Bloomsday Run Not Slowing Down

33rd edition one for the record books

Yesterday, Spokane again witnessed the phenomenon that is the annual Lilac Bloomsday Run.  A field of 51,258 signed up for this year's Bloomsday, an increase of nearly 4,000 over last year.  This spike in entries, despite a down economy and long, harsh winter, can be accredited to our community's love of running and the outstanding organizers of this race.  Runners were greeted with chilly conditions for the start, with the temperature at 45 degrees, but that didn't dampen the competition among the elite runners or the enthusiasm of the rest of the pack.

Lineth Chepkurui made it two in a row in the women's race, while third time was a charm for John Yuda in the men's competition, as the two stars outraced outstanding fields to win this year.  A complete list of winners and results from Bloomsday 2009 is available at www.bloomsdayrun.org. 
 
Nearly $100,000 was awarded in open, masters, US citizen and Washington state resident divisions in this year's Bloomsday Run. A 2004 study prepared for the Lilac Bloomsday Association by Gonzaga University students showed a direct economic impact from the race of over $9.5 million.  Along with spirited elite competition in all divisions, over 45,000 finishers enjoyed performances from nearly 30 bands, vocalists and performing troupes along the course, eventually reaching the finish and claiming this year's finisher T-shirt.

Mark your calendars now...next year's Lilac Bloomsday Run, the 34th, will be on Sunday, May 2nd, 2010.

Did you know...

Over $5,000 in grants given out in 2008

Last year, the SRSC gave out grants to 15 area athletes and teams through our Athletic Achievement Grant Program.  The AAGP provides financial assistance for travel expenses to attend regional and national competitions.  If you know of an athlete traveling to an event who needs financial support, let them know the Sports Commission can help! 
For more information on applying for a grant, please visit our website, www.spokanesports.org.

USATF Delegate Nancy Hobbs Visits Spokane 

SRSC shows off Spokane's trail running potential

Last month, the SRSC welcomed Nancy Hobbs, Chair of the USA Track & Field Mountain Ultra Trail Running Council and co-author of "The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running," to Spokane.  Nancy came to town for a site evaluation of our community to host a USATF National Trail Running Championship in 2010.  Nancy and Marla Emde, SRSC Director of Event Services, ran in the Spokane River Run at Riverside State Park to showcase a potential site for the National Championships.  Great weather and a turnout of nearly 800 competitors gave Nancy an excellent opportunity to embrace Spokane's always impressive running community.  She also showed her commitment to the sport, placing 2nd in her age group!

"She is very passionate about trail running and I think Spokane can provide a great venue for visibility and excitement about the sport," commented Marla.  "We've got a very good chance of securing one of these events for 2010." 

Nancy's visit to Spokane also included additional tours of areas of trail interest and lunch with members of the SRSC staff, SRSC Chair and USATF Board member Jim Murphy, and Spokane running legend Don Kardong. 

Board Member Spotlight - Pam Parks

Regional volleyball icon now SRSC Treasurer

Pam Parks is one of those ladies you are just proud to know, and the Sports Commission has been fortunate enough to know her even before she began serving on our Board nine years ago.
 
Currently Eastern Washington University's Associate Athletic Director-Senior Woman Administrator, Pam was the head volleyball coach at the university from 1985 until moving full time into administration in 2000.  As a coach, Pam brought EWU Volleyball its first Big Sky Conference Championship and led her team to the NCAA Championships three times.  She was twice named the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year and was the AVCA District 8 Coach of the Year in 1989.  

Prior to returning to EWU (where she played volleyball and graduated in 1974), Pam's coaching career first caught fire at Sandpoint High School where she led the volleyball team to the school's first State Championship in 1980 and earned herself the title of Idaho Coach of the Year.

Her passion and commitment to volleyball hasn't waned since she stopped coaching.  She is a Charter Cadre Member of the USA Volleyball Coaching Accreditation Program and a member of the prestigious NCAA Volleyball Committee.  Her achievements as a coach and contributor to her sport have been honored numerous times, including her induction to the EWU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007 and most recently as one of 12 individuals named as "Girls' Sports Pioneers" in northern Idaho for her defining role in the advancement of girls' sports in the region.

