USATF announces National Track & Field Hall of Fame Finalists

For Immediate Release
Friday, October 2, 2009

Contact:
Tom Surber
USA Track & Field
Media Information Manager
317-713-4690; Tom.Surber@usatf.org


USATF announces National Track & Field Hall of Fame Finalists

INDIANAPOLIS - USA Track & Field on Friday announced the finalists for the "Class of 2009" for the National Track & Field Hall of Fame.

In conjunction with USATF's 2009 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, this year's Hall of Fame Inductions will take place Saturday, December 5, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Starting in 2003 the Hall of Fame Steering Committee and Board of Directors modernized the screening, nomination and voting processes, creating four categories in which individuals may be voted into the Hall of Fame. Those categories are: Modern athletes, retired 5 to 25 years; Veteran athletes, retired more than 25 years; Coaches; and Contributors. Each category has its own selection committee that chooses the finalists from a list of nominees. Members of the selection committees examine the nominations and evaluate their merit based on objective criteria. This year's election will include the three categories seen below.

Elections for Modern and Veteran athletes are held each year. Beginning in 2005, elections for Coaches are held in odd numbered years, with Contributors elections in even numbered years. Hall of Fame inductees, members of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame Board and Committees and members of the media comprise the National Track & Field Hall of Fame electorate.

The 2009 finalists for election to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame are as follows, in alphabetical order:

MODERN ATHLETES

JOETTA CLARK: Four-time Olympian ('88, '92, '96, '00), best finish 7th in 1992 ... five-time World Outdoor Championships team member ('87, '91, '93, '95, '97) best finish 7th in 1997 ...five-time World Indoor Championships team member ('87, '89, '91, '93, '97), bronze medalist & medley relay gold medalist in1993 ... four-time World Cup team member ('85, '89, '92, '94), silver medalist in 1992 ... five-time USA Outdoor champion, five-time USA Indoor champion, two-time NCAA Outdoor champion, three-time NCAA Indoor champion ... ranked top 10 in the world by Track & Field News seven times.

HOLLIS CONWAY: Two-time Olympic medalist in the men's high jump, silver medalist in 1988, bronze in 1992...two-time World Outdoor Championships team member (1991, 1993), bronze medal in 1991...1991 World Indoor champion, 8th in 1993...five-time USA Outdoor champion... four-time USA Indoor champion...1989 NCAA Outdoor champion...1988-'89 NCAA Indoor champion...two-time U.S. Outdoor record setter...three-time U.S. Indoor record setter (one tie)...ranked top ten in the world by Track & Field News six times (#1 twice).

LANCE DEAL: Four-time Olympian (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000), silver medalist in hammer in 1996...four-time World Outdoor Championships team member (1991, 1993, 1995, 1999), best finish 5th in 1995...three-time World Cup team member, 2nd in 1989, 3rd in 1992, 2nd in 1994...nine-time American Outdoor hammer champion...12-time USA Indoor 35-lb. weight throw champion...three-time USA hammer throw record setter (one tie) and current record holder...13-time USA Indoor 35-lb. weight throw record setter and current record holder...ranked top ten in the world by Track & Field News on six occasions (#1 in 1996).

BENITA FITZGERALD-MOSLEY -Olympic 100m hurdles gold medalist in 1984...Two-time Olympic team qualifier (1980, 1984)...1983 World Outdoor Championships finalist...two-time USA Outdoor champion (1983, 1986)...1981 USA Indoor 60m hurdles champion...three-time AIAW/NCAA 100m hurdles champion (1981-1983)...1982 AIAW/NCAA 60m hurdles champion...ranked top ten in the world by Track & Field News on three occasions.

KENNY HARRISON: 1996 Olympic triple jump gold medalist ... three-time World Outdoor Championships team member ('91, '93, '97) and 1991 gold medalist ... four-time USA Outdoor Champion, two-time USA Indoor champion, 1986 NCAA Outdoor champion, 1986 NCAA Indoor long jump champion, 1988 NCAA Indoor triple jump champion ... two-time U.S. triple jump record setter and current record holder, six times ranked top ten in the world by Track & Field News, #1 in 1990 & 1991 ... finished #4 in T&FN's Men's World Athlete of the Year voting in 1990.

