Donna Palumbo received the Norman Harris Outstanding Achievement Award for her work as race director for the Cotton Row Run, among other efforts, during the Huntsville Track Club banquet earlier this year.
Palumbo, of Huntsville, served six years as race director for the nationally-known Memorial Day event. Cotton Row attracts a strong field of runners for the 10K, and a large field for the 5K and 1-mile events. Now in its 45th year, Palumbo steered the race through challenging times and was lauded as “a truly exceptional individual whose unwavering commitment and leadership have left an indelible mark on the Huntsville Track Club.”
Palumbo was among the honorees at the club’s annual banquet in January at Monte Sano State Park. Eleven awards were presented by club officials to highlight 2023 achievements for service and athletic success.
Other honorees:
RRCA Rod Steele Memorial Award Nominee – Carl Smith: “Carl’s contributions to our club are many. No one person is more relied on to make our events run smoothly and keep everyone happy, especially when they can see their results shortly after they have finished the race (and this includes before the race is completed by everyone).”
Tom Bolt President’s Award – Harold Tinsley: “For over 50 years, Harold has led this club, sometimes from the shadows, sometimes front and center but always with a clear purpose and direction that has kept our club going and moving in the right direction for all these years.”
Admiration Award – Linda Scarvarda: “She is one of the clubs most dedicated volunteers by helping with so many races, doing so many different things, and having served on both the Cotton Row and Marathon committees.”
Dedication Award – Greg and Rebecca Reynolds: “Greg and Rebecca each have paced Rocket City Marathon numerous times, and can always be counted on to volunteer at or participate in events all throughout the year. One of their biggest
contributions has been volunteering for and, for the past 10 years, race directing Autumn Chase.”
Comeback Award – Josh Whitehead: Following a meniscus tear in 2020, Whitehead turned to another love — cycling — as part of rehab. While on a ride in Madison he was struck by a vehicle and sustained a separated shoulder and broken back in three places. He followed rehab orders and by spring 2021 was on the winner’s podium again.
Media Award – Tennessee Valley Outsider: “Not even in the old days, when Jim Oaks and Chris Welch were writing for
the Huntsville Times did we get such regular press. And not even just for the Huntsville Track Club, (TVO) would report on just about all the events in town. From fun runs to the Rocket City Marathon, we would hear about it. A new glory age of writing has returned to Huntsville running community.”
Service Award – Huntsville Sports Commission and Mark Russell: “Every year since 1989 the Huntsville Track Club has recognized an individual or organization for outstanding service contributions to our club and the running community at
large. In general, this award recognizes not just one year of incredible service, but the cumulative effect of many years of contribution.”
Appreciation Award – Marco’s Pizza and Darren Ezzo: If you have run an HTC event over the last few years, you probably had a postrace snack provided by Marco’s Pizza of Huntsville. Let’s face it, we runners love pizza and as long as I can remember, pizza has been one of the favorite meals before and after a runner’s big race. We can thank Darren Ezzo for making this happen in the Huntsville running community.
Outstanding Male Performance Award— Brandon York “exemplifies all that is good in the sport. He is humble, gracious, and never without a friendly smile and encouraging word to others. If he were a female, I might call him Mary Poppins or practically perfect in every way. Instead, I’ll simply call him an amazing runner and incredible person.”
Outstanding Female Performance Award — Kathy Harper: “Fleet of foot is an idiom that means someone who is able to run fast. It is often used in a literary context to describe characters in books or stories who are quick on their feet. This is the perfect description of our next awardee.”
Outstanding HTC High School Cross Country Runners — Anna Pierce: “Her influence extends beyond the track; Anna has been a source of inspiration for our community … Her ability to motivate and encourage others to embrace a similar enthusiasm is truly commendable.”
Outstanding HTC High School Cross Country Runners — Eric Moore: “He is one of the most coachable, and humble athletes I have had the pleasure to coach. He is a team first individual and inspires all those around him.”
Read about each award-winner here.
