RRCA Announces 2014 Roads Scholar Class

Published by RRCA on October 7, 2014

Since 1996, the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) has awarded grants totaling over $480,000 through the Roads Scholar® program. The goal of the program is to assist American post collegiate runners who show great promise to develop into national and world-class road running athletes.  The grants awarded by the RRCA go directly to the athletes to help support their goals and training needs. Traditionally, the RRCA has distributed six grants. However, the strong credentials and impressive potential of this year’s pool of applicants, coupled with the ability to lay the groundwork for qualification in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, again afforded the expansion of the 2014-15 class of grantees to eight recipients.

The RRCA Roads Scholar selection Committee for 2014 included Carl Sniffen (Chair), Amy Begley (Roads Scholar-2002, Olympian), Joan Benoit Samuelson (Olympian), Don Kardong (Olympian), Phil Stewart, Bee McLeod, Brent Ayer, and Jean Knaack. The final selections were made on September 30, 2014, prior to the USA Marathon Championships in October.

The RRCA is pleased to introduce and congratulate the 2014-2015 Class of Roads Scholars.

Esther Erb

 In high school, Erb ran just one season of track, focusing her energies more on singing and playing the cello. However, once in college at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, she ramped up her athletic interests, while still maintaining a commitment to academics. She qualified for nine national meets; earned six All-American finishes; and won the national championship in the 10,000-meter run.