Press Release - USA Track & Field - 12/5/14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                  USATF Board Selects IAAF Candidates

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The USATF board of directors on Friday selected a set of 
candidates to put forward for IAAF elections next summer.

The board selected USATF President and Chair Stephanie Hightower to stand 
as a candidate for IAAF Council. Currently serving on Council from the 
United States is IAAF Senior Vice President Bob Hersh, who has served in 
the IAAF in various capacities since 1984.

The selection of Hightower was made as the IAAF prepares in 2015 to select 
a new president for the first time in 16 years. IAAF President Lamine Diack 
in 2015 will close out his term. He was first elected in 1999.

The USATF board vote came after USATF membership in Friday morning's 
General Closing Session voted to recommend Hersh for the position. USATF 
Article 17 requires a two-thirds vote of the USATF board to reject the 
recommendation of membership for the IAAF Council position.

“We take the vote of our membership very seriously and respect it,” said 
USATF board vice chair Steve Miller, who oversaw board deliberations on the 
matter. “With President Diack leaving the organization, there will be 
significant, structural change at the IAAF – with their leadership, with 
their direction, vision and politics. Stephanie is a new-era person. Bob 
has served the organization well at the IAAF. But this is a different era 
and a different time. We think she provides us with the best chance to move 
forward.”

The board also selected the following candidates to IAAF committee 
candidate positions:

Cross Country – Bill Roe
Women's – Anne Phillips
Race Walking – Maryanne Daniel
Technical – David Katz

All candidates will stand for election to their respective IAAF positions 
during elections this August at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in 
Beijing.

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