RUNNING USA – Kathrine Switzer, Team USA Minnesota Among Award Winners at 2015 Running USA Industry Conference

WICHITA, Kan. (Feburary 13, 2015) – A record number of attendees, outstanding speakers and an exciting host city all contributed to the success of the 12^th edition Running USA Industry Conference powered by ACTIVE Network, February 8-10 in New Orleans.

Throughout the three-day conference, Running USA handed out four separate awards and inducted three new members of the Running USA Hall of Champions, and awarded $35,000 in grants to deserving programs.

This year’s three Hall of Champions honorees were pioneering female marathoner Kathrine Switzer, Chevron Houston Marathon race director Brant Kotch and Competitor Group’s Senior Vice President, Tracy Sundlun. The Hall of Champions award is reserved for individuals who have made a difference in the sport of road running at the highest levels, while continuing to show devotion, vision, and commitment to their respective ventures and the runners they serve.

“Kathrine, Brant and Tracy have each devoted decades of their lives to improving the sport of distance running for everyone around them,” says Running USA CEO Rich Harshbarger. “Their enthusiasm and drive to inspire thousands of runners each and every year is what makes them true champions.”

Team USA Minnesota won the Allan Steinfeld Development Award, given out to one program annually which supports the development of professional runners and their dreams of making the Olympics. Team USA Minnesota was rewarded with a grant of $25,000 to help support their impressive stable of professional distance runners.

“We appreciate the opportunity that Running USA provides to American distance training programs and we are extremely pleased to be selected for this award,” said Pat Goodwin, president and founder of Team USA Minnesota. “The grant will provide tremendous assistance to our group as we complete our fourth Olympic cycle in 2016.”

Two youth program awards were also celebrated, as Just RUN, based in Monterey, Calif., won Youth Program of the Year, while Kids Run RVA, a Sports Backers program out of Richmond, Va., won Youth Event of the Year. Each program received a $5,000 grant to further their support of youth runners and programs that introduce kids to the sport and living a healthy lifestyle.

The Women’s Trailblazer Award, awarded to a woman each year who has been a leader and in the running world, went to Kathy Kinane, President of Southern California-based Kinane Events. Kinane has been involved with race directing for over 25 years, and continues to inspire runners by directing large events throughout Southern California.

The Running USA Industry Conference, powered by ACTIVE Network and supported by Leslie Jordan, MarathonFoto, Ashworth Awards, ChronoTrack, Boothboss and CrowdTorch, concluded Tuesday. As always, attendees enjoyed a dynamic expo, informative and inspirational sessions, speaker panels, morning runs, the Hall of Champions gala dinner, receptions, and much more.

The 2016 Running USA Industry Conference is set for Los Angeles, Calif., on Wednesday-Friday, February 10-12, immediately preceding the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Registration is now open here.

Award Winners

Hall of Champions Inductees: Kathrine Switzer, Brant Kotch, Tracy Sundlun

Women’s Trailblazer Award: Kathy Kinane

Allan Steinfeld Award: Team USA Minnesota

Youth Running Awards: Just RUN (Program of the Year); Kids Run RVA (Event of the Year)

About Running USA

Running USA is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization devoted to improving the status and experience of distance running and racing in the United States through collective marketing and promotions, information and communications within the industry and to the national media, services to events and industry members, and the development of American world class stars. It seeks the advancement of the sport and the provision of value to each of its members' events and businesses.

For more information, visit RunningUSA.org.