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BETHESDA, MD – (September 23, 2026) – At their annual meeting in Denver, representatives from the PRRO Circuit, consisting of six of America’s Classic Road Races: Gate River Run 15K, Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K, Steamboat Classic 4 Mile, Boilermaker 15K and Quad-City Times Bix 7, announced that longtime distance running stalwart and event director Phil Stewart will be the organization’s first Executive Director.
“After my recent retirement as Event Director of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom, I am honored to serve as the PRRO Circuit’s first Executive Director,” said Phil Stewart. “I am excited about the energy and enthusiasm around the six PRRO Circuit events and the recent launch of the PRRO-lific Finisher Program, and I look forward to leading America’s Classic Road Races into the next chapter in its evolution.”
Phil Stewart has an extensive running resume, including Running Times magazine co-founder (1977), Road Race Management Newsletter founder (1982), annual RRM Race Directors’ Meeting & Trade Exhibit organizer (launched 1983), Guide to Prize Money Races and Elite Athletes editor (1983-2006), co-author of Organizing Running Events: The Complete Guide to Staging a Successful Road Race (2008), Credit Union Cherry Blossom event director (1991-2026) and various leadership positions in USATF and RRCA. He also qualified for and competed at the 1976 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.
“With his skill set and vast, decades long experience in the sport, Phil Stewart is the perfect choice as our first Executive Director,” said Don Kardong, PRRO Circuit President. “Together, we look forward to building upon the PRRO Circuit’s momentum.”
A total of 17 event representatives from all six PRRO Circuit events including Event Directors, Elite Athlete Coordinators and Event Board Presidents attended the annual meeting. Other meeting highlights included:
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Don Kardong, a 1976 Olympian, was re-elected as PRRO President for a two-year term. Other officers joining Kardong are Jim Stasaitis of the Boilermaker 15K as Vice President and Michelle Juehring of the Quad-City Times Bix 7 Mile as Secretary-Treasurer.
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Plans were formulated to ramp up promotion of the PRRO-lific Finisher Program which was launched earlier this year.
- The organization reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that elite athletes competing in PRRO Circuit events are subject to drug testing by USADA.
The 50th Gate River Run 15K opens the 2027-28 PRRO Circuit on Saturday, March 6, 2027 in Jacksonville, FL. The Gate River Run will also host the 30th PRRO Championship race on March 4, 2028. The full slate of 2027 PRRO Circuit races can be found HERE.
The PRRO Circuit showcases world class competition at six of America’s Classic Road Races™, the Gate River Run 15K (March) in Jacksonville, FL, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile (April) in Washington, DC, the Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K (May) in Spokane, WA, the Steamboat Classic 4 Mile (June) in Peoria, IL, the Boilermaker 15K (July) in Utica, NY and the Quad-City Times Bix 7 (July) in Davenport, IA. The 2025-26 PRRO Circuit offered more than $440,000 in guaranteed prize money overall with $148,100 for U.S. athletes. The PRRO Circuit, a nationwide series of premier non-marathon road racing events, is organized and promoted by the Professional Road Running Organization (PRRO), an alliance of race directors.
PRRO Championship and Circuit Year
The PRRO Circuit, launched in 1995, starts and finishes the Circuit Year at the same event that will also host the season-ending PRRO Championship race. The reigning titlists of the PRRO Championship, the event winners on the current Circuit and the top 5 in the PRRO points system are eligible to compete for the PRRO Super Bonus at the PRRO Championship.
To-date, PRRO Circuit events have produced 18 world and 24 U.S. road records, awarded more than $9.2 million in prize money and seen more than 2.9 million runners cross their finish lines. In addition, since 1996, the PRRO Championship race has paid out more than $2.3 million, including $234,500 in PRRO Championship bonus money.
Visit PRRO.org for more information, including race schedule, its history, past champions and the recently announced PRRO-lific Finisher Program, as well as how to join the PRRO Circuit.
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