Patti Catalano to be presented with Abebe Bikila Award, Daniel Doctoroff to be honored with Legacy Award, and Erin Strout to receive George Hirsch Journalism Award
New York, October 18, 2023 – Olympic medalist and former American marathon record-holder Deena Kastor and two-time TCS New York City Marathon champion and eight-time Paralympic medalist Ernst van Dyk will be inducted into the NYRR Hall of Fame at the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon.
This year’s NYRR Hall of Fame class, along with the Abebe Bikila Award, Legacy Award, and George Hirsch Journalism Award recipients will be recognized at NYRR’s Night of Champions on Friday, November 3. Tickets are currently on sale to the public for NYRR’s Night of Champions here.
NYRR Hall of Fame
The NYRR Hall of Fame, established in 2011, has honored legendary figures in the sport of road running who have made NYRR and the TCS New York City Marathon what they are today. This year’s inductees are Deena Kastor and Ernst van Dyk.
Kastor is the former American half marathon and marathon record-holder and won a bronze medal in the marathon at the Athens 2004 Olympics. The three-time Olympian made her marathon debut at the 2001 New York City Marathon, finishing as the top American woman and setting an American debut record (2:26:58). She went on to have nearly two decades of success in New York after that, winning the New York Mini 10K in 2004 and the More/SHAPE Half Marathon in 2017, 2016, 2014, and 2013. She has finished in the top 10 of the New York City Marathon three times and the NYC Half twice. Throughout her career she held 10 American records and represented the U.S. on 16 world championships teams. Off the roads, Deena has contributed to the sport as a broadcaster, mentor, and avid supporter of NYRR’s youth and community programs, most recently serving as an NYRR Run for the Future Ambassador.
“What an honor to be inducted into the NYRR Hall of Fame this year along with Ernst Van Dyk, whom I’ve long looked up to and admired for his lengthy career,” said Kastor. “The TCS New York City Marathon in particular began my love for the distance and introduced me to the community I immediately resonated with as an athlete. Thanks to NYRR, that community includes so many ages, nations, and abilities coming together to be uplifted by this sport.”
Van Dyk is a two-time New York City Marathon champion and has represented South Africa in every Paralympics since 1992, winning a bronze medal in the marathon at the Beijing 2008 Games. Van Dyk won the New York City Marathon in 2005 and 2015, and was the runner-up in 2014, 2013, 2003 and 2002. He has finished in the top 10 five times. He also won the Boston Marathon a record 10 times, including six consecutive victories from 2001 to 2006. During his career, van Dyk has been integral in advocating for inclusion of the wheelchair division at the elite level and played a key role in adding the category to the Abbott World Marathon Majors series. The 2023 TCS New York City Marathon will be his final career race before retiring.
“This came as a total surprise and I’m profoundly honored and deeply humbled,” said van Dyk. “This induction isn’t about me, it’s about the spirit of perseverance and the belief that every obstacle is an opportunity to redefine what’s possible. I accept this honor with immense gratitude, knowing that it is not an end, but a reminder to keep pushing boundaries and inspiring others to roll forward in the pursuit of their dreams.”
Abebe Bikila Award
The Abebe Bikila Award, presented since 1978, is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the sport of distance running.
This year’s recipient is Patti Catalano, one of the most dominant American road runners of the 1970s and 80s who held the world record in the marathon and American records at nearly every distance. She was the first American woman to run a marathon under 2:30 –finishing second at the 1980 New York City Marathon in 2:29:33 – and placed second at the Boston Marathon three years in a row (1979–81). Catalano is a member of the Mi’kmaq nation and now directs Wings of America’s first-of-its-kind elite athlete program, which supports indigenous athletes, honoring both their athletic talent and cultural heritage.
“I am so grateful for the recognition and humbled to receive the Abebe Bikila award,” Catalano said. “The New York City Marathon has always held a special place in my heart. I am so proud to be a part of the marathon’s exciting history.
Legacy Award
The Legacy Award, now in its second year, is given to an individual supporter who has greatly impacted the history of NYRR and/or the TCS New York City Marathon.
This year’s recipient is Daniel Doctoroff, an American businessman and former government official who helped start the United Airlines NYC Half, one of the most prestigious half marathons in the world, put on by NYRR. He worked with NYRR on the Run to Liberty 10K race to honor the city after 9/11, which in turn helped bring international runners to the United Airlines NYC Half. Later he advocated for the use of the Staten Island Ferry to transport runners to the start of the New York City Marathon, which helped increase the number of participants. Doctoroff served as the founder and CEO of Sidewalk Labs from 2015 to 2021. Previously, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Bloomberg L.P., Managing Partner of the private equity investment firm Oak Hill Capital Partners, and the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding for the City of New York. With Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, he led the city’s dramatic economic resurgence after 9/11, spearheading the effort to reverse New York’s fiscal crisis through a comprehensive five-borough economic development strategy.
George Hirsch Journalism Award
The George Hirsch Journalism Award, established in 2010, recognizes excellence in the reporting, writing, and broadcasting of the sport of marathon and distance running.
This year’s recipient is Erin Strout, who for nearly two decades has written about health, fitness, and Olympic sports with a focus on the issues women face as they strive to perform and feel their best. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, ESPN, SELF ,Women’s Health, Outside, Triathlete, and more. She has also served as senior writer at Women’s Running, contributing editor at Runner’s World, and senior editor at Running Times. Erin co-authored the book Race Everything: How to Conquer Any Race at Any Distance in Any Environment and Have Fun Doing It, with Bart Yasso. Strout has covered the top levels of track and field and distance running, from the Abbott World Marathon Majors to the Rio and Tokyo Olympics.
“I am honored to receive this recognition for my writing and reporting on the sport that I’ve cared about and participated in for so much of my life,” Strout said. “The collective contributions of so many talented journalists in this space continue to help expose and elevate important issues that lead to its growth, strength, and change. It’s a privilege to be among the storytellers of distance running and I’m sincerely grateful for this acknowledgement.”
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
NYRR’s mission is to help and inspire people through running. Since 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, virtual races, community events, free youth running initiatives and school programs, the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features a wide population of runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.
