July 12, 2005 – For the first time ever, the prestigious USA Track & Field (USA T&F) National Club Championships will be hosted at Icahn Stadium in New York City.  The meet is a competition between the finest teams from clubs across the country.   More than 1,000 participants representing over 50 clubs and 20 states are expected.  The meet is part of USA T&F’s Club Championship series, designed to develop future elite athletes and promote the club/team aspect of Track & Field.   The move of the National Club Championships from its previous home in Indiana signals the impact that Icahn Stadium is having on bringing Track & Field back to New York City.

“Icahn Stadium is delighted to host this event for the first time in New York City,” said Aimee Boden, Executive Director of the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation, which developed and manages Icahn Stadium.  “This further expresses our commitment to bringing elite track & field events to New York City.  Icahn Stadium was built so that track athletes throughout the country would sense the energy and excitement New York has for the sport.”

As additional teams enter this year's competition, fast times and good marks are expected at the venue.  Icahn Stadium is a state-of-the-art, world-class facility located on Randall's Island, a 480-acre park anchoring Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens. Earlier this season, the stadium hosted the Reebok Grand Prix, part of USATF's Visa Championship Series

About Icahn Stadium

Icahn Stadium is the sole state-of-the-art, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) certified, championship-quality track and field facility in North America for local, national and international outdoor competition.  In addition to competitive programming, the stadium will be home to an extensive children’s program providing outdoor physical activity to Randall’s Island Kids, which serves over 10,000 of New York City’s most under-resourced children in East Harlem and the South Bronx.  Recently, RISF introduced the Champions Campaign, which seeks to empower under-resourced children of New York City by instilling in them the core values of courage, dedication, teamwork and sportsmanship, through sports and recreation and specifically, track and field.  RISF’s goal of raising $5 million to support and maintain Icahn Stadium, its programs and activities, will provide opportunities for our city’s children to compete and excel while developing good health for a lifetime of success

About Randall’s Island Sports Foundation

The Randall’s Island Sports Foundation seeks to create healthy lives for NYC’s children through sports and recreation with an investment of $300,000,000 over the next 4 years in a naturally beautiful 480-acre waterfront park.  RISF, a public-private partnership with NYC Department of Parks and Recreation improves the park and provides programming so all children can benefit from world-class facilities and playing fields.   

In April, RISF celebrated the opening of Icahn Stadium, the only IAAF Class 1 track and field stadium in North America.  During its inaugural season, Icahn hosted the USA 8KChampionships, NCAA Regional Championships, the Reebok Grand Prix, the Public School, Catholic High School and private school championships. In addition to the plans by developers for a new Tennis Center and a Water Park, plans are in place for the continued development and restoration of the Island by the foundation, including a total of 68 new and improved soccer, baseball and softball fields, a Nature Center, an Island-wide pathway system, extensive environmental restoration, and the expansion our after school and summer programs for city kids.