Collins, del Grande nominated for IAAF masters honors
Bill Collins of Texas and Karla del Grande of Ontario, Canada, are in the running for IAAF Masters Athletes of the Year, according to WMA veep Rex Harvey, who writes: “Suzy Hess, as Chair of USATF MTF, after work by MTF awards committee, submitted Bill Collins to NCCWMA. NCCWMA had the right to nominate one man and one woman to WMA, which they did. (Also nominated was) Karla del Grande, CAN.”
Rex continued:
“Some of the requirements to be nominated included that they had to have competed in WMA Championship (Linz) and/or a Regional Championship meet within the period 4Sep05 and September 2006.
“The athletes also must have set at least one world record and have personal characteristics and demeanour that distinguishes the athlete as a positive ambassador of the WMA image. Both the NCCWMA nominees were accepted by WMA.”
Bill, of course, set M55 world records in the 60 and 200 at Linz world indoors (before setting 100 and 200 record outdoors), and Karla dominated the sprints at Linz as well (including a W50 world record in the 400).
If Karla wins, she’ll be the second Canadian to receive such honors — Earl Fee won last year. This is the third year IAAF has bestowed the award, which generally is good for a trip to some hoity-toity IAAF function.
If Bill wins, he’ll be the first U.S. athlete so recognized.
Bill should win hands down.
BTW, if you’re surprised to learn that Suzy Hess is chair of the USATF Masters T&F Committee, so was I. First heard of this when I opened the current (October) issue of National Masters News, which carried a short report on Page 5 headlined “Mathews Resigns as T&F Masters Chair.”
Although George Mathews’ resignation was reported here back in August, I didn’t know until today that he had moved up his effective date to Sept. 1, 2006 — instead of at the annual meeting in late November.
The USATF Web site reflects the change — listing Suzy as “interim chair” but not George’s resignation — but I haven’t seen an official announcement of George quitting early.
The NMN report concludes: “Interested candidates (for chairman), who must be present at the Masters T&F meetings in Indianapolis, should contact either Masters Secretary Lester Mount or Phil Byrne.”
One Response
Good luck to Bill Collins!!
He is a wonderful person and an exemplary role model for everyone.
GO Bill !!!!
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