Minutes

USA Track & Field Annual Meeting
December 3 - 7, 2008
Reno, Nevada

Men’s Long Distance Running
General Sessions

Attendees: The following individuals attended one or more of the MLDR sessions: Glenn Latimer (Chair), Philip Greenwald (Treasurer), Mark Winitz (Secretary), Larry Alserda, Norm Brand, Daniel Browne, Alex Chozzo, Tom Cotner, Jeff Darman, Mike Davey, Fred Finke, Jim Garcia, Will Graustein, Gary Grobman, Dennis Groll, Jack Hazen, Barrett Hopper, Thom Hunt, Brian Jones, Creigh Kelley, Bob Larsen, Bob Latham, Jonathan Little, Terrence Mahon, David Martin, Brian Mastel, Ed Moran, Gary Morgan, Ed Neighbour, Frank Newton, Jim Nichols, Brian Olinger, Jim Peterson, Jerry Quiller, George Regan, Mike Scott, Bob Sevene, Scott Simmons, Tomy Sitton, Jared Slinde, Allan Steinfeld, John Tope, Joe Vigil.

Guests: Marlene Atwood, Eric Barron, Blake Boldon, Richard Bolt, Bob Bowman, Don Chapin, Craig Chase, Chris Crowder, Charles DesJardins, Jim Estes, Kevin Hanson, Doris Heritage, Stephanie Hightower, Nancy Hobbs, Dee Jensen, Phil Merca, LeeAnn Meyer, Donnell Mitchell, Joe Monks, Howard Nippert, Stephen Peckiconis, Roy Pirrung, Mickey Piscitelli, Jeff Powers, Mike Sayenko, Tracy Sundlun, Anne Timmons, Ryan Warrenburg, Susan Weeks, Jack Wickens.

SESSION 1 – DECEMBER 4

The meeting was called to order by Chair Glenn Latimer at 3:10 p.m.

The Chair introduced the Men’s Long Distance Running (MLDR) Executive Committee members.

Housekeeping: Secretary Mark Winitz briefly reviewed the criteria for committee membership and voting.

Minutes from 2007: A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes of the MLDR Committee from the 2007 USATF Annual Meeting. There was no discussion. The motion passed.

Agenda: The MLDR agenda for the 2008 USATF Annual Meeting was accepted.

Restructuring: A brief recap of Opening General Sessions actions regarding restructuring was given by the Chair.

Elections Information and Process: The Chair explained the process for electing the MLDR Acting Chair—that according to USATF Bylaws amendments passed in the restructuring package, the MLDR Chair will continue to be elected by the MLDR Committee, however, the elected Chair will serve in an acting capacity, as a nominee until approved by the USATF Board of Directors.

The Chair also explained the process for electing the USATF President (who will continue to be popularly elected by the delegation and will serve on the Board as either the Chair or Vice Chair depending on the decision of the Board), and the LDR Division Chair (who will be selected by the members of the LDR Division and subject to Board approval).

Men’s LDR Acting Chair - Nominations: As required by USATF, a member of the Organizational Services Committee was present to oversee the election for MLDR Chair. The Secretary opened the floor for nominations for MLDR Chair for a two-year term (2009-2010) as specified in the committee’s Operating Procedures. Glenn Latimer was nominated. There were no other nominations. Glenn expressed that he would only serve for a four-year term. The Secretary closed nominations.

The Secretary entertained a motion to amend the term of the MLDR Chair specified in the MLDR Committee’s Operating Procedures to a four-year term. A motion was made and seconded. No further discussion. The motion unanimously passed.

Men’s LDR Acting Chair - Election: A motion was made and seconded to elect Glenn Latimer as MLDR Acting Chair by acclimation. He will serve a four-year term (2009-2012). No further discussion. The motion unanimously passed.

2012 U.S. Olympic Trials-Men’s Marathon: The Chair explained the details and timeline for selecting the site for the Trials and reiterated the athlete qualifying standards. (See the 2008-12-4 MLDR Executive Committee minutes for details.) A discussion regarding the philosophy of qualifying standards followed.

Matters Arising in MLDR Executive Committee: The Chair explained that the Secretary had brought to his, and the Executive Committee’s, attention the need to update the MLDR Operating Procedures, which were last revised in 1998. The Executive Committee agreed and chartered the Secretary to work with the Chair, and other Committee members as necessary, to examine the current procedures, and draft amendments for the Executive Committee’s scrutiny. A timeline was set for the entire MLDR Committee’s approval of the amendments at the 2009 Annual Meeting.

Men’s LDR Awards Report: The Secretary explained that this year’s selection process worked well. An Awards Subcommittee selected a slate of candidates for the annual MLDR awards with input from the Executive Committee, followed by traditional voting for awardees by the entire MLDR Committee prior to the Annual Meeting. The following award winners were announced:

Robert E. Decelle Award (Men’s Long Distance Runner of the Year): Fernando Cabada
Scott Hamilton Award (Contributions at the Association Level): Richard Bolt (Oregon Assoc.)
H. Browning Ross Merit Award (Contributions at the National Level): Bob Sevene
Allan Steinfeld Award (Contributions within a Race Organization): Scott Keenan (Grandma’s Marathon)

Law and Legislation Report: Mark Winitz (MLDR Representative on the Law & Legislation Committee) conducted a short Q&A regarding the restructuring package that was approved by the delegation, and explained the process for selection of the Long Distance Running seat on the new Board of Directors.

Rules Report: Phil Greenwald (MLDR Representative on the Rules Committee) covered suggested changes to competition rules as submitted to the Rules Committee which are of interest to, or pertain to, LDR. The amendments to the controversial “electronic devices/headphones” rule was not discussed, since it was discussed in the LDR Division meeting. The proposed rules amendments that were discussed were acceptable to the committee.

