For the fourth time in his Hall of Fame career, Bill Collins has been named USATF Masters Male Athlete of the Year. (Other years were 1997, 2003 and 2006.) He outpointed 5XWR distance man Sean Wade and 400-meter WR crusher Allen Woodard. Bill’s three indoor WRs and Perth exploits — going from hospital bed to gold-medal stand — made him irresistible to voters on Mary Trotto’s Masters Awards Committee. (Irene Obera is default Women’s AoY.) The panel also listed age-group athletes of the year. And Mary’s Hall of Fame Committee (of which I’m also a member) has chosen for induction sprinter Renee (Henderson) Shepherd in her first year of eligibility and middle-distance great Horace Grant in his last year on the ballot. Also named to the HoF are the late Bill Benson and meet announcer Pete Taylor (as an administrator). Woohoo to all! Many are in Orlando for the annual meeting, and I’m still waiting for results of elections and meet-site selections. Please pipe up if you have the lowdown.

Here are the honorees for 2016:

2016: Jesse Owens Overall Master Athlete of the Year – IRENE OBERA W80
and MTF OUTSTANDING FEMALE Athlete of the year -Irene Obera
2016: MTF OUTSTANDING MALE Athlete of the Year – Bill Collins
Irene and Bill were also nominated for the WMA Award
2016 Age Group Athletes of the Year:
30-39 Men: Bishop, Justin; Melton, Jason
30-39 WOMEN: Edwards, Lisa
40-49 MEN: Cole, Eric; Dussett, Anton; Karnell Vickers; Pye, Derek; Woodard, Allen
40-49 WOMEN: Dendy, LaTrica; Guest, Rachel; McGowan, Emma; Pierce, Erika; Teague, Elizabeth
50-59 MEN: Babits, Paul; Bailey, Anthony; Burton, Brad; McGee, Don; Summay, Landon;
Wade, Sean
50-59 WOMEN: Bellaire, Cheryl; Finsrud, Carol; Jasper, Lorraine; Lewis, Onithea;
Shepherd, Renée; Upshaw, Joy
60-69 MEN: Bernhard, Tom; Fruguglietti, Ralph; Hunter, Gary; Muller, Tim; Torbert, Quenton
60-69 WOMEN: Cohn, Linda; Hanscom, Rita; Harvey, Sabra; Martin, Kathy; Mensey, Myrtle
70-79 MEN: Brown, Ty; Burke, Ed; Harvey, William; Lida, Bob; Montieth, David; Patton, Gary
70-79 WOMEN: Bergen, Kathy; Marriott, Joanne
80+ MEN: Douglass, Dave; Orville, Roger
80+ WOMEN: Daprano, Jean; Klug, Gloria; Roman, Mary
Jeff Davison was selected for the David Pain Distinguished Service to MTF for 2016
Christel Donley has been selected to receive the 2016 Lifetime Award for Athletic Excellence

Here is the official Hall of Fame announcement:

Report to MTF from the
MTF Hall of Fame Committee 2016
Submitted by current Chair: Dr. Mary Trotto
The following athletes/administrated were nominated to the 2015 Class of Inductees to the MTF Hall of Fame:

There were 85 ballots sent out to the Hall of Fame Committee, 52 ballots were returned, the committee again voted electronically via Survey Monkey. 45 voted on line and 7 voted via email. As a result of the voting the following athletes/administrators are recommended to be inducted into the 2016 Class of the Masters Hall of Fame:

Athletes

1. For the Women:
1. Renee (Henderson) Shepherd 2006 to present
Athlete Accomplishments:
AGE GROUP ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012
Renee Set two World Records and 9 American records
World Records:
Currently she holds the following World Records Indoor-60m- W50;
American Records:
Currently She holds the following Indoor American Records: 60m- W40.W45, W50; 200mW40;
W45
Outdoor American Records: 100m-W40 (tied with P.Raschker) 100m. 200m -W45
World Titles: W45 100M-2009; 200M-2009;
National Titles: Renee has won 30 national titles
Indoor 60m: 2007-2016; 200m 2007; 2008; 2010-2012; 2016
400M: 2010, 2016
Outdoor 100m: 2006-2010; 2012,2014; 200m: 2006-2007; 2009;2010;2012
400m 2009; 2012
#1 Ranking: 60m, 100 and 200 W40, W45. W50

