09 Oct USATF Foundation Grantees Shine at World Championships
10-7-2019
DOHA
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 4×400 prelims for relays that won gold.