Road Race Management has named Tracey Russell, (Director of the Monument Avenue 10K in Richmond, VA) as its 2005 MarathonFoto/Road Race Management Race Director of the Year. Russell accepted the award at the Road Race Management Race Director's Meeting and Trade Show in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, October 20th. The award is presented by Running Times magazine.

Described by Bill Rodgers as "the Gold Medal of race directing," the award is determined by a vote of a diverse ten-member committee comprised of race directors, media, sponsors, and elite athletes.

"Tracey Russell is one of a new breed of race directors, coming into the sport on the wave of the less competitive, more participatory running boom. Under her leadership, the Monument Avenue 10K has performed like Google after its initial public offering. The participation level of the event grew from about 2,400 at the inaugural event in 2000 to over 16,000 in just five short years. Clearly Russell knows how to cater to the runners of today as well as how to integrate the city of Richmond, VA into a successful partnership," said Phil Stewart, editor and publisher of Road Race Management, in making the presentation.

The other finalists for the award, in addition to Tracey Russell, were Alan Sunio (Great Aloha Run, Honolulu, HI,) and Rick Nealis (Marine Corps Marathon, Washington, DC).

The MarathonFoto/Road Race Management Race Director of the Year award is made annually to recognize and promote excellence in race directing. Nominees were judged on several factors, including overall ability, reputation of race, creativity and organizational ability. Previous recipients have been: Rafael Acosta (World Best 10K), Steve Bosley (Bolder Boulder), Julia Emmons (Peachtree Road Race), Ed Froehlich (Quad-City Times Bix 7), Chuck Galford (Cascade Run Off), Susan Harmeling (Bank of America Gasparilla Distance Classic), Jon Hughes (Disney Marathon), Scott Keenan (Grandma's Marathon), Fred Lebow (New York City Marathon), Dave McGillivray (Boston Marathon), Jeanette Park (Gasparilla Distance Classic), Carey Pinkowski (LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon), Earle Reed (Utica Boilermaker), Bill Reef (Bolder Boulder), Steve Shostrom (Steamboat Classic), George Regan (Freihofer's Run for Women), Allan Steinfeld (New York City Marathon) and Harold and Louise Tinsley (Rocket City Marathon).

Road Race Management publishes a newsletter and comprehensive Directory for race and industry professionals and conducts a prestigious annual national race director meeting and trade show in Ft. Lauderdale, FL each year. MarathonFoto is the world's largest race photography company . Running Times is a national magazine known as the runner's best source.

2005 Monument Avenue 10K Race Report with Results and Photos