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The
National Distance Running Hall of Fame Names Ken Foreman
the 2003 Bill Bowerman Coaching Award Recipient
July 9, 2003 (Utica, New York)
-- The National Distance
Running Hall of Fame presents the 2003 Bill Bowerman
Coaching Award to Dr. Ken Foreman, of Kailua Kona,
Hi. Foreman, the legendary Seattle Pacific University
track & field coach for 38 years, will receive
his award at the National Distance Running Hall of
Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, July 12, at 5
p.m. at the Stanley Performing Arts Center in Utica,
New York.
The National Distance Running Hall of Fame established
The Bill Bowerman Coaching Award with Nike, Inc. in
2001 to recognize Bowerman's outstanding coaching
ability, his idealism, and his inspirational guidance.
Foreman was a pioneer in coaching women’s distance
runners, the most notable being Doris Brown Heritage,
Distance Running Hall of Fame Class of 2002. Foreman
served as head coach of U.S. women’s national
teams many times, including the 1980 Olympic Games,
1983 World Championships, 1986 Goodwill Games and
the 1967, ’70 and ’73 World Cross Country
Championships.
In three different stints (1950-57, 65-78 and 85-99)
as Seattle Pacific coach, Foreman guided 20 distance
runners to All-America status, including six national
champions. His Falcon Track Club; however, a forerunner
to the SPU women’s varsity program, spawned
even greater runners. Heritage won five consecutive
world cross country titles, she and Vicki Foltz won
a combined six U.S. titles and the Falcon Track Club
won the 1972 national cross country championship.
In an age when the likes of Heritage were restricted
to racing distances no more than 800 meters, Foreman
advocated for events of greater length, often citing
scientific proof of females’ capabilities. He
served as race director of the first U.S. Olympic
marathon trials in 1984, the 1990 Goodwill Games marathon
and Seattle’s Emerald City Marathon from 1985-89.
Foreman was the U.S. chairman of the women’s
long distance running and served as assistant national
coach for the marathon at both the 1987 World Championships
and 1988 Olympic Games.
Nominated by fellow coaches and former athletes, Foreman
was recognized for his dedication to his sport and
to his athletes through motivating thousands of people
to believe in themselves. In particular, Foreman is
well known for a motivational speech he called the
“REACH” speech. The REACH speech was about
setting goals and expecting them to be achieved, and
then actualizing those goals through behavior, Foreman
has profoundly influenced thousands of athletes. Foreman
has demonstrated that there is no greater calling
than being a coach. “Coach Foreman taught us
to give nothing less than our best effort in everything
that we do,” said Jack Hoyt, Head Track &
Field Coach, Seattle Pacific University. “When
you let Coach Foreman know your goals, you have made
a pact with a very powerful man, and you’d rather
be dead than not hold up your end of the bargain.
There are no half-hearted commitments with Coach Foreman.
He believes in bringing out the best in athletes by
holding high expectations for their performance, training,
and commitment to the sport.” Foreman’s
dedication and influence on his athletes extended
far beyond the track, as he powerfully touched the
lives of so many, and continues to do so through the
legacy that he lives.
“As with others who are our best, Dr. Foreman
needs to be honored and remembered or we loose a part
of ourselves, the meaningful soul of our sport,”
former athlete and longtime friend Doris Brown Heritage
said. “Like Bowerman himself, Coach Foreman
is one of the few who doesn’t take the pain
that accompanies progress away, but with a short swift
phrase, points the right direction.”
The National Distance Running Hall of Fame will present
Foreman with a 2.5-foot high 46-pound bronze sculpture
of Bowerman. The award is a smaller version of the
life-size statue of Bill Bowerman, now residing at
the University of Oregon. The National Distance Running
Hall of Fame also houses a replica of the award, which
lists Foreman and previous award winners, Jeff Johnson
and Bill Squires. “Bill Bowerman was someone
who positively affected the running world, introduced
the United States to the importance of jogging and
fitness, and touched the lives of many athletes throughout
his career,” John Petrone, co-director, National
Distance Running Hall of Fame, said. “By presenting
an annual Bill Bowerman Award during the induction
ceremony, we will continue to honor coaches for embodying
the spirit of Bowerman and will recognize them for
their accomplishments in front of an audience of their
peers and Hall of Fame honorees who have been the
recipients of coaching excellence.”
Bowerman Background
Bowerman coached the University of Oregon Track and
Field team from 1949-1972, leading the Ducks to four
NCAA team championships. In his tenure he coached
64 All-Americans, 24 individual NCAA champions and
33 Olympians - including American running great Steve
Prefontaine. He finished his career as coach of the
1972 USA Olympic team in Munich, a teacher of struggle
and responsibility, he delivered on his job description:
"produce champions." |
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