Kenny Moore to Be Awarded George Hirsch Journalist Award
By Chris Lotsbom
October 24, 2012
(c) 2012 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
Editor’s Note: In addition to Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore wrote the great cult book Best Efforts: World Class Runners and Races. If you’re hard core, consider reading it.
(24-Oct) — The New York Road Runners, organizers of the ING New York City Marathon, announced today that author Kenny Moore will be awarded the 2012 George Hirsch Journalism Award on Friday, November 2, during ING New York City Marathon race week. A two-time Olympian whose byline has appeared in Sports Illustrated and in several books covering athletics, Moore has contributed greatly to the sport through both journalism and film.
The George Hirsch Journalism Award recognizes excellence in the reporting, writing, and broadcasting of the sport of long-distance running.
“Knowing what George Hirsch has done to serve our sport, this award has made me humble almost, but not quite, beyond words,” quipped Moore in a statement from race organizers. “It’s hugely gratifying to know my writing has struck readers as useful. In fact, it’s been nothing but a privilege and joy to be able to follow champions from Abdi Bile to Joan Samuelson home from their triumphs, and make known the vividness of their character. Looking back, I realize each one has left me the better, the more faithful, [and] the more exuberant in pursuing all things good and Olympian.”
Moore will be honored at a news conference, where he will receive an award designed by Tiffany & Co. Past winners of the award include Runner’s World editor-at-large Amby Burfoot, and former USA Today Olympic sports reporter Dick Patrick.
Men of Oregon
Moore, 68, covered the sport of distance running for Sports Illustrated after graduating from the University of Oregon. Over the span of his caeer, he co-wrote and produced the biographical film “Without Limits” on Steve Prefontaine and Bill Bowerman, and in 2006 completed a biography on Bowerman titled “Bowerman and the Men of Oregon.” An inductee of the National Distance Running Hall of Fame, Moore had quite the career as an athlete, racing at both the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Marathons, the latter of which he finished fourth.
“Kenny Moore has devoted his career to showing the world what the most influential competitors and coaches of all time have done for the sport of running,” New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg said in a statement. “His meaningful achievements not only reflect the special spirit of a distance runner, but also that of George Hirsch. We are honored to present him with this award for his countless contributions to our sport.”