Entry to the Running USA Hall of Champions is reserved for those who with devotion, vision, and commitment built the sport and provided glory for the winners and a place to excel for everyone.
Each honoree has served with many years of dedication, imagination, distinction, courage, and selflessness. Each has made a contribution that has enhanced the sport, made it more compelling and rewarding, and this award acknowledges and recognizes their noteworthy contribution to the sport.
Twentieth Class 2024
Susan Harmeling (Gasparilla, Florida), Executive Director, Gasparilla Distance Classic
Vince Chiappetta (New York City, NY), Co-Founder, NYC Marathon
Nineteenth Class 2023
Ted Metellus (New York City, NY) Senior Vice President, Events, and Race Director, NYC Marathon
Lonnie Somers (Denver, CO) Co-owner, HAL Sports
Eighteenth Class 2022
Virginia Brophy Achman (Minneapolis, MN) Executive Director, Twin Cities in Motion
Rich Kenah (Atlanta, GA) CEO, Atlanta Track Club
2021: Event not held due to Covid
Seventeenth Class 2020
Michael Nishi (Chicago, IL) Executive vice president, business development and operations, Chicago Event Management
Alan Brookes (Toronto, Canada) Race director, Canada Running Series including Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon
Sixteenth Class 2019
Cliff Bosley (Boulder, CO) Race director, BOLDERBoulder
Jim Stasaitis (Utica, NY) Race director, Boilermarker Road Race
Fifteenth Class 2018
Iris Simpson Bush (Cincinnati, OH) Founder and CEO, Run Flying Pig
Fourteenth Class 2017
Don Kardong (Spokane, WA), Founder and Race Director, Bloomsday Run
Jack Staph (Cleveland, OH), Executive Director, Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon
Mike Reilly (San Diego, CA), Veteran announcer and the Voice of Ironman
Thirteenth Class 2016
Fred Lebow (New York, NY), Founder NYC Marathon, Founder of NYRR
Nancy Brinker (Washington, DC), Founder Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Twelfth Class 2015
Kathrine Switzer (New York/New Zealand), women’s running pioneer
Tracy Sundlun (San Diego, CA), SVP, Competitor Group, Founder of Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, Decorated Coach
Brant Kotch (Houston, TX) Director and CEO, Chevron Houston Marathon
Eleventh Class 2014
Jeff Galloway (Atlanta, GA), 1972 Olympian / author / speaker / founder of run-walk training program / pioneer
Scott Keenan (Duluth, MN), Co-founder of Grandma’s Marathon (1977) / long-time (and first) Grandma’s Marathon Executive Director (1977-2013) / leader
Tenth Class 2013
Ted Corbitt (New York, NY), 1952 Olympian / ultra record setter / developer of U.S. certified course system / founder / pioneer
Nina Kuscsik (Huntington Station, NY), first official Boston Marathon women’s champion / long-time USA Track & Field Women’s LDR Executive Committee member and Law & Legislation chair / advocate / pioneer
Ninth Class 2012
Joan Benoit Samuelson (Freeport, ME), 1984 Olympic Marathon champion / record setter / race founder / legend / ambassador
Eighth Class 2011
Dr. Ken Cooper (Dallas, TX), best-selling author / researcher / pioneer / “father of aerobics”
Creigh Kelley (Englewood, CO), race organizer / announcer / administrator / volunteer
Seventh Class 2010
Fred Finke (Longwood, FL), coach / internet pioneer / administrator
Ryan Lamppa (Santa Barbara, CA), Running USA, media / researcher / record keeper
Sixth Class 2009
Jon & Betsy Hughes (Orlando, FL), Track Shack / EMMI, event management
Rick Nealis (Quantico, VA), Marine Corps Marathon, race director
Carey Pinkowski (Chicago, IL), Chicago Marathon, race director
Toni Reavis (San Diego, CA), journalist / TV commentator
Fifth Class 2008
Anne Audain (Evansville, IN), Olympian, race founder and author
David Hannah (Houston, TX), Houston Marathon, race director
Basil & Linda Honikman (Ventura, CA), Running USA, administration, data collection and record keeping
Wally Kastner (Carmel, CA), Big Sur International Marathon, race director
Craig Masback (Indianapolis, IN), USATF CEO, administrator
Larry Rawson (New York, NY), media, TV commentator
Fourth Class 2007
Judy & Dennis Ikenberry (Rialto, CA), Race Central, timing
Alan Jones (Endwell, NY), RunTime Software, technology and application
Tom Raynor (Carrboro, NC), Fleet Feet, retail industry
Bart Yasso (Emmaus, PA), Runner’s World, race promotion / ambassador
Third Class 2006
Leslie Jordan (Portland, OR), Leslie Jordan, Inc., apparel
Carol Lasseter-Rice (Wilton, CT), Running Times, publisher
Guy Morse (Boston, MA), Boston Athletic Association, executive director
Bill Roe (Bellingham, WA), USATF President / Club Northwest, official / administrator
Allan Steinfeld (New York, NY), ING New York City Marathon / New York Road Runners, race director / administrator
Second Class 2005
Rich Benyo (Forestville, CA), Marathon & Beyond editor / Napa Valley Marathon race director
Jim Davis (Fairfield, IA), MarathonFoto founder
Julia Emmons (Atlanta, GA), Atlanta Track Club executive director / Peachtree Road Race race director
Ed Froehlich (Davenport, IA), Quad-City Times Bix 7 race director
Bob Larsen (Los Angeles, CA), UCLA, Olympic and Team Running USA coach
Dave McGillivray (North Andover, MA), Boston Marathon race director / DMSE
First Class 2004
Steve Bosley (Boulder, CO), Bolder Boulder 10K founder
Amby Burfoot (Emmaus, PA), Runner’s World executive editor
Mike Burns & David Simms (Ann Arbor, MI), Burns Computer Services and ChampionChip
Tim Murphy (San Diego, CA), Elite Racing president
Joe Vigil (Tucson, AZ), legendary distance coach (Adams State, Olympic and Team Running USA)
