Contact: Jill M. Geer
USATF Director of Communications
In Kansas City: 816-283-4420
Jill.geer@usatf.org
http://www.usatf.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 5, 2002
2002 Annual Meeting officially begins with Opening Session
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – USA Track & Field President Bill Roe officially opened
the 2002 USATF Annual Meeting Thursday morning in Kansas City by honoring
the sport’s top contributors, while CEO Craig Masback recounted the
successes of 2002 and looked to the future. Celebrating a theme of “These
are the Days … To Remember,” the Annual Meeting’s Opening Session was
attended by nearly 800 delegates.
Roe welcomed the delegates to the meeting in his opening remarks. “I declare
open our 24th USA Track & Field Annual Meeting,” he said. “Kansas City has
rolled out the red carpet for USATF to create some special memories for you,
and we thank the city, as well as the Missouri Valley Association, for all
of their hospitality.”
Roe himself rolled out the red carpet for 12 President’s Award winners,
given annually by the current USTAF president to USATF figures who have made
notable contributions to the organization and the sport.
The 2002 President’s Award winners are: Long Distance Running Committee
chair Jerry Crockett; former Officials’ Committee interim chair Finn Hansen;
outgoing Athletes Advisory Committee Chair and two-time Olympian PattiSue
Plummer; new Rules Committee Chair John Blackburn; Masters Committee Chair
George Mathews; Associations Chair Alan Roth; USOC Athlete Representatives
and Olympians Sandra Farmer-Patrick and Andrew Valmon; two-time Olympic gold
medalist and athlete activist Gail Devers; strategic advisor David Morey;
Mountain/Ultra/Trail Committee Chair and World Mountain Running Association
treasurer Nancy Hobbs; and Penn Relays Director and track & field
historian
Dave Johnson.