4.23.2003 ET

(CSRwire) BEAVERTON, OR - Students, administrators and community members of Battle Ground, Wash., officially dedicated their newly refurbished running track at Battle Ground High School’s District Stadium today. The renovations were made possible thanks to a $50,000 grant to the school to refurbish its track through Nike’s Bowerman Track Renovation Program, an integral part of the company’s ongoing efforts to increase physical activity among youth through the NikeGO program.

The track at District Stadium was resurfaced with an Atlas Poly-5000 surface containing Nike Grind, a material made with recycled athletic shoes. Battle Ground’s high school, youth and Jr. Olympic track programs all make District Stadium their home.

"Nike is extremely pleased that this renovation will have a positive impact on so many children and teens," said Bob Speltz, Nike's Global Community Affairs Manager. "The Bowerman Track Renovation Program continues to help improve young runners' experiences in the sport of track and field. We believe Bill Bowerman would be proud of this program, named in his honor.”

The Bowerman Track Renovation Program is a tribute to Bill Bowerman’s spirit and lifetime contributions to the sport of running. Bowerman was the University of Oregon track coach from 1949-1972; co-founded Nike; revolutionized the running shoe; turned the college town of Eugene, Oregon, into the running capital of the world; and introduced the U.S. to the importance of jogging and fitness. The Bowerman Track Renovation Program provides matching cash grants to community-based, youth-oriented organizations that seek to refurbish or construct running tracks. Nike will contribute a total of $1 million to the Bowerman Track Renovation Program for the refurbishment or construction or youth-oriented track and field facilities around the world.

Since the program was founded in 1999, Bowerman grants have been awarded to 16 locations: Oregon schools in Bend, Boardman, Canby, Colton, Coos Bay, Culver, Klamath Falls, Rogue River and Stayton, and nationwide recipients in Aptos, California; Culver City, California; Kansas City, Kansas; Talequah, Oklahoma; Freeport, Maine; Battle Ground, Washington; and Willingboro, New Jersey.

NikeGO: To encourage and enable kids to lead healthy, active lives, Nike has begun NikeGO, a grassroots initiative to increase physical activity among youth ages 9-15. To that end, programs include the NikeGO Fund, NikeGO After School program, NikeGO Girls program, Reuse-a-Shoe, Bowerman Track Program and numerous field/court and product donations. Through NikeGO, thousands of youth will be encouraged to discover the joy of movement and physical activity in an effort to help lead healthier lives. For more information please visit www.nikego.com .

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