Nunn – Race walk
Jeff Porter -110h
Ricky Robertson – High jump
In addition, $500 bonus grants will be awarded to these 22 past USATF Foundation grantees who made the Olympic team:
Whitney Ashley – Discus
Boris Berian – 800m
Ben Blankenship – 1500m
Brittany Borman – Javelin
Tori Bowie – 100m & 200m
Donn Cabral – Steeplechase
Amber Campbell – Hammer
Sam Crouser – Javelin
Christina Epps – Triple jump
Jeff Henderson – Long jump
Darrell Hill – Shot put
Molly Huddle – 10K & 5K
Kibwe Johnson – Hammer
Joe Kovacs – Shot put
Chantae Lowe – High jump
Brenda Martinez – 1500m
Conor McCullough – Hammer
Maria Michita-Coffey – Race walk
Heather Miller-Koch – Heptathlon
Barbara Nwaba – Heptathlon
Jeremy Taiwo – Decathlon
Kara Winger – Javelin