FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2019 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Announces Special Prize Purse
For RRCA Roads Scholars And RunPro Camp Alumni
Collaboration with Road Runners Club of America offers up-and-coming
American distance runners an additional $6,000 prize purse
March 6, 2019, Washington, DC: Building upon a long tradition of
cooperation and mutual support between the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten
Mile and the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) - America's oldest and
largest grass roots organization of running clubs - race organizers
announced today a special $6,000 prize purse for RRCA Roads Scholars and
RRCA Run Pro Camp alumni. Race organizers and the RRCA will jointly award
$1,500, $1,000 and $500 to the top-three men and women alumni of the two
innovative RRCA programs designed specifically to support up-and-coming
American distance runners. The 47th running of "The Runner's Rite of
Spring" will take place in our nation's capital on April 7, 2019.
"The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run and the RRCA have both been advocates
of providing opportunities for recently-graduated, young runners looking to
find opportunities as professional runners. The RRCA does this through the
Roads Scholar program and the RunPro Camp, while the Credit Union Cherry
Blossom Run does it through a substantial American purse, as well as
significant support to the Roads Scholar program," said Event Director Phil
Stewart. "Having a dedicated purse for the Roads Scholar RunPro Alumni
Challenge is a great way to combine these two initiatives."
"In 2018, the RRCA provided $2,400 in prize money for its first ever Roads
Scholar RunPro Alumni Challenge, which occurred at last year's Credit Union
Cherry Blossom Ten Mile," explained Jean Knaack, RRCA executive director.
"We are thrilled to again partner with the race and to grow the prize money
to $6,000 to further support the talented athletes that have benefited from
both the RRCA Roads Scholar and RunPro Camp programs. We look forward to
some serious head-to-head competition between the athletes eligible to earn
this special prize money."
Since 1996, the RRCA has awarded 128 grants totaling $600,000 through its
Roads Scholar program to assist American post-collegiate road runners who
show great promise to develop into national and world class road running
athletes. Over the past 20 years, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run has
contributed over $210,000 to the Roads Scholar grant program, making it the
program's largest single contributor.
To date, the following RRCA Roads Scholar grant recipients have committed
to race in the 2019 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile: 2018 recipients
Reed Fischer, Grayson Murphy, Samantha Bluske-Palmer and Erin Clark; Emma
Bates, Johnny Crain, Tyler Jermann and Matt McClintock, all 2017 grant
recipients; Martin Hehir, who was awarded a Roads Scholar grant in 2016 and
placed third in the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile that same year;
Katy (Moen) Jermann, who was awarded a grant in 2015; 2011 Roads Scholar
Meghan Armstrong-Peyton; and 1997 Roads Scholar grant recipient Deena
Kastor, who certainly fulfilled the RRCA's goal of assisting American
post-collegiate road runners who show great promise to develop into
national and world-class road racers - she won the 2004 Olympic Marathon
Bronze Medal in Athens.
Four of the above named RRCA Roads Scholars competed in the Credit Union
Cherry Blossom Ten Mile last year: Matt McClintock was ninth overall in a
time of 47:10; Johnny Crain was 21st in 49:16; Tyler Jermann placed 24th
with a time of 49:50; and Katy (Moen) Jermann placed 12th among the women
with a time of 56:04.
RunPro is another RRCA-funded program that Credit Union Cherry Blossom
organizers are pleased to support. Event Director Phil Stewart and Elite
Athlete Coordinator Bill Orr
() are
regular presenters at the RunPro Camp weekend in July of each year.
Intended to assist newly-graduated, post-collegiate runners seeking to make
the transition to professional running, RunPro Camp provides attendees with
the information, knowledge, and networking resources necessary to pursue a
professional running career.
2018 RunPro Camper Karis Jochen has committed to race in the 2019 Credit
Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile, as have 2017 RunPro Campers Futsum
Zeinasellassie and Kelsey Bruce, 2016 alumni Abbabiya Simbassa and Willie
Milam, and 2014 alum Danny Docherty. Two Roads Scholar grant recipients
mentioned above - Johnny Crain and Katy Moen - are also RunPro Camp alumni
(2015).
2016 RunPro Camp alum Abbabiya Simbassa placed 8th in last year's Credit
Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile and won the RRCA's Roads Scholars RunPro
purse with a time of 47:04, while 2014 alum Danny Docherty ran in the 2017
edition of the race and placed 21st with a time of 49:54.
Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Elite Athlete Coordinator Bill Orr
encourages all past RRCA Roads Scholars and RunPro Camp alumni to contact
him directly to inquire about entry into this year's race.
About the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile
The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile, organized by Cherry Blossom,
Inc., a 501c(3) chapter of the Road Runners Club of America, is known as
"The Runner's Rite of Spring" in the Nation's Capital. The staging area for
the event is on the Washington Monument Grounds and the course passes in
sight of all of the major Washington, DC Memorials. The event serves as a
fundraiser for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, a consortium of
170 premier children's hospitals across North America. About one-third of
the funds raised support Washington, DC's own Children's National
("Children's Hospital"). The event also funds two $5,000 Road Runners Club
of America "Roads Scholar" grants designed to support up-and-coming U.S.
distance running talent.
Since 2002, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk
have raised nearly $9 million dollars for Children's Miracle Network
Hospitals, with $380,000 of that total being raised this past year. The
2018 event marked the 17th year of title sponsorship by Credit Union
Miracle Day.
Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc., a consortium of credit unions and credit
union suppliers in partnership with CUNA Mutual Group and PSCU, is the
title sponsor of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, 5K Run-Walk
and Kids' Run. Other sponsors include Garmin, the presenting technology
sponsor; and supporting sponsors E-Trade, Gatorade, Gold's Gym, Honey
Stinger, Mamma Lucia, MedStar Sports Medicine, Potomac River Running, Under
Armour and UPS.
The event is a proud member of the PRRO Circuit (PRRO.org), a series of
non-marathon prize money road races in Tampa, FL; Washington, DC; Spokane,
WA; and Utica, NY. The circuit is committed to a drug-free sport and funds
drug testing at all circuit events in compliance with the standards of
international and U.S. drug testing authorities.
In addition to being sanctioned by USA Track & Field and the Road Runners
Club of America, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run has earned Gold Level
Inspire Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport in recognition
of its legacy of commitment to sustainability and thoughtful resource
management. To learn more, visit www.CherryBlossom.org and follow the event
on social media @CUCB and #CUCB2019.
About the RRCA:
The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is the oldest and largest national
association of running organizations and runners dedicated to growing the
sport since 1958. The RRCA champions the development of community-based
running clubs and events that serve runners of all ages and abilities in
pursuit of health and competition. The RRCA's vision is to see an organized
running club established in every community in the U.S. To learn more,
visit: www.RRCA.org
About Credit Union Miracle Day:
Credit Union Miracle Day is a partnership of over 100 credit unions, CUSOs
and partner organizations united to sponsor the Credit Union Cherry Blossom
Ten Mile Run promoting awareness of the credit union difference and
benefitting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals nationwide.
About America's Credit Unions:
Credit unions provide consumers choices for financial services such as
checking accounts, investments and loans of all kinds including mortgages.
Funds are federally insured, but unlike banks, there are no stockholders at
credit unions. Earnings are returned to member-owners in the form of lower
loan rates, higher savings rates, low or no-fee products and services. The
credit union philosophy of placing members' needs first is why more than
115 million Americans do their banking at one of America's 5,500 credit
unions. Credit unions are for everyone - no matter where you live, there is
a credit union to meet your needs.
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