2019 National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame Honorees Announced

BALTIMORE - July 26, 2018 - PRLog -- The National Black Marathoners Association (NBMA) is pleased to announce part of the 2019 National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame honorees. These individuals are recognized for their running abilities from 800 meters to the marathon and service and leadership in the African-American and running communities.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will occur at the 2019 NBMA Annual Summit banquet at the Little Rock Marathon on Saturday, March 2. This is the organization's fifteen-year anniversary. The honorees include Herman Atkins, Alisa Harvey, Oscar Moore, and the Honorable Mayor Catherine Pugh of Baltimore, MD.

The 2018 NBMA Annual Summit will be at the Baltimore Running Festival, which was founded by Mayor Pugh in 2000. Her award will be presented at this year's summit on October 19. The NBMA will also honor 2013 Hall of Fame honoree  and Baltimore native Marilyn Bevans with the first National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame commemorative medallion. Baltimore's Harbor City Striders Running Club, which inspired runners in the 1980's, will also be recognized. The 2018 and 2019 NBMA Annual Summits and the 2019 Hall of Fame are sponsored by the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), Ashworth Awards, and Leslie Jordan, Inc.

Tony Reed, NBMA's Executive Director, says, "We're very excited about coming to Baltimore and celebrating its rich history of African-American distance running."

"Maintaining a regular running schedule in an already-active lifestyle is what enables me to be the very best that I can be for the citizens of Baltimore, and the best that I can be for myself," says Mayor Pugh. "I'm so honored that what is an essential part of my very early morning day and throughout my life has led to my inclusion into the Hall of Fame of the National Black Marathoners Association.  I began the Baltimore Running Festival because of my love of jogging and as a way to bring people of every walk of life and age group together in the enjoyment of a sport and of a healthy way of life."

Information about the 2018 and 2019 NBMA Summits is available at http://www.blackmarathoners.org/events/.  The honorees' accomplishments include

Herman Atkins (Everett, WA)

• Ran the fastest marathon by a native-born Black American at the Nike/Oregon Track Club Marathon in a time of 2:11:52 on September 9, 1979
• Ran a personal best in 1973 for 5,000 meters in 13:43.
• Placed ninth in 1979 Boston Marathon in 2:14:27.
• Led the Snohomish Track Club to a 1993 National Masters Cross-Country 10K Championship.

Alisa Harvey (Manassas, VA)

• World class performances range from the 800m to the marathon for over 30 years
• Holds World Indoor record for the 800m in the 45 to 49 age group division.
• Holds the American Indoor records for the 800m in the 40 to 44, 45 to 49, and 50 to 54 age groups and the American Outdoor records for the 800m in the 40 to 44 and the 45 to 49 age groups.
• Qualified for the 1999 US Olympic Marathon Trials in 2:49:28 and the 2008 US Olympic 800M Trials at 42 years old
• Outright won the 2006 Army 10 Miler and set a masters record of 59:00.
• Is the only four-time winner of the Army 10 Miler (1998, 1999, 2003, and 2006).
• Won the 1991 and 1999 New York City Fifth Avenue Mile.

Oscar Moore (Glassboro, NJ)

• Range of world class performances was phenomenal from the one mile to the marathon.
• Was the first African American to represent the U.S. Olympic team in the 5,000 meters in 1964.
• In 1967, he ranked third all-time for indoor performances at three miles with a time of 13:22.2.
• Coached at Glassboro State College/Rowan University for 23 years.

Catherine Pugh (Baltimore, MD) – Community Service Award

• Completed her first marathon in 3:19.
• Founded the Baltimore Running Festival in 2000.
• Written a series of children's health books.

Additional information about the honorees is available at http://www.blackmarathoners.org/nbma-hall-of-fame/2019-hall-of-fame-honorees/.

About the National Black Marathoners Association

The National Black Marathoners' Association (NBMA) is the largest and oldest nonprofit organization in the U.S. dedicated to encouraging African Americans and others to pursue a healthy lifestyle through distance running and walking. It is open to everyone, regardless of his or her athletic ability, ethnic background, or previous marathon experience. The NBMA hosts an annual multi-race summit. Previous races and locations have been Lewis & Clark (St. Charles, MO), New Jersey (Long Branch, NJ), Cleveland (OH), Lost Dutchman (Apache Junction, AZ), Cowtown (Fort Worth, TX), Georgia (Atlanta), Bermuda International Race Weekend, Deadwood-Michelson (Deadwood, SD), Madison (WI), Richmond (VA), Windermere (Spokane, WA), Dallas, Columbus (OH), and the Go! St. Louis Marathons.

For more information, please visit www.BlackMarathoners.org