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THE ALEXANDER Award Finalists, Race Director of the Year and USA Triathlon Hall of Fame Inductees to be Honored at 2025 USA Triathlon Foundation Celebration of Sport Presented by TicketSocket

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by USA Triathlon

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Triathlon and the USA Triathlon Foundation today announced the three finalists for THE ALEXANDER AWARD, honoring an outstanding women’s NCAA collegiate triathlete for their athletic and academic achievements, and the 2024 USA Triathlon Race Director of the Year, Presented by TicketSocket.  

THE ALEXANDER finalists and Race Director of the Year will be honored, along with the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame Class XIII, at the USA Triathlon Foundation’s “Celebration of Sport” Presented by TicketSocket on Thursday, Aug. 7 at Discovery World in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  

Held in conjunction with the 2025 USA Triathlon Sprint & Olympic Distance National Championships, the USA Triathlon Foundation’s Celebration of Sport celebrates the achievements of the USA Triathlon Foundation, which has provided millions of dollars in grants to organizations and individuals in pursuit of its mission and three philanthropic priorities — Encourage youth participation; Inspire pathways to access and inclusion; and Ignite Olympic/Paralympic dreams. Last year’s Celebration of Sport Presented by TicketSocket raised a record-breaking $215,000 to support youth participation, access and inclusion, and Olympic and Paralympic dreams.  

Attendees of the Celebration of Sport in Milwaukee will have the opportunity to meet Paris 2024 Paralympians Carson Clough, Owen Cravens, Chris Hammer, and Allysa Seely. 

Other special guests include USA Triathlon Hall of Fame members Mark Allen and Bob Babbitt, former elite professional triathlete Alicia Kaye, and USA Triathlon High Performance General Manager Scott Schnitzspahn.  

Tickets to the Foundation Celebration of Sport are available for purchase here.  

THE ALEXANDER Finalists  #

THE ALEXANDER honors an outstanding Women’s Collegiate Triathlete who excels not only on the triathlon race course but also demonstrates exemplary achievements in academics and community service. 

Supported by the TriDave Legacy Trust, THE ALEXANDER is named in honor of longtime and prolific triathlete Dave Alexander, who raced in over 300 triathlons and multisport races all over the world. The TriDave Legacy Trust has been a passionate supporter of the sport, making a historic donation in 2024 to support Women’s Collegiate Triathlon becoming an official NCAA Championship sport. 

The inaugural THE ALEXANDER was awarded to North Central College’s Hailey Poe at the 2024 Foundation Celebration of Sport in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  

A 2025 graduate, Poe won four NCAA Division III individual national titles while competing for the Cardinals. She double-majored in sport management and ethical leadership, and was a four-time Scholar All-American. She served as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President, and a Leadership, Ethics, and Values Fellow, a program that develops skills to help students become leaders to make a difference in the world. 

The three nominees for this year’s THE ALEXANDER display the ideals of perseverance, excellence, and leadership. Schools across the country nominated athletes, and a selection committee identified three finalists who were invited to attend the Foundation Celebration of Sport in Milwaukee. 

This year’s three exceptional finalists are: 

Naomi Ruff, Arizona State University 
A junior double majoring in Accountancy and Marketing with a 4.0 GPA, Ruff is the 2025 NCAA Division I National Champion, a three-time USAT Junior Elite National Champion, and a rising international competitor. She leads her team as co-captain, supports teammates with NIL opportunities, and volunteers extensively in her community. Her long-term goal is to represent Team USA at the LA2028 Olympic Games. 

Natalie Mitchell, Cal Poly Humboldt 
A graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Kinesiology, Mitchell is a four-time NCAA Nationals competitor and West Regional Champion. Off the course, she is a respected mentor, youth triathlon organizer, and upcoming graduate assistant coach. Her research focuses on coaching behaviors and athlete burnout, reflecting her commitment to athlete well-being and performance. 

Grace Huisman, Trine University 

A senior studying Exercise Science on a Pre-PT track with a 4.0 GPA, Huisman is a three-time CTCA All-American and team captain. She leads a beginner swim program at her local YMCA, volunteers at youth triathlons, and is recognized for her humility, positivity, and leadership on and off the course. 

Race Director of the Year: Greg Hawkins  #

USA Triathlon’s Race Director of the Year Award, Presented by TicketSocket, is awarded to a Race Director who has given their time and service to the sport in more ways than one, including exceptional events and community engagement. 

