ORLANDO — Over 1,000 registrants are set for four days of meetings at the 2021 USATF Annual Meeting held virtually and in-person this weekend in Orlando. Special guest Lord Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics gave a greeting to attendees gearing up for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. He noted that he has never been more optimistic about the future of track and field. “We have some years ahead of us that are really massive opportunities. We, of course, have the World Championships next year, we have the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, and our sport is at center stage in 2024. With Oregon22 and the Olympic Games ‘28 – bookending, in a way, all the next five or six years – this is really an extraordinary opportunity.” Speakers at Opening Session included Pam Fales, John Blackburn, Mitchell Garner, Willie Banks, USATF Board Chair Michael Conley, USATF President Vin Lananna and USATF CEO Max Siegel.
USATF CEO Max Siegel presented the CEO Award to the COVID19 Working Group, stating, “USATF owes a great debt of gratitude to the members of the USATF COVID-19 Working group for their tireless efforts. Due in large part to these incredible doctors, we got back on track with competitions.” The USATF COVID-19 Working Group members are Dr. Monique Burton, MD; Dr. R. Amadeus Mason, MD; Dr. Benjamin Levine, MD; Dr. Jonathon Finnoff, DO; Dr. Leroy Sims, MD; and Dr. Ana Bento, Ph.D. Over the last 21 months, this COVID-19 Working Group has continually advised the organization, first by examining the latest scientific research and CDC guidance, then continually updating our USATF Event Hosting Guidance, our Olympic Trials COVID-19 mitigation plan, and our International Teams travel guidance. Their work continues — and will for the foreseeable future — as USATF continues to safely navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 Humanitarian Award was presented to Olympic Silver medalist Raven Saunders. As a mental health and social justice advocate, Raven used her platform prior to and after the Olympic Games to speak openly about her struggles with mental health to bring awareness to the issues affecting her and “all oppressed people.” Raven is an advocate for social change and gave a respectful sign on the medal stand by crossing her arms above her head noting that “it’s the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet.” She has brought awareness to suicide, depression, and as an openly gay woman, who has contemplated suicide and seen poverty and depression ravage her Black community and others like it, she has brought awareness to these issues.
President Vin Lananna presented this year’s President Awards to the following USATF Members: Laurie Boemker’s career dates back to 2004. She has been a TAC/USATF official since 1983, an NCAA official since 1983, and a high school official since 1980. She has been an outspoken leader for women's track and field for many years and a national and international expert in the world of officiating. Rex Harvey devoted his life to track and field having served as the world masters association vice president, an at-large executive board member and games committee member. He served as masters track and field chair until his death earlier this year. Brooks Johnson served on nearly every committee and held multiple leadership positions in the sport during his over seven decades of service. His commitment to our athletes and our coaches has been unrivaled while throughout the pandemic he organized and was the emcee for a zoom call for coaches around the world focused on increasing the medal count for Team USA. Dave Johnson served as Penn Relays meet director since December 1995, the longest tenure for an event that began in 1895. He has been a mentor to an entire generation of meet directors. He has served sport in many ways as meet director, statistician, influencer, and track and field writer. Greg Mohl is a stalwart leader of the Montana association for decades and has proven to be an invaluable co-chair of the accreditation subcommittee. He is also a high school and youth pole vault coach. Jay Miles is president of the Oregon Association where he leads every initiative that is thrown his way. He led the presidential task force to increase membership and he and his committee did outstanding work. He is also the associations committee vice chair of workshops and technology. Rich Kenah has led the Atlanta Track Club into the modern era. As the president of the local organizing committee for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, he developed successful partnerships with the private and public sector to help USATF and the USOPC conduct a wildly successful event. Mechelle Lewis Freeman was a 2007 Pan American double silver medalist, 2007 World Champion and 2008 USA Olympian. She served as a relay coach this summer in Tokyo and is the first woman to serve in a leadership position in the relays for Team USATF. Barbara Palma has been a leader and tireless mentor furthering women's advancement in our organization during her six decades of service. She leaves a legacy of effective administration of our organization as a coach, meet director, official, and a member of the accreditation of organizational services committees. Latanya Sheffield served as development chair advocating for athletes and coaches for many years. An Olympian in the 400m hurdles, and an Olympic assistant coach, she served on two Olympic staffs, including this past summer in Tokyo. Jacci White serves as the chair of the youth committee. She worked with the national office and the Florida LOC to stage the Junior Olympics last summer. Cliff Wiley served on five U.S. national team staffs in various capacities and also worked with the U.S. Junior national program, serving as head coach for the 2014 U.S. Junior National Team at the Pan American games. The USATF Annual Meeting runs through Sunday, December 5. Follow our #JourneyToGold on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @USATF.