Illinois High School Association Honors Philip Lockwood
Honors abound at state
By STAN MORRIS AND JANE MILLER
of the Journal Star
Posted Nov 08, 2008 @ 10:39 PM
PEORIA -
Philip Lockwood, a fixture at the state cross country meet for more than 25 years, was one of two honorary referees for the 39th annual event at Detweiller Park.
"It's a great honor," said Lockwood, who added Road Runner Road Race Management race director of the year to his resume earlier in the week.
Lockwood is co-founder and president of Peoria-based Mercury Sports, which is responsible for the updated timing system used at the state meet.
The 15-year race director for Steamboat Days in Peoria has been instrumental in providing construction equipment, such as bleachers and towers for athletes, coaches, media and spectators to view the course. He also has volunteered to work crowd control, administration and the finish line throughout the years.
"For me, this is part of what I do," Lockwood said. "Getting awards is the nice thing about it."
Illinois High School Association
IHSA Cross Country Championships 2008 Honorary Referee
Philip Lockwood's involvement with the IHSA Cross Country Championships goes back at least 25 years and the Co-Founder, President and Chief Technology Officer, of Peoria-based Mercury Sports Inc. (dba IPICO Sports) is responsible for many of the amenities that we see at the event. Steadfast on making the state finals a memorable for everyone involved, Lockwood was instrumental in providing construction equipment like bleachers and towers for the athletes, coaches, media and spectators in attendance.
In addition to volunteering to work crowd control, administration and the finish line at the IHSA Cross Country State Finals throughout the years, he has compiled an impressive resume as a Race Director. Lockwood has been involved with the Steamboat Classic for 30 of the race's 35 year existence, including serving as the Race Director during the past 15 years. He has held the same title for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event for the last 18 years after helping create the race in 1986. A longtime member of the Illinois Valley Striders, Lockwood has been actively involved in several other races that include the Illinois Valley Striders Half Marathon & Relay, Bradley University Cross Country Open, Bradley University Cross Country Classic and the NCAA Midwest Regional Cross Country Championships.
Lockwood's contributions to the running community continue to exist personally and professionally, as his IPICO Sports focuses on developing next-generation for active sports and wellness activities. He is also a founding member of the Professional Road Racing Organization and Running USA. He received the Road Race Management Race Director of the Year Award in 2008. He serves on several Central Illinois nonprofit boards including: Bradley University Alumni "B" Club, Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, Illinois Valley Striders, Peoria Area Sports Commission, and the Peoria Memorial Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
