Distance Running Hall Of Fame Is Looking For 2006 Nominations

December 27, 2005 (Utica, New York) -- The National Distance Running Hall of Fame’s Advisory Board announced that it is taking nominations for the class of 2006, which will be inducted during the internationally acclaimed Hall of Fame Weekend in Utica, New York, July 7-10. 

The National Distance Running Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring athletes who have made contributions to the sport of distance running, contributions that have brought distance running fame and recognition. From the sport's top runners and most decorated athletes to those who pushed the sport's barriers and eventually broke them, the Hall of Fame honors their talents, initiative and drive.

The Hall of Fame looks for runners who have significantly contributed to the sport of distance running in America.

The Hall of Fame’s Advisory Board assists the Directors in making the selection for the nominating class.  The Advisory Board is comprised of individuals such as Allan Steinfeld, of the New York City Marathon; Julia Emmons, Director of the Peachtree Road Race and President of the Atlanta Track Club; Larry Rawson, ESPN Track & Field and Marathon commentator; and Guy Morse, Executive Director of the Boston Athletic Association, among others.

The announcement of the Class of 2006 inductees will take place on Saturday, April 16, 2006 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in the Grand Ballroom Foyer, as part of the events surrounding the Boston Athletic Association’s Boston Marathon.  As a cooperative partner, the B.A.A. allows the Hall of Fame to announce its new class annually as part of its prestigious event.  Selection of the induction class is made by the votes of the Hall of Fame’s Advisory Board, Executive Board and Hall of Fame Members.

The National Distance Running Hall of Fame is located in Utica, New York, along a stretch of the New York State Thruway that could be called “Hall of Fame Corridor.”  Established in 1998, it currently has 27 members, including Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter, Alberto Salazar, Grete Waitz, Kathrine Switzer, Joan Benoit Samuelson and the late Steve Prefontaine.  The Hall is dedicated to honoring the sport of distance running and the athletes who have made contributions to the sport, from top runners and the most decorated athletes, to those who pushed the sport’s barriers and eventually broke them. The Hall is housed in a three-story brownstone building and honors these athletes’ talents, initiative and drive through the pictures, memorabilia and awards that decorate the exhibit rooms and pull the visitor into the runner’s world, a place often inhabited by the runner alone as she/he challenges the limits of the human spirit. The Hall’s induction is celebrated at an annual ceremony held in conjunction with the Boilermaker Road Race during Hall of Fame Weekend, the second weekend each July, in Utica, New York. The Hall of Fame offers membership opportunities for road races, clubs, organizations and individuals, at a variety of levels.  More information on this, or other information, can be found at www.distancerunning.com.