Minnesota Elite Athlete Development Program (MEADP)

The Minnesota Elite Athlete Development Program (MEADP) was created by the Minnesota distance running community to provide financial assistance to elite Minnesota distance runners who have completed their academic running career. The program provides grants to assist qualified runners in reaching their fullest potential.

MEADP is funded by contributions from Grandma’s Marathon-Duluth, Inc., Twin Cities Marathon, Inc., Minnesota Distance Running Association (MDRA), and Austin-Jarrow Sports.

Click here to download a MEADP Grant Application.

MEADP Grant Guidelines and Application

MEADP provides grants, in amounts of up to $2,000, to two or more qualified athletes per year.

Grants are given to selected Minnesota athletes engaged in open division long distance running competition. In addition to the above requirement the MEADP committee will focus on the following criteria during the selection process:

• The athlete's current state of athletic accomplishment;
• The athlete's potential for further athletic accomplishment; and
• The extent to which a grant will assist the athlete in reaching his or her full athletic potential.

The selection process is, by its very nature, a subjective one and is based to a large degree on an assessment of the athlete's potential development as a competitve long distance runner. MEADP, in other words, is a development program, not an awards program. An athlete with slower current race performances may be selected if, in the judgement of the MEADP committee, that athlete has a greater potential for improvement and if a grant to that athlete will assist him or her more in reaching that potential.

Submit completed applications to Neil Franz, P.O. Box 307, St. Cloud, MN 56302.