We couldn't be more excited to extend the Collegiate Running Association (CRA) partnership with the Sports Backers Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K presented by Kroger through 2017 and 2018. The Ukrop's 10K is one of the four largest 10K races in the U.S. and is a destination event for runners of all ages and abilities. Although the CRA is known as the only organization in the nation offering events open to the public with prize money specifically reserved for college students, our events and event partnerships appeal to runners with a vast range of abilities. From social runner to the ultra competitive, the events hosting our championships offer something for everyone. In our first three years we have awarded, through our championship events, over $64,000 in prize money to college students.
Even though we have awarded a large amount in prize money to college students in our first 3 years, I continue to be amazed how many people are unaware of the NCAA legislation changes allowing D1 student-athletes to accept prize money to cover their sport related expenses over a full calendar year. The legislation went into affect in August 2013 (see specific legislation here) and yet there are still folks who do not know the legislation changed. It gets frustrating for sure. It's a shame since it's hurting D1 college students who are permitted to legally accept prize money to cover their annual sport related expenses.
The CRA is committed to expanding opportunities for college students. As our many followers know, the NCAA covers cross country and track & field without offering opportunities in road, mountain or trail running. While USATF covers all disciplines, their divisions are split mostly by age [youth, junior (U20), senior and master (40+LDR)]. With these classifications there was a need for an organization offering specific championship and participation opportunities to college students in road, mountain and trail running. We also felt there was a need to help bridge the gap between traditional college and post undergraduate competition while awarding prize money to provide additional incentive for competitive runners to continue their education during and after exhausting NCAA eligibility.
As a non-profit 501c3 organization our mission is to expand opportunities and promote healthy lifestyles among college students while offering public events dedicated to providing a great experience to all the participants. The Ukrop's 10K offers all of this and more.
We have lived in the Richmond area for the past 15 years and have watched the metro area transform under the umbrella of running races, most noteably the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K. With upwards of 35,000 participants, more and more people make the race part of their New Year's resolution; training for the race under grey winter skies while looking ahead to the spring event. Training groups come together, especially on weekends, to prepare for completing the race. Some people test their limits pressing to achieve a personal best while others aim to simply finish the 6.2 miles. Regardless of the race day result, the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K's magic is how it brings people together and how it transforms our community. The stories are nearly endless. Stories of every day people who have overcome obstacles to get to the start line and more importantly, the finish line. We see the changes in this community and the healthy, active community it has become.
Our many thanks to the Ukrop's family for their community support and many contributions they have given to make a great RVA. Our deep appreciation to Sports Backers for giving the CRA the opportunity to partner with such an amazing, community event and providing college students opportunities while giving them a chance to see what our region has to offer. It's obvious when you visit Richmond it's an ActiveRVA with many trails, the James River and where running plays a healthy role of bringing people together.
Below is an announcement we released today detailing the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K hosting the Collegiate 10K Road Race National Championships for the next two years (2017 and 2018):
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| The Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K in Richmond, Virginia has hosted the Collegiate 10K Road Race National Championships in 2014, 2015 and 2016. In today's announcement the race extended its partnership and will host the championships in 2017 and 2018. In the first three years the Collegiate 10K Road Race Championships have attracted over 7,000 students from across the U.S. and awarded $30,000 in prize money specifically reserved for college students. The Ukrop's 10K is the first race in the U.S. to reserve prize money specifically for college students. |
November 27, 2016 - RICHMOND,
VA – The Richmond Sports Backers
announced today
the Ukrop’s Monument
Avenue 10k presented
by Kroger will serve as host to the Collegiate Running Association’s 2017 and 2018 Collegiate 10K
Road Race National
Championships. This will mark the fourth and fifth consecutive
years the best and brightest college students
will turn their focus to Richmond as a destination for the annual event.
“The Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K is one of the biggest and best road
races in the U.S. and we could
not be more thrilled to extend
our partnership with this event and the
Richmond Sports Backers to bring college
athletes to Richmond,” said Collegiate
Running Association co- founder Jon Molz. “The Ukrop’s Monument
Avenue 10K has been a
cornerstone for our national championships and a destination for top college
runners, along with social runners, for the past three years. The commitment to
host the Collegiate National Championships in both 2017 and 2018 gives students from
across the nation
the opportunity to plan
and schedule this event as part of their spring schedules
for the next two years. We are dedicated to helping it grow. The amazing opportunities for runners, both
social and competitive, are what make
this event so special.”
"We
are very excited
to partner with the Collegiate Running Association to bring the 2017 and 2018 10k Road Race
National Championship back to Richmond," said Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k Event Director
Meghan Keogh. "The Ukrop's Monument
Avenue 10k is one of our signature
events and a great
way to further
Sports Backers' mission
of encouraging active lifestyles and
creating fitness opportunities. It's great to work with an organization like the Collegiate Running
Association that shares these goals,
and we look forward to great events in 2017 and 2018."
Over 7,000 college
students have registered for the Monument
Avenue 10k over the last three years, and
there has been a substantial elite presence at the front
of the fields as well.
On the men’s side, 2016 Olympic
Games 5K Silver medalist Paul Chelimo, who
captured the first
U.S. Olympic medal in the event since the 1968 Olympic
Games, won back in 2014; Joe Gray, the 2016 World
Mountain Running Champion,
won in 2015. Kellyn
Johnson, a two-time champion on the women’s side (2014 & 2015), recently finished 4th in the 2016 Olympic
Trials in the 10,000m
and 6th in the 2016 Olympic
Trials Marathon.
“Our Collegiate Running Association mission is to create
new opportunities for all college students who enjoy running and
active, healthy lifestyles,” said Collegiate Running Association president Steve Taylor. “Our
vision includes
elite runners, club runners, and
social runners all converging at the same road, mountain
and trail running events. Since the first year our dream has become reality at the Ukrop’s
Monument Avenue 10k and we could not be more excited and dedicated
to this event and
everything it offers participants. This is not just a
race, it’s a huge social event with an electric
atmosphere.”
As the first road race with prize money reserved
specifically for college
students, the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Collegiate Running Association 10k Road
Race National Championships attracted a slew of highly decorated
runners enrolled in college
classes across the country as they battled for a $10,000 prize purse.
In 2017 and 2018 the streets
of Richmond will once again welcome the nation’s college students for an amazing view of the city. Whether
you are looking for
social or competitive opportunities, the 2017 Ukrop’s
Monument Avenue 10K will provide
it all.
