The FWRC Annual Banquet

The 2024 Fort Wayne Running Club Banquet, Fitness Expo, and Annual Meeting and will take place Sunday February 4, 2024 at the Parkview Mirro Center. (No parking charge!) Everyone is welcome. Our Keynote Speaker is highly decorated 2008 and 2012 summer 1500 meter Olympian, Leo Manzano.  

Online registration is closed.  Yet you can register at the banquet beginning at 3 pm at the Parkview Mirro Center.  $37.00. Join us. 

The 2024 Annual Banquet will honor members, volunteers, and outstanding area high school athletes. Join the festivities and meet Leo beginning at 3 pm. 

Thank you sponsors for making the banquet possible:  Fleet Feet, Three Rivers Running Company, and Indiana Physical Therapy

Banquet Schedule:

3:00- 4:00 pm- Welcome/Check In, Fitness Expo, 2023 Points Series Picture Show, Raffle Drawing Sign Up, Runners Social, Leo Manzano Meet/Greet.

4:00-4:45 pm:  Banquet Welcome, Invocation, Dinner, and Annual Meeting

4:45-5:30 pm: Banquet Annual Awards

2023 Annual FWRC Awards:  Points Series Age Group Awards, Ironrunner Awards, Ironstrider Awards, Don Lindley’s Volunteer of the Year Award, Barbie Scrogham Spirit of Running Award, Golden Shoe Award, Extra Mile Award, Joe Ziegler’s Breaking Barriers Award, Presidents Award and Chris Brown Outstanding High School Distance Runners

5:30pm: Leo Manzano's Presentation, Questions/Answers, and Closing Remarks

A  5 km public run/walk with Leo will take place Saturday February 3rd at 10 am at Fleet Feet southwest with check in beginning at 9:00 am. No charge.  Join us. Following the run/walk Leo will offer a store appearance with autographs.

Leonel “Leo” Manzano is a highly decorated track star who has represented the United States on six world championship teams, including two Olympic teams in 2008 and 2012. Leo is best known for completing his races with a strong finishing kick.

Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, at the age of four, Leo and his family immigrated to the United States where he was raised in Granite Shoals, Texas. Leo’s passion and love for running came at an early age and developed throughout high school as he attended Marble Falls High School. Leo won a total of nine Texas 4A state championships in track and cross country with record prep bests of 1:50.48 (800m), 4:06.29 (1600m), and 9:07.18 (3200m).

Upon graduating from high school, the Marble Falls standout took his talents to the University of Texas, Austin. Despite always being the underdog because of his size (5’ 5”, 125 lbs), Leo consistently proved himself on the track, winning a total of five NCAA National Championship titles, earning All American eleven times, and culminating in his senior year with the Men’s Track Athlete of the Year award from the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Three weeks after winning his final collegiate race, Leo went professional and qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Although he placed twelfth in the semi-finals, he used this as fuel to ignite a fire for the remainder of his running career.

His achievements lead up to the 2012 Olympics in London, where Leo won the silver medal in the 1500 meters, becoming the first American to medal in that event since Jim Ryun in 1968.  For more information go to  https://leomanzano.com/  

Come meet and listen to Leo's inspiring story, running experiences, and messages of perseverance. 

To protect yourself and others from spreading or ​contracting an ​illness use appropriate health ​precautions like using hand sanitizer, cover coughs/sneezes, and ​maintain other hygiene ​measures.

For more questions contact Judy Tillapaugh at tillapau@pfw.edu 

Registration Fee Information
Banquet fee is $37 for non FWRC members

$30 until November 1st for FWRC members (Discount applied at checkout)

$33 November 1st - January 1st for FWRC members (Discount applied at checkout)

$37 after January 1st for FWRC members and others

Table fee for a group of 8 people is $32 per person (Total = $256.00)