Now in its 11th year, Distance Night in Palatine is proud to announce a title sponsorship with ASICS. The partnership enhances the athlete experience while allowing Distance Night to extend its charitable relationships with Special Olympics Illinois and the Ray Mills Fund at Palatine High School.
The meet will now be called Distance Night in Palatine Presented by ASICS. This sponsorship emerges from a collaboration between ASICS representative Jim Spivey, meet manager Chris Quick, and Dick Pond.
ASICS will donate complimentary singlets to all athletes while also providing signage and an athlete meet up spot on the infield. In addition, all athletes making the fastest section of the Boys 1 Mile and Girls 1 Mile will receive customized gear that reflects the showcase nature of those events.
The ASICS donation of athlete singlets allows meet manager Chris Quick to extend the charitable work that has been central to the event since 2016. Quick says, “The mission to give back to the community has made Distance Night special from the start. Not only can we come together for elite distance racing and a party-like atmosphere, but we can also raise money for worthy charities along the way.”
Since 2016, Distance Night in Palatine has donated more than $35,000 to its associated charities. Special Olympics Illinois has been the primary partner, and the Special Olympics 800 meter race during The Main Event is a yearly highlight of the meet. It is a potent reminder that all athletes can live the Special Olympics credo: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
Beginning in 2024, the meet extended its charitable giving to include the Ray Mills Fund at Palatine High School. The fund is named after a former PHS teacher and counselor who regularly went out of his way to help those in need. This fund helps students with school and project supplies, sports physicals for athletes, nutritious snacks, graduation gown rental fees, and more. Our contributions allow all Palatine High School students to maximize their engagement in the academic, athletic, and social opportunities at the school.