HOUSTON, Texas -- USATF honored individual constituents and associations as they received recognition at the Annual Awards Breakfast on Saturday held in conjunction with the 2015 USATF Annual Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Houston.
 
Outstanding Athlete of the Year 
Allyson Felix, Women's Sprints
Shannon Rowbury, Women's Distance
Michelle Carter, Women's Throws
Tianna Bartoletta, Women's Jumps
Justin Gatlin, Men's Sprints
Evan Jager, Men's Distance
Joe Kovacs, Men's Throws   
Christian Taylor, Men's Jumps
Tyree Washington, Lifetime Achievement     
Ashton Eaton, Men's Athlete of the Year      
Candace Hill, Youth Athlete of the Year
 
Outstanding Association of the Year     
Recognizes the USATF Association which has distinguished itself during the year with race walking programs - Southwestern Association        
 
Horace Crow, Jr. Award    
Given annually to the Outstanding Field Event Official - Irene Herman   
 
Association Chair Award  
Steve Vaitones (New England)         
Mike Hinz (Inland Northwest)
           
Dr. Joe Vigil Coaches Education Award 
Nate Davis      
 
Ron Buss Service Award* 
Mike Judge
           
Fred Wilt Coaching Education Award     
Jeremy Fischer          
 
Vern Gambetta Award
Shawn Venable
           
Terry Crawford Award*
Wendy Truvillion
           
Kevin McGill Award
John Gartland 
 
Doris Heritage Award        
Steve Vaitones
 
Cross Country Council Award of Merit 
Presented to an organization or individual contributing to the long term success of the sport - USATF Pacific Association
           
Allan Steinfeld Award        
Annually to recognize an individual within a road race organization who has provided
outstanding contributions to enhance MLDR - John Tope
           
H. Browning Ross Merit Award   
Steve Mather
Carolyn Mather           
 
Robert E. DeCelle Jr. Award         
This award was established to honor the outstanding male long distance runner for the previous year. It is named for the late son (who was an avid runner) of the Men's Long Distance Running Committee's secretary at the outset of  TAC/USA, Robert DeCelle, Sr. - Jared Ward, Marathon         
 
Scott Hamilton Memorial Award 
Don Kardong, Inland Northwest Association 
 
Al Oerter Male Thrower of the Year       
Awarded annually to the outstanding male thrower of the year - Joe Kovacs, Shot Put   
 
Glenn Cunningham Award           
Awarded annually to the outstanding male athlete in events of 800 meters and longer, this is named for the legendary middle distance runner of the 30s and 40s who dominated the national and international scene, holding the world mile record along with an Olympic silver in Berlin ('36) and a near-miss fourth in Los Angeles ('32). - Evan Jager, Steeplechase 
 
Harrison Dillard Award      
Awarded annually to the outstanding male athlete in the sprints and hurdles category, this award is named for the Hall of Fame sprinter/hurdler and double 100m/4x100m gold medalist from London (1948), who was also the world record holder in the 110m hurdles at the time. - Justin Gatlin, 100m           
 
Jim Thorpe Award 
Awarded annually to the outstanding male athlete in the field events and decathlon category, this award is named for the legendary "greatest athlete of the first half of the 20th Century" (Associated Press) and the winner of the 1912 Olympic decathlon -- with a performance which would have placed him second in the 1948 Olympics! - Christian Taylor, Triple Jump  
 
John Bennett Award          
Presented to the athlete and individual who best exemplify the qualities of leadership, integrity, and dedication to the support and promotion of the decathlon. The award is named for the former VISA executive who spearheaded the corporation's support for the decathlon in the 1990s. - Ashton Eaton, Decathlon     
 
Roy Griak Distinguished Service Award
Len Krsak       
           
Captain Ron Zinn Memorial Award
Given to the outstanding U.S. race walker to commemorate the achievements of Capt. Ron Zinn, who lost his life in combat during the Vietnam War. A race walker, he was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team in the 1964 Summer Games at Tokyo and his sixth place finish in the 20 km event was considered outstanding for American walkers at that time - Dr. Maria Michta-Coffey;
John Nunn    
 
Henry Laskau Junior Athlete Award      
The Henry Laskau Award is presented to the year's outstanding U.S. junior male and female race walkers.  The award commemorates the achievements of Olympian Henry Laskau as an athlete and a person.  It was first presented in 2000. - Anali Cisneros; Anthony Peters   
 
Outstanding Association Award 
New Jersey   
 
Mike Riban Contributor Award    
Given in memory of longtime supporter and official Mike Riban (Green & Gold AC, Chicago) to the outstanding contributor to the event. - Robert Hickey           
 
