RRCA Announces 56th Class of Distance Running Hall of Fame Inductees

February 23, 2026

Rich Kenah, Jared Ward

Falls Church, VA (February 23, 2026) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Founded in 1971, the RRCA Distance Running Hall of Fame inducts American runners that have attained extraordinary levels of achievement in the sport of distance running as either an athlete or a key influencer (an individual that has contributed a considerable amount of their time and knowledge to the betterment of the sport of distance running).

The RRCA is proud to announce its 56^th class of RRCA Distance Running Hall of Fame inductees. These outstanding contributors to our sport will be honored at the RRCA National Running Awards Luncheon and Ceremony on April 11, 2026, in Arlington, VA.

Rich Kenah is a former American middle-distance standout and visionary sports executive who has played a transformative role in the growth of road racing in the United States. A native of Montclair, New Jersey, Kenah emerged as one of the nation’s top 800-meter runners in the 1990s, representing the United States, earning a silver medal at the 1997 World Indoor Championships and competing at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. After retiring from professional running, Kenah transitioned into sports leadership, applying his athletic experience to event management and athlete development, including a stint on the RRCA Board of Directors. Since 2014, Kenah has served as the Executive Director of the Atlanta Track Club, overseeing significant expansion in participation, programming, and community impact. Under his leadership, ATC hosted the 2020 Olympic MarathonTrials and has also elevated the profile of its signature events, including the Peachtree Road Race, the world’s largest 10K, while strengthening youth initiatives and elite athlete development.

Jared Ward is an accomplished American distance runner recognized for his rise from state champion to Olympic marathoner. Born on September 9, 1988, in Layton, Utah, Ward was a three-time state champion at Davis High School in the 1,600 meters, 3,200 meters, and sprint medley relay. He continued his running career at Brigham Young University before transitioning to the marathon, where he quickly emerged as a national contender. Ward finished second at the 2014 U.S. Marathon Championships, signaling his arrival among the nation’s elite. In 2015, he captured titles at the USATF 20 km and 25 km Championships and won the U.S. Marathon Championship in Los Angeles in 2:12:56, earning the USATF Running Circuit title. At the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, Ward placed third to secure a spot on Team USA. He went on to finish sixth at the 2016 Summer Olympics marathon in a personal-best 2:11:30. In 2019, he ran 2:09:25 at the Boston Marathon and was the top American finisher at the New York City Marathon, placing sixth in 2:10:45.

About RRCA: The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is the oldest and largest national association of running organizations, run coaches, and runners dedicated to growing the sport since 1958. The RRCA champions the development of community-based running clubs and events that serve runners of all ages and abilities in pursuit of health and competition. The RRCA’s vision is to Empower Everyone to Run. To learn more, visit: www.RRCA.org