The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, the parent organization of the Des Moines Area Sports Commission, announces two young professionals (YPs) on-board to help lead the charge in engaging young professionals and area organizations in the upcoming USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, helping to position Greater Des Moines for future U.S. Olympic Trials.

Katie Martin and Andy Ireland are the dynamic duo chosen as the Track Central USA Champions. The campaign, dubbed the Race for a Track Central USA Champion, was launched May 8 asking for YPs to build their legacy by sharing their plan to make Track Central USA (Greater Des Moines) stand out on national television during the championships.

Martin and Ireland are both Account Executives with Flynn Wright, a Des Moines-based marketing and communications firm. Martin’s background as a college athlete at Drake University and avid runner armed her with the passion and intrigue to respond to the campaign. Ireland, a former KCCI 8 News sports reporter, has covered hundreds of sporting events including various high-caliber track and field events at Drake Stadium over the years.

“We need the community’s passion, and the Race for a Track Central USA Champion has given us a healthy taste,” says Greg Edwards, President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau/Des Moines Area Sports Commission. “We couldn’t be happier to have Katie and Andy on-board.”

The theme of their plan is coined How Big is Your Ring? The idea is centered on a competition for YPs to leverage their ring of networks to better the community’s future; the name also lends to the symbol of the Olympic Games. Don’t consider yourself a YP? Additional events leading up to and during the championships will also engage youth, families and corporations.

 
Want to be a Track Central USA Champion? It’s not too late!

  • To sign up to volunteer at the 2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, visit catchdesmoines.com/usatf.
  • To support the efforts in activating the How Big Is Your Ring concept under Katie and Andy’s guidance, contact Kristine Reeves at kristine@catchdesmoines.com or (515) 699-3445.
  • To do your part to fill the stands at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, purchase tickets at trackcentralusa.com.