Keisha Baker, Erica McClain and Brenda Martinez awarded Elite Athlete Development Grant

USATF Foundation awards Elite Athlete Development Grants to 12 athletes


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INDIANAPOLIS - The USA Track & Field Foundation has presented Elite Athlete Development Grants to twelve athletes, Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld announced today.
Athletes receiving $4,000 grants include first time grantees Kylie Hutson (pole vault), Keisha Baker (400 meters), Lance Brooks (discus throw), Mary Saxer (pole vault), Joe Kindred (high jump), Erica McClain (triple jump), Kibwe Johnson (hammer throw), Ian Waltz (discus throw), Mechelle Lewis (100 meters) and Brenda Martinez (800m/1500m).

Hutson had a stellar NCAA career, winning back-to-back NCAA Indoor and Outdoor titles in 2009 and 2010, while Baker was runner-up in the 400m and was part of Oregon’s title winning 4x400m relay at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Champs. At the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships, Lance Brooks placed 10th, while Ian Waltz is a 3-time USA Outdoor champion. McClain is the 2010 USA Outdoor champion and 2009 runner-up, while Saxer finished third at the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships and Kindred took 1st at the California Relays earlier this year. Johnson was recently named USATF's "Athlete of the Week" for his 1st place finish at 2010 DecaNation in Annecy, France. Lewis, a member of Athletes for Hope, is a 2008 U.S. Olympian and 2007 Pan-Am Games double silver medalist. Martinez is the 2009 NCAA Outdoor 1,500m runner-up.



Repeat grantees receiving $4000 grants include Melinda Owen (pole vault) and Keith Moffatt (high jump).

Owen was a 2008 Olympic Trials finalist and won the 2010 Osaka Grand Prix. Moffat was the runner-up at the 2009 USA Outdoor Championships and represented the Team USA at the World Championships in Berlin.

"Every one of these grantees has a compelling story," noted Jackovic. There are athletes just starting out and a couple making comebacks. We are excited to help so many pursue their dreams.”

The Foundation Elite Athlete Grant Program contributes to the pursuit of world-class performances by American post-collegiate track and field athletes. Athletes must meet minimum performance and financial need standards to be eligible and agree to participate in the Win With Integrity program.

The USATF 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, distance training centers and anti-doping education. The Foundation depends upon donations from its Board of Directors and from generous fans of track & field.

For more information or to contribute to the USA Track & Field Foundation, visit www.usatffoundation.org.

About USA Track & Field

USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track & field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, the World's #1 Track & Field Team, the most-watched events at the Olympics, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport, and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States: www.usatf.org.