OMAHA, Neb. – Registration is now open for the USA Swimming Foundation’s first ever Building Champions 5K road race, presented by Metro Omaha Medical Society, to benefit the USA Swimming Foundation’s commitment to Saving Lives and Building Champions.
This family-friendly event will take place on Sunday, July 3, on the final day of Olympic Trials – Swimming in Omaha, Nebraska. The timed run will start 8:15am at Lewis and Clark Landing, 515 North Riverfront Drive Omaha, NE 68102 and be preceded by a Kids 1K Dash which starts at 8am.
“The USA Swimming Foundation is excited to host an event that will help fund our mission while showcasing one of Omaha’s biggest events this summer, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Swimming,” said Debbie Hesse, USA Swimming Foundation Executive Director. “Members of the community, swimmers and swim fans will have the opportunity to see and interact with Olympians as they take in the beautiful scenery of downtown Omaha and the Olympic Trials venue.”
Olympic gold medalists Jason Lezak, Garrett Weber-Gale, Mel Stewart will join 2016 Olympic qualifiers to cheer runners on.
Race entrance fees are $35 for the Building Champions 5K and $20 for the Kids 1K Dash. You can register for the race online at Building Champions 5k. Visit crowdrise.com/buildingchampions5k to make a donation or set up your own fundraising site to share with your friends and family.
Daren Konda of the Omaha Running Club will act as this year’s Race Director. Konda is a 2015 inductee of the Omaha Running Club’s Hall of Fame and has been a member of the Board of Directors for Omaha Running Club for the past 15 years.
“The USA Swimming Building Champions 5K is a great opportunity for the local community and visitors to join in the excitement of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Trials – Swimming and make a difference by providing funds to teach kids to swim and to build future Olympic champions,” said Konda. “The scenic course will take runners across the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge with beautiful views of the Riverfront and downtown Omaha for one of our most fun events of the year.”
There will also be an award for Overall Male and Overall Female finishers. Medals will go to the top three in each age group (19 & Under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+) males and females. All participants will receive a race T-shirt and are invited to enjoy an after race party at the finish line in Lewis and Clark Landing to celebrate the USA Swimming Foundation’s mission to Save Lives and Build Champions – in the pool and in life.
At the finish line, race participants and their friends and family can sample great products from Metro Area Medical Society and Speedo, and recovery foods from Chobani Yogurt and Blue Diamond Almonds.
Funds raised will help provide children with the life-saving skill of swimming lessons through the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative as well as provide financial support to our heroes on the U.S. National Team through the Building Champions program.
The USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative provides the opportunity for every child in America to learn to swim – regardless of race, gender or financial circumstances. It is the nation’s pre-eminent learn to swim initiative, with more than 750 local partners nationwide that provide swim lessons and educate children and their families on the importance of learning how to swim. Since 2007, nearly 4 million children have learned the critical life-saving skill of swim lessons from Make a Splash providers. Thus far, the USA Swimming Foundation has provided over 4 million dollars in grants to local partners for free and low cost swimming lessons nationwide.
Through Building Champions, the USA Swimming Foundation supports National Team athletes and coaches by providing financial assistance that is crucial to their pursuit of athletic and personal success. This support helps to keep USA Swimming’s National Team at the top of the medal stand, a position it has held for more than 50 years. In 2016, the USA Swimming Foundation will provide over $600,000 to National Team and Junior National Team athletes and coaches.
To learn how you can support the USA Swimming Foundation, visit: www.usaswimmingfoundation.org
About the USA Swimming Foundation
The USA Swimming Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming. Established in 2004, the Foundation works to strengthen the sport by saving lives and building champions— in the pool and in life. Whether we’re equipping our children with the life-saving skill of learn-to-swim through our Make a Splash initiative, or providing financial support to our heroes on the U.S. National Team, the USA Swimming Foundation aims to provide the wonderful experience of swimming to kids at all levels across the country. To learn more, visit www.usaswimmingfoundation.org.
Swimming news courtesy of USA Swimming.