USA Triathlon is proud to name Greg Hawkins as the 2024 Race Director of the Year. Hawkins is the founder and race director of Kinetic Multisports, a leading triathlon series based in the Mid-Atlantic region. 

Since his first race in 1995, Hawkins has dedicated his career to elevating the athlete experience — organizing over 50 annual events and serving more than 200,000 athletes across Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. 

A champion of safety, accessibility, and collegiate racing, Hawkins has played a key role in supporting emerging NCAA Women’s Collegiate Triathlon programs and directed the NCAA Collegiate Triathlon National Championships in Tempe.

Based in Durham, North Carolina, Hawkins’ commitment to athlete education, inclusive practices, and creating vibrant, welcoming race environments has made a lasting impact on the multisport community. 

USA Triathlon Hall of Fame Class XII  #

The USA Triathlon Hall of Fame Class XIII includes multisport legends Paul Martin, Ellen Hart, Kenny Souza, Colleen Cannon, and Graham Fraser — each recognized for their excellence in competition, trailblazing spirit, and dedication to the growth of triathlon in the United States and beyond. 

Colleen Cannon 

Colleen Cannon was one of the top professional triathletes of the 1980s, winning the 1984 Nice World Championship and multiple national titles. A former collegiate swimmer and track athlete at Auburn University, she combined athletic excellence with a passion for wellness. In 1991, she founded Women’s Quest, a retreat program that has empowered thousands of women through active living, body confidence, and nutrition education—extending her influence well beyond sport. 

Graham Fraser 

Graham Fraser has been a driving force in the expansion of triathlon in North America, producing races for over 30 years. He revitalized Ironman Canada in 1995 and went on to launch Ironman North America, creating events like Ironman Lake Placid and Ironman Arizona. Fraser also helped bring triathlon to mainstream audiences through television and later founded Suitcase Charlie Films. His impact extends to hockey as well, serving as the majority owner of the Penticton Vees and former chairman of the BCHL, bridging endurance sport, media, and youth development. 

Ellen Hart 

Ellen Hart began her triathlon career in 2006 and went on to become one of the most decorated age-group athletes in the sport. She has won 18 World Age Group titles across triathlon, duathlon, and aquathlon, and was named USA Triathlon Athlete of the Year twice. Hart dominated the 70.3 scene with six consecutive World Championships from 2008 to 2013 and qualified for the Ironman World Championships 11 years in a row, earning eight podiums. Her standout achievement came in 2015, when she won five World Championships in just 50 days. 

Paul Martin 

Paul Martin is a five-time USA Paratriathlon National Champion, four-time ITU World Champion, and a two-time Paralympic medalist in cycling. After losing his left leg in a 1992 car accident shortly after earning an engineering degree, he turned adversity into opportunity, becoming a dominant force in triathlon and Paralympic sport. Martin completed 10 Ironman races and set the Ironman world record for leg amputees in 2005, finishing in 10:09:17. He’s also the author of two memoirs, One Man’s Leg and Drinking from My Leg, which reflect his journey from foster care to world champion. 

Kenny Souza 

Kenny Souza was a pioneering figure in duathlon, winning eight USA National Duathlon Championships and the 1990 ITU Duathlon World Championship. Known for his charisma and competitive edge, he helped popularize the sport in the 1980s and ’90s and graced covers of Runner’s World and Competitor Magazine. After retiring in 1999, Souza remained active in endurance sports, racing events like the Race Across America and co-authoring a training book. He has continued to mentor athletes and contribute to multisport's growth both on and off the course. 

About USA Triathlon  #

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 3,500 events and races and connects with and supports more than 300,000 unique active members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  

About USA Triathlon Foundation  #

The USA Triathlon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the charitable arm of USA Triathlon. With its mission to transform lives through sport by providing opportunities to swim, bike and run, the Foundation serves to generate a greater impact on the multisport community through charitable giveback and grants that advance the Foundation’s three pillars: (1) Encourage youth participation; (2) Inspire pathways to access and inclusion; and (3) Ignite Olympic/Paralympic dreams. Since the Foundation was established in 2014, it has impacted the lives of thousands by providing grants to organizations and individuals in pursuit of its mission and pillars to create a healthier United States through triathlon. To learn more about the Foundation and get involved, please visit www.usatriathlon.org/foundation.