Nadine O'Connor repeats as USATF masters AOY
Our vaultin-hurdlin-sprintin' friend Nadine O'Connor of Del Mar, California, snagged female Masters Athlete of the Year honors at the USATF annual meeting today in Indy. She was one of a couple dozen masters athletes honored at the awards breakfast (although many winners don't attend). That makes it back-to-back awards for W60 Nadine, who won the same award in 2005. One masters figure who won't be repeating is Phil Byrne, a world-class decathlete who this week announced he's resigning as Masters Awards Committee chairman. He's served for several years. The new awards honcho will be up to new chair Gary Snyder and his Executive Committee. Anyone interested? Contact Gary.
The 2006 list of masters honorees:
Masters Athletes of the Year:
Male: Bill Collins
Female: Nadine O'Connor
Outstanding Single Event Performance
Male: Trent Lane
Female: Nadine O'Connor
Athlete of the Year - Combined Events
Male: Emil Pawlik
Female: Christel Donley
Race Walking Award:
Female: Janet Higby
Male: Ray Sharpe
Masters Administrator of the Year: Suzy Hess
Masters Age Group Athletes-of-the-Year:
(women's track, women's field, men's track, men's field)
30-34: Sanja Friend-Uhl, Antwon Dussett, Nick Petrucci
35-39: Lisa Daley, Laura Barre, Don Drummond, Pat Manson
40-44: Alisa Harvey, Regina Richardson, Aaron Thigpen, Thomas VanZandt
45-49: Leslie Chaplin Swann and Joy Upshaw-Margerum, Oneithea Lewis, Willie Gault and Pete Magill, Bruce McBarnette
50-54: Kathryn Martin, Monica Kendall, Oscar Peyton, Gary Hunter
55-59: Carol Smith-Hanna, Phil Raschker, Bill Collins, Charles Rader
60-64: Nadine O'Connor, Nadine O'Connor, Steve Robbins and Stan Whitley, Tom Gage
65-69: Kathy Bergen, Paul Edens, Ed Burke and Gary Stenlund
70-74: Mary Harada, Christel Donley, Bobby Whilden, Bob Ward
75-79: Edythe Leek, Gloria Krug and Magdalena Kuehne, Jim Stookey, Bud Held
80-84: Pat Peterson, Johnnye Valien, Mel Larsen, Dick Mulkern
85-89: Gerry Davidson, Melanie Reske, John Means, Robert Chase, Ralph Maxwell
90-94: Betty Jarvis, Bob Matteson, Leland McPhie
95+: Trent Lane (men's field)
Comments
Trent Lane is a great athlete and and an inspiration. Congratulations on his award.
Posted by: Tom Fahey | December 2, 2006 8:21 PM
How are the awards for outstanding single event performance judged? Before I start pissing people off, I'd like to say to Trent Lane(2006 winner) and Mel Larson (2005 winner)Congratulations and that this is in no way directed to you gents personally and you both are exceptional athletes..BUT..How does the awards committee not find Stephan Blomquist's Men's 40-44, 2006 shot put toss of 61'11.25" an outstanding single performance? I'd like you to name 2 or three Masters throwers in the Men's 40-44 group from the USA in the last 10-15 years that have thrown over 60 feet. How about last year (2005) when Donald Pellman went gaga on the Men's 90-94, shot put and discus American records and I believe world records as well but I may be wrong, obliterating them both? Hell, you had two performances there to pick from. Is it that these athletes did not compete at Nationals or World meets? If so, then I think that's a big bowl of wrong! I'd like to hear back from folks that know what they're talking about and not just to defending their buddies if they should be on the awards committee or were the winners of the outstanding single event performance these last two years. Look forward to hearing from you ladies and gents...
Posted by: milt girouard | December 3, 2006 12:42 PM
Good points, Milt. I believe performances must be at sanctioned meets, and the individual must be a USATF member. Then, the Awards Committee has to find out about the performance. They'd love for more people to send them input. See the Awards Committee under the USATF Masters Directory online.
Posted by: Jeff Brower | December 5, 2006 2:02 PM