Running USA, the non-profit trade organization for running, has announced the recipients of its 2022 Industry Conference awards.
The conference, which concluded on February 22nd, after a three-day run at the Coronado Springs Resort in Florida, resumed after a one year Covid hiatus with nearly 500 industry attendees.
Named to the organisation’s Hall of Champions as part of its 18th class were two long-time running industry leaders, Virginia Brophy Achman and Rich Kenah.
Virginia Brophy Achman is Executive Director of Twin Cities in Motion, the organization that produces the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. She has served in her current roll at TCM since 2004. A member of the Running USA Board of Directors, she served as President of the Board from 2009-2012. She has previously been awarded the Running USA’s Women’s Leadership Award.
Rich Kenah is CEO of the Atlanta Track Club and Race Director of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race. Kenah has led the growth of the club’s membership from 21,000 to nearly 34,000 members. He also oversaw the club’s acquisition of the Publix Atlanta Marathon and its growth to one of the top marathons in the southeast. Rich and his ATC team hosted the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials Marathon in conjunction with the Publix Atlanta event.
For the first time, Running USA named an Award of Excellence recipient for ‘significant, timely changemaking efforts in the sport’. The inaugural recipient of this award was Alison Désir.
Alison Désir is the co-founder of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC) and an endurance athlete, activist, and mental health advocate. She also serves as Director of Sports Advocacy for women’s sports brand Oiselle and the founder of Harlem Run, a NYC-based running movement.
Running USA noted that ‘Désir’s efforts have significantly raised awareness of the importance of inclusion for the BIPOC community in running races, clubs and everywhere.’
In the final presentation of the event, Race Director Jan Seeley of the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon was awarded the Women’s Leadership Award. Seeley is a race director who promotes the sport regionally in Urbana-Champaign, and encourages new runners while developing unique race opportunities for them to enjoy.
“We congratulate all of our deserving honourees from this year’s conference,” said Dawna Stone, CEO of Running USA. “The last three days have been a triumphant return for our industry and we cannot wait to see this momentum continue into this year’s events.”
The 2022 and 2023 Industry Conferences are presented by Race Roster. Next year’s event will be held in Denver, Colorado, from February 12-14.
