Bend, OR - Last week Women's Motocross Association Champion, Jessica Patterson and 3rd place Championship finisher, Tania Satchwell, were honored at the Women's Sport Foundation's 26th Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Dinner, held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, NY, October 18, 2005.Founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization seeking to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. Each October, the Women's Sports Foundation gathers the most decorated female athletes together with celebrities from film and television to celebrate the achievements of women in sports, highlighting the best individual and team performances of the year.
This year marked the first invitation of motocross racers. Jessica Patterson, Sarah Whitmore and Tania Satchwell were asked to participate. Due to prior obligations Whitmore could not make it. Patterson and Satchwell were pampered in the five-star hotel, treated to professional hair and make-up, invited to participate in the athlete luncheon, press conference and the Grand March. Jessica and Tania represented the sport of motocross in interviews by the Associate Press, TV producers from OLN and A&E along with other press representatives.
At the black-tie dinner they had the privilege of participating in the Grand March, which salutes 100 champion athletes of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Among them were Mia Hamm, Brady Chastain, Katrina Witt, Jeanette Lee, Martina Navratilova, Dominique Dawes, Carly Patterson, [Ernestine Petras and Betty Treza (All American Girls Professional Baseball League think the movie "League off Their Own"), X Game's Gold Medalists Tori Allen (climbing), Elissa Steamer (Skateboarding), Cory Coffey (BMX), Sarah Burke (Freeskiing), Mary Osborne (MTV's Surf Girls winner) and several top WNBA players. Presenters included director Penny Marshall, LL Cool J, Soledad O'Brien, Robin Roberts and Star Jones.
The event, presented by Advanta, ESPN and ABC Sports, raised over one million dollars through the help of Gatorade, Moving Comfort a division of Russell Athletic, and the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company.
Champions of the WMA Nationals are expected to participate in the WSF's Annual Salute for years to come.
The WMA is sponsored by Hitachi, Z1R Helmets, Kawasaki, Honda, Scott, Sick Racing, VP Fuels, Thor, Alpinestars, Dunlop, Pro Clean, Mirage Trailers, Ready Racing, Northwest Motorsports, and Champion Beadlock.
For more information on the Women's Sports Foundation visit www.womenssportsfoundation.com.
For more information on the Women's Motocross Association visit www.womensmxassociation.com.
Source: Women's Motocross Association