RRTC Ted Corbitt Award   
This award is given in honor of Ted Corbitt for Outstanding Achievement in Course Measurement.
Tom McBrayer & Mary Anne McBrayer
Pete Riegel
Sally Nicoll & Wayne Nicoll
Paul Hronjak
 
Dr. C. Harmon Brown Award        
Dr Randy Wilber         
Dr. Leroy Sims           
Elizabeth Mignano                  
 
C.C. Jackson Award          
Two awards are presented each year in memory of C.C. Jackson, who was one of the foremost promoters of women's track and field. He was active on all levels, from local to national, giving great encouragement to athletes and clubs. One award is given to the outstanding woman in running events and one to the outstanding woman in field events - Allyson Felix, 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m;           
Tianna Bartoletta, long jump        
 
Joseph Robichaux Award 
Jacqueline Hansen     
 
Brooks Johnson Development Chair Of The Year      
Thomas Pukstys         
John Green    
 
Rita Somerlot Development Coordinator of the Year 
Skip Stolley     
 
Paul Spangler Award
This award is presented to the outstanding Masters Long Distance Running athlete in the oldest age category - Harriette Thompson; Jerry Johncock
 
Male Para-Athlete of the Year      
Lex Gillette
           
Female Para-Athlete of the Year 
Tatyana McFadden
 
Masters Awards
presented to the outstanding Masters male and female track and field athletes, both for an outstanding year and for achieving the most outstanding single performance in an event in track or field during the year.
 
2015 Overall Masters Athletes of the Year
The Overall Masters Athlete of the Year award was established in 2004 to recognize the outstanding performance by a 40-and-over athlete during the previous twelve months. - Kathy Bergen (W75) and Irene Obera (W82); Anselm Lebourne (M55)
 
David Pain Distinguished Service Award
Jerry Bookin-Weiner
 
Masters LDR Road Runner of the Year
Kathryn Martin; Bernard Lagat
 
Otto Essig Award
Presented for outstanding service to Masters LDR - Paul Carlin; Lloyd Hansen
 
Masters LDR Hall of Fame
Active: Jan Holmquist; Dennis Simonaitis; Doug Goodhue
Legends: Joe Fernandez; Jane Welzel
 
            Masters Track & Field - Age Group Athletes of the Year
           
W30-39
Brandi Bernert (W36)
Debra Cane (W39)
 
W40-49
Sonja Friend-Uhl (W40-49)
Rachel Guest (W40)
Emmanuelle McGowan (W46)
Anne Sluder (W42)
 
W50-59
Lesley Chaplin (W55)
Carol Finsrud (W58)
Vicky Fox (W55)
Sue McCarthy (W51)
Maris Sutera Strange (W50)
Daphne Sluys (W55)
 
W60-69
Linda Cohn (W60)
Rita Hanscom (W60)
Brenda Matthews (W65)
Myrle Mensey (W65)
 
W70-79
Carol Frost (W70)
Mary Robinson (W73)
May Roman (W75)
 
W80+
Christel Donley (W80)
Flo Meiler (W80)
 
M30-39
Antwon Dussett (M39)
Justin Bishop (M34)
Babatunde Ridley (M36)
 
M40-49
Jefferson Souza (M40)
Lee Bridges (M45)
Derek Pye (M45)
Allen Woodard (M45)
 
M50-59
Anthony Bailey (M55)
Wendell Beck (M55)
Brian Hankerson
Lonny Hooker
Bruce McBarnette
Allan Tissenbaum
William Yelverton
 
M60-69
Charles Allie
John Goldhammer
Doug Osland
Oscar Peyton
Tim Muller
 
M70-79
Kenton Brown
Ty Brown
Don Isett
 
M80+
Jerry Donley
John Poche
 
Masters Road Runners of the Year
Presented to the outstanding male and female long distance runners of the year
 
W40-44
Deena Kastor
 
M40-44
Meb Keflezighi
 
W 45-49
Lisa Lucas
 
M45-49
Jerome Vermeulen
 
W50-54
Marissa Sutera Strange
 
M50-54
Mbarak Hussein
 
W55-59
Joan Benoit Samuelson
 
M55-59
Brian Pilcher
 
W60-64
Kathryn Martin
 
M60-64
Tom Bernhard
 
W65-69
Sabra Harvey
 
M65-69
William Dixon
 
M70-74
Jan Fribsy
 
W70-74
Jan Holmquist
 
M75-79
Libby James
 
W75-79
John Ouweleen
 
W80-84
Anne Garrett
 
M80-84
Witold Bialokur
 
W85-89
Ella Jane Custer
 
M85-89
Jerry Johncock
 
W90-94
Harriette Thompson