Pam's official service with the SRSC began in 1999 when she became a member of our Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame committee.  She joined the Board of Directors in May of 2000 and began serving on the Sports Awards Luncheon committee the following year.  This year she begins her term as Treasurer of the Board, providing financial oversight for the organization. 

2009 National Veterans Wheelchair Games

Volunteers needed!

The Spokane VA Medical Center and NW Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America will co-host the 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Spokane, Washington.  The Games are presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Paralyzed Veterans of America.  Participants come from across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Great Britain. The Games are a multi-event sports program open to military service veterans who are eligible for care at a Department of Veterans Affairs facility and who use wheelchairs for sports competition due to spinal cord injuries, certain neurological conditions, amputations, or other mobility impairments.
 
Over 3,000 community volunteers are needed during the week of July 12 - 19, 2009.
Volunteer applications are available at www.wheelchairgames.va.gov or call 509-434-7510. 

Partners' Corner

Hoopfest Registration Deadline is TODAY!
Hoopfest is on pace to beat last year's number of players and make it the biggest event yet with over 25,000 participants.  The more teams who register, the more courts need to be sponsored.  Court sponsorships are still available and come with a FREE team entry.  Hoopfest is a great opportunity to promote your company through the event, website and newsletter, reaching over 100,000 people. Contact Kirstin at Kirstin@spokanehoopfest.net.

To play in Hoopfest you need to sign up TODAY! Guaranteed registration is due today, May 4. The final registration on a space available basis date is May 18!

Do you want to be involved and are not a player?  You can volunteer as a general volunteer or court monitor. It takes over 3,000 volunteers to make Hoopfest run at the top of its game. We need volunteers in areas such as team check-in, The Black Book Information tents, Avista Scoreboard, contests, and merchandise. Go to www.spokanehoopfest.net for more information on court monitors and volunteer opportunities.

Rockwood Clinic May Update
Rockwood Clinic continues to be the leading provider of Sports Medicine services for Eastern Washington. During the past two months, we have continued our partnership with the SRSC by providing sports medicine services at the State 2B Boys and Girls Basketball Championships and the USAV PNQ Volleyball Tournament. Additionally, our sports medicine team of Certified Athletic Trainers, Physical Therapists, Physician Assistants, and Physicians work daily with the af2 Spokane Shock, Spokane Spiders Soccer Club, EWU Athletics, as well as with twelve local and rural high schools. In April we held our fourth annual High School Sports Medicine Conference educating area high schools students on topics involving the care and treatment of common lower extremity injuries.

This May, our Rockwood Clinic Sports Medicine team will be at the GSL Track and Field Championships, WIAA State 1B/2B/1A Regional Track and Field meet, and the WIAA State 1B/2B/1A Track and Field Championships.  We will also continue our work with the Shock, Spiders, EWU, and local and rural high schools. Be sure to stop by and say hello at our tent at Hoopfest where we will once again be caring for the myriad of bumps, bruises, scrapes, sprains, and strains of its participants. Coming later this summer, we will hold a middle and high school coaches clinic and a high school athlete testing combine in addition to our team and event coverage services.

If you have questions regarding our sports medicine services, please contact Keith Eggleston, Sports Medicine Coordinator, at keggleston@rockwoodclinic.com.  For general information about our programs and services and to sign up for our free newsletter, please go to www.rockwoodclinic.com.
For all your sports medicine needs, let Rockwood Clinic, P.S. be your provider of choice.

Lilac Bloomsday Association Joins SRSC Partner Program
The Sports Commission is pleased to welcome our newest Partner in Athletic Achievement, the Lilac Bloomsday Association.  Bloomsday has been sponsor of some of the SRSC's community programs, including the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame and the Inland Northwest Sports Awards Luncheon.  We are pleased that they have committed to further support our organization and our region's outstanding athletes. 
For more information on the Lilac Bloomsday Association and the annual Lilac Bloomsday Run, please visit their website at www.bloomsdayrun.org.