USATF President Candidates - Presentations and Q&A: Each of the candidates for USATF President (Bob Bowman, Stephanie Hightower, and Dee Jensen) gave a short presentation to the committee and answered questions. Each candidate was given five minutes for a presentation and five minutes to answer questions.

Rules Report (Continued): Phil Greenwald (continued above report)

The committee recessed at 5:50 p.m.


SESSION 2 – DECEMBER 6

The MLDR Committee reconvened at 12:05 p.m.

MLDR Championships/USA Road Circuit Report: Bob Latham reported that the 2008 championship circuit was a success. He presented the details of the 2009 championship circuit and beyond.

The following MLDR Championships were approved:

1/18/09 Half Marathon—Aramco Houston Half-Marathon, Houston, TX $29,750
(previously awarded for 2009, 2010, 2011)
3/14/09 15K—Gate River Run, Jacksonville, FL $26,500
5/7/09 Road Mile—Medtronic Twin Cities 1 Mile. Minneapolis, MN, $10,000
5/9/09 25K—Fifth Third River Bank Run, Grand Rapids, MI $10,600
(previously awarded)
7/4/09 10K—Peachtree, Atlanta, GA $30,000
7/25/09 7 Miles—Quad-City Times Bix, Davenport, IA $22,500
9/7/09 20K—Stratton Faxon New Haven 20K, New Haven, CT $20,000
9/20/09 5K—CVS Caremark Downtown 5K, Providence, RI $15,000
10/4/09 10 Miles—Medtronic Twin Cities 10 Mile, Minneapolis, MN $25,000
11/1/09 Marathon—ING New York City Marathon, New York, NY $150,000

Bob reported that the total 2009 USA Road Circuit prize purse ($351,850) is the largest ever.

Nominations for Board of Directors Seat (Long Distance Running): LDR Division Chair Fred Finke requested that the committee consider nominations for the LDR seat on the new Board (to be formed as a result of organizational restructuring). The Chair asked for nominations and the following people were nominated: Julia Emmons, Steve Holman, Frank Shorter, Allan Steinfeld.

International Competitions/U.S. Men’s Team Leader Selection: Fred Finke reported that Creigh Kelley and himself considered candidates for Men’s Team Leader positions for 2009 and 2010 international competitions, and he recommended the following individuals to the committee:

Bob Latham - 2009 International Chiba Ekiden, Chiba. Japan
Glenn Latimer - 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, Birmingham, England
James Li - 2010 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, China

A motion was made and passed to accept these Team Leaders.

Athlete Licensing Program: Fred Finke reported that USATF has decided to allocate funding for an athlete licensing program (which has been in the LDR Division’s Strategic Plan since 2004). The funding will come out of USATF’s Zero Tolerance budget. The program will require all athletes competing for prize money above a specific threshold in the U.S. to possess a license demonstrating that they have passed a WADA/USADA administered drug test, or submit to a test. Race directors of targeted races will have access to a list of license holders. Fred said that there are legal aspects of the program to work out before the targeted start date of the program (January 1, 2010).

Association Athlete Development Program: Brian Jones provided a summary of the USATF AADP program in 2008. Six U.S. national road championships provided AADP support for men. 15 of 23 AADP slots were used, and AADP athletes represented 11 associations.

Rules Report (Continued): Phil Greenwald reported that the Rules Committee had revised rules amendment Item 32 (headphones/electronic devices) to read as follows:

The following shall be considered assistance and not allowed:
The visible possession or use by athletes of video, audio, or communications devices in the competition area. The Games Committee for an LDR event may allow the use of portable listening devices not capable of receiving communication; however those competing in Championships for awards, medals, or prize money may not use such devices.

He also reported proposed rules amendment item 73 (requiring athletes who achieve a national record at event distances recognized by the IAAF for records to submit to a drug test at the end of the event, and pass the test, for record ratification).

A discussion followed regarding these amendments with general agreement of the language by the committee.

Budget/Fiscal: Phil Greenwald (MLDR Treasurer) reported that the proposed MLDR committee budget for FY 2009 was $19,000—the same as for 2008. (This budget item was eventually approved by the general assembly as part of the budget package.)

Mountain, Ultra, and Trail (MUT) Council Report: Richard Bolt (Mountain Running) and Howard Nippert (Ultrarunning) summarized the MUT Championships in 2008 and previewed the 2009 and 2010 championship schedules. The U.S. men’s team won a bronze medal at the 2008 World Mountain Running Trophy race in Switzerland on September 14. USA’s Michael Wardian placed 9th at the 2008 100km IAU World Cup held in Tuscania, Italy on November 8.

Cross Country Report: Mike Scott (Cross Country Council Chair) summarized the 2008 USA Cross Country Championships in San Diego, NACAC championship in Orlando, FL, and the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Great Britain. He previewed the 2009 USA Cross Country Championships (Derwood, MD-February and Lexington, KY-December), the 2009 NACAC Cross Country Championships (Orlando, FL), and 2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championships (Amman, Jordan).

Mike mentioned that he is investigating bringing the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships to the U.S., although it is a challenge finding a host for the event since the cost of production is in the $3.5 to $4 million range.

Sports Medicine and Science Report: David Martin provided a review of the 2008 Olympic Games Marathons in Beijing.

Substance Abuse, Education, and Testing Report: Jim Peterson provided a comprehensive written report touching upon new WADA rules for International Sports Federations, gene “therapy” on the horizon, IAAF testing stats, dangers of “drugs of choice” among endurance athletes, and efforts by coaches as role models, and other topics.

Chair Glenn Latimer adjourned the meeting at 2:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by:
Mark Winitz, Secretary