STEVE LEWIS: 1988 Olympic 400m gold medalist...1992 Olympic 400m silver medalist...1988 Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist (2nd leg) =world record 2:56.16...1992 Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist (anchor) world record 2:55.74...1990 USA Outdoor 400m champion...1990 NCAA Outdoor 400m champion...seven times ranked top ten in the world by Track & Field News, #2 in 1989 & 1992.
(Keith Conning: American High School, Fremont. UCLA. Won the 1987 State Meet 400 meters.)

ANDRE PHILLIPS: 1988 Olympic 400m hurdles gold medalist...5th at 1983 World Outdoor Championships...1st at 1985 World Cup...1985 USA Outdoor 400m hurdles champion...1981 NCAA Outdoor 400m hurdles champion...world ranked nine times in the top ten at 400m hurdles by Track & Field News, ranked #1 in world in 1985, 1986, 1988 ...world ranked #3 in 110m hurdles in 1985.
(Keith Conning: Silver Creek High School, San Jose. Won the 1977 State Meet 300 hurdles.)

CRAIG VIRGIN: Two-time World Cross Country champion (1980, 1981)...Three-time Olympic team qualifier (1976, 1980, 1984)...2nd in 10,000m at 1979 World Cup...three-time USA 10,000m champion (1978, 1979, 1982)...1980 Olympic Trials 10,000m champion...1975 NCAA Cross Country champion...two-time USA 10,000m record setter...twice ranked #2 in the world at 10,000m, ranked #6 globally in the marathon in 1981 by Track & Field News.

VETERAN ATHLETES

AL BLOZIS: Three-time USA Outdoor shot put champion...three-time USA Indoor shot put champion...three-time NCAA champion...three-time IC4A shot put and discus champion...three-time IC4A Indoor shot put champion...four-time shot put indoor world record setter...world ranked in shot put four times, ranked #1 in world in 1940, 1941, 1942...world ranked in discus throw three times... denied participation in Olympic Games by World War II... Helms Track & Field Hall of Fame inductee.

RALPH CRAIG: 1912 Olympic Games 100m & 200m gold medalist...1911 IC4A 100-yard champion...two-time IC4A 220-yard champion (1910, 1911)...two-time 220y-straight world record setter...world 100m record setter (10 4/5, 1912)...world 200m-turn world record setter (21.7, 1912)...ranked top ten in the world four times (#1 in 1912)...ranked #1 in the world at 200m three times (1909-1912)...Helms Track & Field Hall of Fame inductee.

CLARENCE DeMAR: Bronze medalist in 1924 Olympic marathon...12th at 1912 Olympic marathon... 27th at 1928 Olympic marathon...U.S. marathon champion in 1926, 1927, 1928...10 times ranked top five in the world in marathon over a span from 1910 to 1930, ranked #1 in world three times (1911, 1922, 1930)...Helms Track & Field Hall of Fame inductee.

PAT McDONALD: 1912 Olympic shot put gold medalist...1920 Olympic 56-pound weight throw gold medalist...1912 Olympic shot put (both hands) silver medalist...4th place in shot put at 1920 Olympics...six-time U.S. Outdoor shot put champion...10-time U.S. Outdoor 56-pound weight throw champion...11-time AAU Indoor shot put champion...ranked top ten in the world in shot put each year from 1909-1923, #1 in world 1911, 1912, 1917, 1918, 1921...ranked top ten in the world in hammer throw three times...1952 Helms Track & Field Hall of Fame inductee.

ELEANOR MONTGOMERY: Two-time Olympic women's high jumper (1964, 1968)...six-time USA Outdoor champion...six-time USA Indoor champion...two-time U.S. outdoor record setter...four-time U.S. indoor record setter...world ranked in women's high jump five times, including #2 in 1967.

PAT RYAN: 1920 Olympic hammer throw gold medalist, Olympic silver medalist in 56-pound weight throw in 1920...eight-time USA Outdoor hammer throw champion...two-time USA Indoor 56-pound weight throw champion...his world record set in 1913 lasted 24 years, 39 years as the American record...world ranked 10 times (#1 eight times).

WILLIE STEELE: 1948 Olympic long jump gold medalist...two-time USA Outdoor champion...1948 Olympic Trials champion...two-time NCAA long jump champion... world ranked #1 four times: 1942, 1946, 1947, 1948.
(Keith Conning: Hoover High School, San Diego; San Diego State. He placed second in the 1971 State Meet at San Jose State College.)

