Club Northwest was founded in 1972 from a number of smaller running clubs in the Seattle area. We began competing in the spring of 1973, and had our first national champions -- Patty Van Wolvelaere in the women's hurdles and Cary Feldmann in the javelin -- that year. CNW sent its first team to the cross country nationals in the fall of 1974, and has been represented every year since then by at least one individual. Don Kardong was the Club's first Olympian, finishing fourth in the marathon in Montreal '76.

Right from the start, CNW was active in staging events in the area. The Club has been instrumental in forming many of the running "staples" in the Seattle area including the Seafair Torchlight Run, the Shore Run, the Seattle Marathon, the Super Jock 'n' Jill Half Marathon, the Terry Fox Run, the Firecracker 5000, the Jingle Bell Run, and Nordstrom's Beat the Bridge. Right from the very first year, CNW has been staging all-comers track & field meets, taking over the series started in 1969 and operating it to this day.

CNW took over a floundering local long distance publication in 1975, and created the award-winning Northwest Runner magazine. For many years, it operated the local Junior Olympics youth program, as well as the old State High School Indoor. It has sent many members as both team and staff on USA international trips.

Club Northwest continues to be heavily involved in the Pacific Northwest running community, and nationally with USA Track & Field. Don Kardong, a former CNW president, was USATF men's long distance running chair for six years in the 1990's. Former president Dr. Dean Ingram was USATF's first national secretary, a post later occupied by current USATF president and Club founder Bill Roe. Life member Kenny Emerick recently retired after nearly 20 years as PNTF youth chair. Many other members have been active on both the local and national scene.

We hope these pages are a good resource for Club Northwest members and non-members a like. Let us know if you'd like to see something added!