(December 1, 2018)

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Columbus, Ohio – Collegiate Running Association Co-Founder, Steve Taylor has been honored by USA Track and Field (USATF) with the H. Browning Ross Long Distance Running Merit Award for his contributions and service to the sport of long distance running. Taylor's efforts were recognized at the USATF Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio Sunday morning.
 
The H. Browning Ross Long Distance Running Merit Award is given annually to that individual who has made an outstanding contribution and/or has been of service to the sport of long distance running in the U.S. It was named in honor of the founder of the AAU LDR committee and the Road Runners Club of America, as well as the first recipient of the award in 1969. The award has been bestowed annually since its inception.
 
Taylor, a Saint Marys, West Virginia native is the co-founder of the Collegiate Running Association, along with being the University of Richmond Spiders head coach while contributing on several levels to long distance running on the national level. In addition to years of as an active athlete where he represented the U.S. in the 1991 World Championships and 1991 and 1995 World Marathon Cup, he has spent decades as a prominent coach and annually contributes at the USATF Annual Meeting. Taylor is a forward-thinker in expanding men's and women's long distance running. His creation of the Collegiate Running Association in 2013 has led to thousands of dollars returning back to student-athletes who are working toward a degree, including the first-ever champion, Paul Chelimo, who went on to medal in the 2016 Olympic 5,000m. Taylor's tireless efforts create opportunities to keep aspiring athletes of both genders in the sport, while leading in creating competitive opportunities with prize money for both.
 
H. Browning Ross is often referred to as the father of long distance running in America. In 1948 he won the NCAA steeplechase championship, which paved the way for his 1948 and 1952 U.S. Olympic Team qualification. Ross was a lifelong resident of Woodbury, New Jersey. He devoted his life to spreading his love and enthusiasm for long distance running and is often credited as the cornerstone to the development of long distance runners in the USA today.

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H. Browning Ross Long Distance Running Merit Award

Awarded annually be USA Track & Field (USATF) to that individual who has made an outstanding contribution and/or has been of service to the sport of long distance running. It was named in honor of the founder of the AAU LDR committee and the Road Runners Club of America, as well as the first recipient of the award in 1969.

 

2018  Steve Taylor

2010  Virginia Brophy Achman

2009  Jack Daniels

2008  Bob Sevene

2007  Don Kardong

2006  Joe Newton

2005  Bob Larsen

2004  Mark Winitz

2003  Creigh Kelley, Fred Finke

2002  Dan Brown

2001  Joe Vigil

2000  Vin Lananna

1999  Mike Scott

1998  Alvin Chriss

1997  Bob Wood

1996  Don King

1995  Doug Aldred

1994  Phil Stewart

1993  George Sheehan

1992  Doug Thurston

1991  John Mansoor

1990  Basil Honikman

1989  Jeff Darman

1988  Don Kardong

1987  Allan Steinfeld

1986  Bill Roe

1985  Kenneth Young

1984  Vince Chiappetta

1983  Fred Lebow

1982  David E. Martin

1981  Will Cloney

1980  Norman Brand

1979  Stanley Stafford

1978  Anthony Diamond

1977  Joseph Kleineman

1976  John Brennand

1975  Harold Canfield

1974  Aldo M. Scandurra

1973  Robert E. DeCelle

1972  Frank Shorter

1971  Ted Corbitt

1970  Robert S. Campbell

1969  H. Browning Ross