What a birthday present! On the day she turned 61, Phil Raschker yesterday learned that for the second time in five years, she’s a finalist for the highest honor America bestows on amateur athletes: the AAU Sullivan Award. And this year, fans can take part in the selection. Becky Wesley of the National Senior Games Association writes that you can go to this site “and vote for Philippa Raschker, Track & Field. Also, text additional votes by mobile phone – Text AAUVOTE8 to 44636 (standard carrier text message rates apply).” At age 61, Phil is the oldest contender in history.

Becky continued:

We are excited to announce that NSGA nominated Philippa “Phil” Raschker for the 2007 AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award and once again she has been selected as a finalist. Phil competes in the National Senior Games in Track and Field W60-64 and is the oldest athlete to ever be nominated for this prestigious award. A national voting body consisting of AAU officials, U.S. Olympic Committee members and college sports information directors are among those who vote for the top amateur athlete. Fans can cast their ballot on USA Today’s website and on their mobile phones. Text AAUVOTE8 to 44636
The fan votes count one-third toward the final tally. Voting ends March 10. The announcement of the recipient and award presentation will be held on April 1, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. at the New York Athletic Club.
Attached is a press release and pictures of Phil. Join us in making history and VOTE today! If you know someone on the national voting body, please contact them and ask them to VOTE for Phil! Forward this email to all family and friends and ask them to VOTE too!

In a press release, Becky also writes:

“NSGA is honored to nominate Phil. It is seldom that the nation recognizes a senior athlete in the world of sports,” said Phil Godfrey, NSGA President and CEO. “The AAU has made this possible by selecting Phil as one of their finalists for the prestigious Sullivan Award. Phil was nominated in 2003 and made the top five. This year we want to see her Number One. Many athletes start mellowing with age; not Phil, she continues grinding out performances thought only possible in dreams! She is certainly the most accomplished senior athlete to ever compete in track and field. I believe an
argument can be made that she is the best female athlete of all time at any age.”
Phil’s accomplishments during the past year would be a lifetime achievement for most other athletes: 12 World Records, 31 American Records, 7 National Senior Games Championship gold medals, 10 World Championship gold medals, and 27 gold medals at five U.S. National Championship meets. In accomplishing the aforementioned, she also received the following recognition: Athlete of the Year by Masters Athlete magazine; Atlanta Sports Amateur Athlete of the Year; Female World Masters Athlete of the Year by the World Masters Athletic (WMA) Association / International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF); and Outstanding Athlete at the World Championship Track and Field Meet in Italy where over 9,000 athletes competed by WMA.
NSGA is a multi-sport organizations council member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and serves as the USOC’s official arm to the 50 and over population. The NSGA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles for adults 50 and over through education, fitness and sport. Through its programs, the NSGA assists adults in achieving greater value and quality in their lives by staying healthy, active and fit.
NSGA thanks its corporate sponsors Humana, AstraZeneca, Catholic Healthcare West, Stanford Hospital and Euflexxa. Go to www.nsga.com for more information about NSGA and all its programs.