Contact:  Tom Surber
Media Information Manager
USA Track & Field
(505) 245-7827
http://www.usatf.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2000

2000 PRESIDENT'S AWARDS ANNOUNCED IN ALBUQUERQUE

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - USA Track & Field (USATF) on Thursday named the nine recipients of the 2000 President's Awards at its Annual Meeting in Albuquerque.

USATF President Patricia Rico selects the President Award recipients annually, based on their dedication and overall contributions to the sport of track and field. "It is a pleasure dealing with individuals who are passionate about the sport," she said. "My intention, through the President's Award, is to recognize those who have made exemplary contributions in hopes of securing the future of the world's #1 track & field team."

The following is a listing of the 2000 President's Award recipients, their local USATF Association and a short bio:

Dr. Carol Coram (Pacific Northwest) Dr. Coram was presented a President's Award for her long career as a competitor, coach and master level official. He was most recently the coordinator of the long and triple jumps for the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento. A track and field official at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Coram is an IAAF Area Technical Official, and a former assistant coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Dr. Coram is the principal at Hawthorne Elementary School in Seattle.

Mort Diamond (Potomac Valley) Mort Diamond received a President's Award for his career as the President of the Track and Field Association, which conducted the East Coach Invitational for 25 years, and for serving as the President of the Potomac Valley Association of USATF for 6 years. Mort continues to serve the sport as a master certified official where he regularly works meets at local universities including George Mason, the U.S. Naval Academy and at the Penn Relays. Mort is a member of USATF's Annual Meeting Site Committee, and he has also served on USA Track & Field's Youth Committee's Calendar Subcommittee.

Bonnie Edmondson (Connecticut) A member of the women's Development Committee, Bonnie was instrumental in her work with the evolution of the women's hammer throw in helping to make it an Olympic event for the first time in Sydney.

Danny Grimes (Snake River) As chairman of USA Track & Field's Long Distance Running Committee, Grimes is also a member of USATF's Executive Committee. A graduate of Humboldt State University, Grimes competed in the marathon at the 1987 IAAF World Track & Field Championships in Rome.

G. Larry James (New Jersey) The1970 NCAA 440 champ while at Villanova, James also captured NCAA indoor titles in 1968, 1969 and 1970. In addition to setting the world 400-meter record of 44.1 in 1968, James also won the silver medal in the 400 meters, and the gold medal in the 4x400-meter relay at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. The 1970 World University Games champion at 400 meters, Larry is the Chairman of USA Track & Field's Budget and Audit Committee.

Carol McLatchie (Gulf) An outstanding collegiate runner at Kansas State University, McLatchie, later in her career, competed in the 1991 World Cup Marathon. A veteran Masters competitor, McLatchie is the Chairperson of USATF's Women's Long Distance Running Committee, and also a member of the Executive Committee. McLatchie has also served USATF as a member of the National Technical Officials Task Group.

Sandy Pashkin (Metropolitan) An active athlete since 1957, Sandy Pashkin has served track and field in many ways. Pashkin became an official in 1961, the same year that she became the American record holder in the 880. A national Masters champion and record holder in several events, she was also the meet director for the 1986 National Masters Outdoor Championships, and the co-meet director for the 2000 National Scholastic Indoor Championships. Pashkin has also served as a manager for a national junior team, and a USA Masters team at the WAVA Championships. She is the current Chair of the Health and Physical Education Department and Athletic Director for Hunter College Campus Schools in New York City.

C. Rhea Warren: A longtime member of the Florida Association and the Officials Committee, Rhea has provided valuable service to USA Track & Field as the editor and publisher of the organization's officials newsletter.

William Thomson (Mid-Atlantic) Thomson has provided tremendous service to our sport for well over 40 years with the A.A.U. and USA Track & Field. Thomson has served as the Parlimentarian for USATF's Officials Committee and has served for many years as a member of the Officials Executive Committee.

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