Photos: Jamie Nieto (ESPN) | Sandi Morris (Bart Boatwright / Greenville News) | Chaunte Lowe (@chauntelowe on Instagram)
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News & Notes
The USATF Foundation has announced a generous round of elite athlete grants. First, they announced $875,000 in grants going to 25 athletes, stating, “With hopes to assist these athletes in achieving their goals, the USATF Foundation and Chairman Bob Greifeld announced 25 Stephen A. Schwarzman grant awards in the amount of $35,000 each.” Schwarzman is a Foundation board member and Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone. Three days later, they announced their second round of Elite Athlete Development Grants (the first round having come in February), totaling $225,000 of support to 45 deserving athletes. In a press release, they wrote, “Each athlete will receive a grant in the amount of $5,000 to help relieve the financial stress and expenses that come with competing internationally such as proper coaching, training, medical care, recovery and travel.” With these latest grants, added to those provided in February, the USATF Foundation has awarded $1,337,000 in support this year, the most they have ever given in a single year.
Jamie Nieto‘s journey chronicled on SC Featured: Raising the Bar Together. “Paralyzed former Olympic high jumper Jamie Nieto defies medical odds in hopes of walking his fiancée down the aisle at their wedding.” Watch the trailer below and click here for the full feature on ESPN
Tori Bowie penned an open letter to the next next generation of athletes. “Fifty years from now, I want you to know there’s going to be amazing days in the sport, and there’s going to be days when you want to quit and give up. But on those days, you have to know your purpose. You have to know what you’re fighting for.” She shares advice from her father, how she would like to see athletes continue to champion for change in the sport, and her own learning experience in growing with the sport in the feature A Letter to Athletes 50 Years from Now on The Undefeated
Gabriele Grunewald sat down with Ato Bolden for the latest in IAAF’s series Inside Athletics. “The 2014 US indoor 3000m champion talks about how she has balanced her career as an elite athlete with her on-going battles with cancer.”
Sandi Morris cleared a world leading vault (4.95m / 16′ 3″) at hometown Liberty Bridge Jump-Off. The second annual event in Greenville, SC also had Sandi making three attempts at a World Record jump, 5.07m (16′ 7.6″). After the event, she said, “I came out here really wanting to use the adrenaline of my hometown to get the world lead, and I’m so happy that I was able to put that together. That’s the second-highest I’ve ever vaulted in my entire life – five centimeters under my all-time PR and just a few centimeters under the world record.” On the men’s side, Sam Kendricks and Shawn Barber battled it out to finish 1-2. Read the full article Sandi Morris rides hometown adrenaline to world best effort in Liberty Bridge Jump-Off on Greenville News
Fitness Corner
Dr. Brian Fullem shares insight into the use of NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). “Many athletes are completely unaware of the dangers of these seemingly benign drugs. An article was published in a medical journal after surveying the athletes at the Brazil Ironman in 2008. 60% of the athletes had taken NSAIDs in the last 3 months, over half of those without a prescription or a Doctors advice. Most athletes were unaware of the side effects of the drugs apart from stomach complications.” Read the full article NSAIDs in Athletes
Not Two, Not Three, Not Four …
Chaunte Lowe shows off her Infinity Gauntlet
Joseph Gray
Gray earned his 15th National Title at the USATF 30k Trail Championships. Finishing in a time of 1:49:10, just a minute and a half off his 2016 course record, Joseph said after the race, when comparing to the ’16 event, “The course was more chopped up from the weather, and the race was a bit more tactical with runners you know were going to run strong from start to finish. Andy and I changed leads a bit for the first 4K, and then I led the rest of the race.” Read the full article Brasovan sets course record at USATF 30km Trail Championships; Gray notches 15th National Title on ATRA
Reasons to Celebrate
Neely Gracey welcomed her baby to the world. Meet Athens Spence Gracey
Samantha Bluske married to William Palmer. Congratulations Samantha and William!
Happy Birthday
Matt Llano‘s birthday is August 1. Send him your best @MattLlano
Tia Brooks-Wannemacher‘s birthday is August 2. Send her a virtual high-five @TiaBrooksOnline
Molly Beckwith-Ludlow‘s birthday is August 4. Give her your best wishes @elizabecks
Breanna Sieracki‘s birthday is August 5. Tell her you think she is awesome @BreannaSieracki
Genna Hartung‘s birthday is August 5. Send her a virtual fist-bump @GennaHartung
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