28 Mar USATF Foundation awards 13 Harold Connolly Youth Hammer Throw grants
INDIANAPOLIS – The USA Track & Field Foundation, in coordination with the Harold Connolly Youth Hammer Throw Fund, awarded thirteen youth hammer throwers with training grants for the 2013 season announced Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld today.
Eight boys and five girls have been named among this year’s recipients. To be considered, athletes must go through a vigorous application process, which includes biographical information, training history, competitive statistical data, a brief essay describing his/her hammer throwing goals, and a letter of support from the applicant’s coach and parent. All applicants must have been born after January 1, 1995.
Grant funds may only be used for specific hammer throw training and competition purposes. These grants are made possible through the support of the USATF Foundation and individual donors.
Youth Boys:
- Gabe Arcaro, Age 17, Burlington, MA (PB/189’3”)
- Jacob Beene, Age 16, Gilbert, AZ (PB/180’1”)
- Chase Carroll, Age 18, Acworth, GA (PB/184’10”)
- Conor Fugere, Age 16, Woonsocket, RI (PB/177’9”)
- Charlie Ionata, Age 18, Barrington, RI (PB/216’1”)
- Adam Kelly, Age 15, Barrington, RI (PB/168’7”)
- Triton Pitassi, Age 17, Camas, WA (PB/193’2”)
- Sean Ryan, Age 16, Babylon, NY (PB/181’7”)
Youth Girls:
- Danielle Boriello, Age 17, Ellenville, NY (PB/143’5”)
- Lena Giger, Age 16, Highland, IL (PB/141’7”)
- Haley Showalter, Age 15, Highlands Ranch, CO (PB/151’0”)
- Kelli Thomas, Age 17, Locust Grove, GA (PB/156’2”)
- Sidnie Wilder, Age 17, Cameron, WI (PB/166’4”)
Former Olympic gold medalist Harold Connolly began issuing grants in 2005 and during the last 8 seasons, more than $32,000 have been awarded to 32 boys and 32 girls. The USATF Foundation began supporting the project before the 2012 season, allowing the project to both continue and expand in the wake of Connolly’s untimely death in 2010.
For more information, please visit HammerThrow.org.