Our Story

No one has done a better job illuminating the challenges facing the sport today and building resiliency than Russell Dinkins, the Tracksmith Foundation’s Executive Director.

Since 2021, Tracksmith has been supporting Dinkins’ work to save college track and field programs. He continues this work as the leader of the Foundation, creating opportunities for athletes and inspiring broader participation through advocacy and assistance. As the Foundation grows, so too will its reach and ambition.

The Need

Track and field is the most accessible, most diverse, and the most egalitarian sport in the world.

In the US, track is the biggest high school sport. Within the collegiate ranks it is the most diverse non-revenue sport and is a significant provider of academic opportunities for Black student-athletes. It is the least expensive and most meritocratic sport, helping thousands of athletes of all backgrounds find a path to college and careers.  

However, the sport still faces a number of barriers to growth. At the youth level, track and field does not enjoy robust feeder ecosystems, making the sport's future growth comparatively vulnerable. Youth coaches lack resources, training and funding. At the collegiate level, programs across the United States have been threatened with elimination, cutting off pathways not only to further participation in the sport but also eliminating access to higher education.

We believe track and field is a powerful provider of opportunity and a driver of social good. Our mission is to protect and bolster the sport so that it can be used as a vehicle to provide as many athletic and educational pathways to young people as possible.

Coach Support

The Coach Support Program is a collaborative initiative between the Tracksmith Foundation and Tracksmith’s elite athlete program, the Amateur Support Program, that connects youth coaches with the brand’s ASP athletes for event-specific mentorship pairings and learning opportunities.