LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV track & field alumna Amanda Bingson served as a mentor to Austin-area school children through a partnership with the USATF Foundation and Marathon Kids. Bingson and Sam Humphreys spoke to over 1,000 children at five elementary schools during the pilot week of the Run With US! youth program.

Bingson competed for the Scarlet & Gray from 2009-12 and won three straight hammer throw titles from 2010-12. After after her senior campaign she finished second at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials and earned a spot with the Red, White & Blue to compete at the London Olympics. She finished first at the 2013 and '14 US Outdoor Championships, and she owns the American record for the hammer (248-5/75.73m).

Humphreys was the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials champion in the javelin.

At each school, the athletes shared positive messaging about what it means to be a professional track & field athlete. Bingson and Humphreys discussed the time and effort that goes into making your dreams come true and that anything is possible if you work hard enough to achieve your goals. Additionally, the children learned about the athletes' healthy eating habits and how each created goals and their commitment to reaching them. The children were also told stories about determination and resiliency.

After each presentation, Bingson and Humphreys cheered on and ran alongside the children as they completed mileage for their Marathon Kids run clubs.

"Our shared vision to improve the health and well-being of kids through track & field was certainly a catalyst for Run With US! at Marathon Kids," USATF Foundation director Ashley Wright stated. "Using US Olympians and Olympic hopefuls to introduce the program and mentor kids along the way makes running come to life as something more than a way to stay in shape, but also as a story of hard work and commitment, a story of Olympic-sized dreams coming true and a friendly face that kids can look up to in their classroom. Run With US! at Marathon Kids give kids a hard goal, but provides athlete mentors to support them."

Marathon Kids is a nonprofit born out of belief that kids deserve to live happier, healthier lives - and that they have the ability to make that possible. The organization has built a program, community and movement to get kids running.

For more information, please visit USA Track & Field Foundation at www.usatffoundation.org and Marathon Kids at www.marathonkids.org.