ATLANTA -- January 8, 2020 -- Atlanta Track Club elected four new members to its Board of Directors at an annual town hall and business meeting Tuesday night.
Da'Rel Patterson, Dr. Aisha Wright-Burke, Dr. Phillip Finley and Stuart Wilkinson were elected to the board in a vote conducted online and in person. Kara Finley, Dr. Reginald Mason and Kerry Parker were elected to second terms. Executive Committee members will be selected at the next board meeting. You can learn more about the current members of the board here.
Free Race Photos
The Club also shared other news topics with members. Starting with this year's Resolution Run 5K, Mile and Dash, free participants photos will be delivered at the conclusion of select Atlanta Track Club events. Participants in the following events will receive emails from Atlanta Track Club's photo partner, EnMotive:
·Resolution Run 5K, Mile & Dash
·Publix Atlanta Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K
·Atlanta Hawks Fast Break 5K presented by Sharecare
·Northside Hospital Atlanta Women's 5K
·Braves Country 5K presented by Mizuno
·PNC Atlanta 10 Miler & 5K
·Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash
Photos will still be available for purchase after the AJC Peachtree Road Race.
High School Track & Field Meet Announced
The Club announced the addition of a high school track & field meet to its calendar of 2020 events. The Wingfoot Night of Champions will provide an opportunity for the best high school athletes in the state of Georgia to go head-to-head regardless of which GHSA class they compete in during the regular season. The meet will be held Friday, May 22. More details will be announced in early February.
Sustainability Efforts
As Atlanta Track Club continues to work toward reducing its carbon footprint, the Club provided an overview of its green initiative which launched in 2019. In 2019, the Club recycled more than 72,000 water bottles, nearly 16,000 pounds of cardboard, 800 pounds of plastic bags and more than 7,600 race bibs. Participants can expect to see increased recycling and composting measures in 2020.
Fundraising Efforts
In 2020, members can expect to see increased fundraising efforts from the Club with an emphasis on infrastructure, programming and accessibility. Generous donations from club members, participants and volunteers will go toward expanding Club programming to improve fitness and health literacy in Atlanta. Specifically, the Club looks to expand youth initiatives across all ages and abilities, from recreational programs to competitive. It will simultaneously continue to grow its partnership with Atlanta Public Schools, working with the schools' track and field and cross country programs.
The Club will continue to provide funding to systems, trails, greenways and parks that provide a safe, inclusive space for runners of all ages to develop and learn. This includes Cheney Stadium in Atlanta's Summerhill neighborhood, sustained donations to the Piedmont Park Conservancy and an expanded programming partnership with Atlanta BeltLine.
The Club is also in the early stages of a plan to create new facilities for track and field athletes to develop their talents, hone their skills and witness world-class competitions.
Changes to In Training
Finally, Atlanta Track Club's run leads provided feedback on some proposed changes to the Club's In- Training programs. The changes are meant to encourage higher retention rates among In-Training participants, connect participants with Atlanta Track Club and its coaching staff and better ensure runners and walkers meet their goals. Among the highlights are:
·Centralizing all In-Training programs to meet and run out of the Club's facility at Armour Drive
·Reducing the length of the programs
·Re-introducing a 5K training program
·Creating a more welcoming environment for walkers and beginners
·Creating a more exclusive experience for In-Training for Peachtree participants by reducing the number of locations and the amount of participants in the program.
No changes to the In-Training program have been finalized and more details will be announced in late winter.