National Black Marathoners Association and Ashworth Awards Forms a Two-Year Partnership

BOSTON - April 13, 2018 - PRLog -- The National Black Marathoners Association (NBMA) is pleased to announce our two-year partnership with Ashworth Awards as our Official Awards and Medallions Partner. This includes being a 2018 and 2019 NBMA Summit Sponsor at the Baltimore Running Festival and Little Rock Marathon Summits, respectively.

Tony Reed, NBMA Executive Director, says, "This is an exciting and welcomed partnership. In 2013, the NBMA decided to recognize the accomplishments of African-American distance runners through the National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame and Achievements Awards Banquet. This event is held every other year. World class, elite, and history making runners, as well as Boston, seven continents, and 50 States ultramarathon, marathon, and half marathon finishers are recognized."

"With this partnership, we will begin our limited edition Hall of Fame Medal Series at our 2018 Summit at the Baltimore Running Festival. The first medal commemorates Baltimore native and resident, Marilyn Bevans. Ms. Bevans' many accomplishments include winning the Maryland Marathon (twice), placing second in the Boston Marathon, running the first sub-three hour marathon by an African-American woman, and being ranked in the top ten fastest women marathoners in 1977. To be eligible to receive the medal, runners must use the promo/coupon code NBMA18, during the registration process. (For more information, visit http://www.blackmarathoners.org/2017/07/14/2018-annual-summit/.)"

"Two medals will be released for the 2019 Summit. This will be our fifteen-year anniversary. The first medal celebrates the 100^th anniversary of the late Ted Corbitt's birth. Mr. Corbitt is considered to be the Jackie Robinson of distance running. Among his many accomplishments, he was the first African-American to compete in the Olympic Marathon, co-founded the New York Pioneer Club, won the national marathon championship, and ran the Boston Marathon 22 times and was on two of the winning championship New York Pioneer Club teams. (For more information, visit www.TedCorbitt.com.)"

"The second medal commemorates the five- and ten-year anniversaries of Meb Keflezighi's victories at the 2014 Boston and 2009 New York City Marathons, respectively. He's the only person in the world who won both of these races and placed in the Olympic Marathon. Mr. Keflezighi is one of the greatest runners of our time. He amassed four NCAA Championships as a UCLA student, 23 National Championships, and earned a spot on four USA Olympic teams. (For more information, visit www.marathonmeb.com.)"

"This partnership will help us to celebrate history."

Kim Ashworth, Ashworth Awards Vice President/CMO, says, "We are thrilled to be partnering with NBMA.  To be part of celebrating/commemorating the accomplishments of African American runners is truly an honor for Ashworth Awards."

The medals will be unveiled at the NBMA's Boston Meet & Greet on Sunday, April 15 at 2:30PM, Boston City Hall, Room 801 (Congress Street Entrance), One City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201.
1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201

About NBMA The National Black Marathoners' Association (NBMA) is the largest and oldest nonprofit organization in the U.S. dedicated to encouraging African Americans and others to pursue a healthy lifestyle through distance running and walking. It is open to everyone, regardless of his or her athletic ability, ethnic background, or previous marathon experience. The NBMA hosts an annual multi-race summit. Previous races and locations have been Lewis & Clark (St. Charles, MO), New Jersey (Long Branch, NJ), Cleveland (OH), Lost Dutchman (Apache Junction, AZ), Cowtown (Fort Worth, TX), Georgia (Atlanta), Bermuda International Race Weekend, Deadwood-Michelson (Deadwood, SD), Madison (WI), Richmond (VA), Windermere (Spokane, WA), Dallas, Columbus (OH), and the Go! St. Louis Marathons.

For more information, please visit www.blackmarathoners.org

About Ashworth

For over 50 years, Ashworth Awards has been a go-to resource for race directors, event coordinators, coaches, and industry leaders for their recognition products and awards. By providing the highest quality manufacturing and materials, unbeatable pricing, custom designs, and industry leading customer service they have created a seamless experience, assisting in recognizing their customer's event participants as well as acquiring the proper recognition and exposure that events deserve. For more information, visit www.ashworthawards.com.