Get To Know The Life Of Renie Amoss And The Renie Race

The Renie Race is named after Corene "Renie" Amoss and if you look at the Goucher record books her name is firmly at the top for both basketball and field hockey. She was the top scorer in Maryland history in basketball when she graduated. She was also a great student, posting a 3.7 grade-point average as an economics major to gain Academic All-American recognition for field hockey, women's basketball and women's tennis. She was also named the 1993 NCAA Women Athlete of the Year for the state of Maryland. Her life tragically ended in an auto accident on May 27, 1993 shortly after graduation and the Renie Race was born in the fall of 1993. The money raised through the race is given to Goucher students and to date the fund has produced 71 recipients, including current Baltimore County executive John Olszewski.

The "Cliff Notes" on Renie and the race in the paragraph above probably don't do either justice as there is so much more to this story.

Renie was the fourth child of George and Elaine Amoss, whose relationship goes all the way back to grade school. In fact, Renie's birth name of Corene was given to her because both of her parents had a first grade teacher named Sister Corene.

This race and Renie's unbreakable records at Goucher might not have even been possible if it was not for Elaine not being accepted into Goucher when she was applying to colleges. When Renie was looking at colleges she heard the story that Goucher rejected her mother so she with a "Barney from "How I Met Your Mother mentality", said "Challenge accepted, I'm applying to Goucher." Fortunately Goucher met all the criteria that she was looking for: good academics, the opportunity to play multiple sports and remain relatively close to her family in Pennsylvania.

Field hockey and women's basketball came naturally to Renie, but she also joined the women's tennis team. Elaine says that Renie was scared of tennis because her older brother was so much better and would "trounce Renie". But Renie still joined the Goucher tennis team for fun and "something to do in the spring" according to Sally Baum, the women's tennis coach at the time and one of the main organizers of the race. Renie was lower on the ladder as a  player in her freshman year but was the No. 2 player on the team by her senior year. She was never a heavy, big hitter but learned to use her skills to her advantage and even played a two-hour match against a top 5 player in the country even though she lost 6-1, 6-2.

As talented as she was as an athlete Renie was also a wonderful human being off the court. Her parents will tell you that she wrote essays about helping people or about her family, which was very important to her. Her family is still very close with each of the siblings living close to George and Elaine.

Her parents admit that in the beginning the race was a somber event, but in the years since it has become a celebration of both Renie's life and the accomplishments of the prize recipients. The race originally tried to get competitive runners in the area, but over the years it has transformed into more of a family and community event to celebrate Renie's life and the current students who are receiving the prizes from the Amoss Fund.

George and Elaine remain connected to Goucher College through the race and are thankful for all of the support from Goucher and the athletic department. In fact, Goucher might want to hire Elaine in the admissions office because she is always telling people and prospective students how great the college is and that they should seriously think about becoming a Gopher!

This race epitomizes Goucher because it is about family, community and giving. Even if you do not want to walk or run in this year, you can still sign up and donate to the overall Amoss Fund. Donations help to change  Goucher students' lives through these Amoss Fund prizes.

The race has been dubbed "The Best of Goucher." Renie was "The Best of Goucher" when she was a student and through her memory this race, the scholarship fund and the prize recipients continue her amazing legacy.

VIDEO: George and Elaine Amoss talk about Corene "Renie" Amoss

VIDEO: George and Elaine Amoss talk about the Renie Race