RANDY WILLIAMS: Olympic long jump gold medalist in 1972, silver medalist in 1976...qualified for 1980 Olympic Team, but did not compete because of U.S. boycott...USA Outdoor long jump champion in 1973...USA Indoor champion in 1973...NCAA Outdoor champion in 1972...NCAA Indoor champion in 1973...world ranked four times by Track & Field News (#1 in 1972).
(Keith Conning: Edison High School, Fresno. He placed in three California State Meet long jumps: third 1969, second in 1970, and first in 1971.)

COACHES BIOS

CONNIE FORD: Head Coach: New York City Police Athletic League 1949-1985...Team Championships: AAU outdoor 1952; AAU indoor 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953...Individuals Coached: Hall of Famer Mae Faggs (Olympic Games gold 1952 4x100)...Olympians Barbara Brown, Meredith Ellis, Anne Marie Flynn, Mattline Render...Individual Championships: 27 AAU titles by 10 athletes (plus 11 relays)...Positions: Olympic Women's Head Coach 1968; Women's Head Coach Pan-Ams 1963; AAU Women's Committee 1950-1985...Honors: AAU/USATF Joseph Robichaux Women's T&F Award 1975.

Dr. KEN FOREMAN: Head Coach: Seattle Pacific 1950-1957, 1965-1978, 1985-1999; Falcon Track Club (and Founder) 1955-1977; SportsWest T.C. (and Founder) 1977-1998...Team Championships: AAU cross country 1972...Individuals Coached: Hall of Famer Doris Brown Heritage (International Cross Country champion 1967-1971)...Olympians Kelly Blair-LaBounty, Lorna Griffin, Pam Spencer, Sherron Walker...Individual Championships: 14 AAU titles (outdoor, indoor, cross country) by two athletes; 1 AIAW title...Positions: Women's Head Coach Olympics 1980, World Championships 1983, World Cross Country 1967, 1970, 1973; Chair AAU Women's LDR 1968-1974...Honors: AAU/USATF Joseph Robichaux Women's T&F Award 1978.

BOB LARSEN: Co-coach Team USA California (2000-present); Head Coach: UCLA men's track (1985-1999), men's cross country 1979-1989, men's/women's cross country (1992-1993), UCLA men's track assistant coach (1979-1984); Head Coach: Grossmont C.C. (1967-1979), Head Coach Jamul Toads T.C. 1978), Head Coach: Monte Vista HS (Spring Valley, Calif.) 1963-1967. Team Championships NCAA 1987-88 outdoor; AAU 1977 cross country; Individuals coached: Olympic Medalist Meb Keflezighi; Individual Championships: 25 USATF titles by 13 athletes, 20 NCAA titles by 12 athletes; Positions: Men's Distance Coach 2004 Olympics; Asst. Coach 1981 Men's Junior Team. Honors: NCAA Coach of the Year (track-1987, 1988, 1995), (cross country-1980).

BOB TIMMONS: Head Coach: Kansas 1966-1988; East High School (Wichita, Ks) 1956-1964...Team Championships: NCAA outdoor 1970; NCAA indoor 1966, 1969, 1970...Individuals Coached: Hall of Famer Jim Ryun (World Records 880, 1500, Mile)...Olympians Sam Colson, Jan Johnson, Mark Lutz, Terry Porter, Cliff Wiley (1980 team member)...Individual Championships: 20 NCAA titles (outdoor, indoor, cross country) by 11 athletes...Positions: Kansas Relays Meet Director 1965-1988.

BERNY WAGNER: Head Coach: Oregon State 1965-1975, College of San Mateo 1962-1965, San Francisco area high schools 1950-1962...Individuals Coached: Hall of Famer Dick Fosbury (Olympic Games hold 1968 high jump), Olympian Tim Vollmer. . . Individual Champions: 8 NCAA titles by 6 athletes...Positions: Men's Jumps Coach 1976 Olympics, USATF National Coach/Coordinator 1981-1989, Executive Director USTFF 1978-1981. . . Honors: USTFCCCA Hall of Fame 2002, NCAA T&F Coach of the Year 1972...Instrumental in popularizing Fosbury high jump technique through journal articles and clinic.

For more information on the National Track & Field Hall of Fame, visit: www.usatf.org.


About USA Track & Field

USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.

For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org