For the Men;
Athletes:
1. Bill Benson born 1919- Competed Track 1986 to 2016 died 2016
Athletic Accomplishments:
World Championships- 1989 -M65 10K XC team Gold
1999-M80 10K XC team Silver
National Titles: 800m, Mile, 3000m M75 1998 (I)
800, 1500, 5000m M80 2000 (O)
5000m M85 2004 (O)
Mile M85 2006 (i) Single age record
800, Mile M85 2007 (I)
Special Honors: 2014 Athlete of the Year 95+ and Paul Spangler Award recipient
Fifth Ave Mile – Finished 1st in Age group 11 times, and 4 2nd place.
At 80 new record of 7:56.4
At 90 set record of 11:35.6
#1 Ranking Indoor: Mile,1500 1996;800,1500 1999; 800,Mile 2006; 800, Mile, 1500m 2007;
#1 Ranking Outdoor: 800, 1500, mile, 5000m 2000; Mile 2001; Mile, 5000 2004; Mile 2005; Bill ran road races from 1 mile through 5K and placed 1st in age M65 through M95 (too many races to list all here)

2. Horace Grant DOB 1/15/1953 competed 1998-present (last time on Ballot)
Athletic Accomplihsments:
World Records: current
M60 800m indoor
M55 800m indoor
World Relay Records:
M60 4×800 outdoor
National Masters Outdoor Titles: 2013, 2008 M60 and M55 800m Olathe, Spokane
National Masters Indoor Titles: 2010, 2008 M60 and M55 800m Boston, Landover
M60 silver medalist Outdoor National Champion 800 Meters
Other National performances
2015, M60 Silver Medal 400, 800 Jacksonville,outdoor
2013, M60 Silver Medal 400m (second to HOF Bill Collins) Olathe, outdoor
2011 M55 Silver Medal 400m indoor Albuquerque
2008. 2006 M55 and M50 Silver Medal 800m indoor Boston
2007 M55 Bronze Medal 400m Orono
2005 M50 Bronze Medal 800m indoor Boise
WMA- NCC Regional Championship Titles –
2008 400M, 800M Clermont, FL
Rankings
Ranked #1 Indoor and/or Outdoors in the M55 800 Meters from 2008-2012
Ranked #1 M60 800 Meters in 2015 USA Indoors and #2 Outdoors

Inducted as an Administrator:
Pete Taylor (nominated as administrator- service to Masters T&F)
Pete is the color commentator and announcer for USATF masters Track and Field Championships. Many say he is the voice of Masters Track and Field.
Announcing: Outdoor Nationals: 1998,2001,2001,2004-2012; 2015,2016
Indoor Nationals: 1996-2004; 2006-2016
World Masters Championships: (one of the announcers)
1995-Buffalo, 1996 NCC WMA regionals Eugene
2000- Indoor Kamloops, Canada
Announced at Regional Meets, Southwerst Regionals, Hartshorne
Memorial Mile
In addition to Announcing-
 Pete was the Penn Relay Masters Coordinator 1990’s Currently works with Phil Felton the Masters Coordinator at Penn Relay
 Correspondent for National Masters News – unpaid contributor
Wrote about the Hartshorne Mile and Penn Relays
ï‚· Masters Researcher for press releases to Bob Weiner for Indoor and Outdoor Nationals and World Championships. Helps Bob develop the stats for the press releases sent out to highlight top Master Athletes who will competing at both Nationals and World Championships
ï‚· In 2008, Pete received the David Pain Distinguished Service Award for his many contributions to masters T&F.
ï‚· Honored numerous times by the president of the Mid-Atlantic chapter of USA Track and Field (Peter was president of the Philadelphia Masters Track Association for about 7 years).
ï‚· Since moving to Fairfax, Virginia, in 1993, Peter has received awards from the Potomac Valley Track Club for his assistance with meets offered by that club.