Vin Lananna Elected USATF President Following Joyner-Kersee's Withdrawal
Vin Lananna Elected USATF President Following Joyner-Kersee's Withdrawal
Vin Lananna was elected USATF President by acclamation after opposing candidate Jackie Joyner-Kersee withdrew from the USATF presidential election Thursday afternoon.
Vin Lananna was elected USATF President after opposing candidate Jackie Joyner-Kersee withdrew from the USATF presidential election Thursday afternoon.
USA Track & Field announced the news on the governing body's Twitter page two days before the general election was scheduled to take place at the USATF annual meeting in Orlando, Florida.
"I am excited to serve as President of USATF," Lananna wrote on Twitter. "We are so fortunate to have JJK as the iconic figure for our sport. She is a class person."
Lananna is the president of the nonprofit organization TrackTown USA, which has overseen multiple national championships and the 2014 world junior championships. It is also responsible for overseeing the 2021 world outdoor championships in Eugene, Oregon. Lananna has also served as head coach to storied track programs Stanford and Oregon.
Joyner-Kersee is a former long jump and heptathlon champion who earned three Olympic gold medals while competing for Team USA in the 1980s. She has acted as a member of the USATF board of directors since 2012 and founded the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation.
As USATF President, Lananna will oversee the board of directors who will work to set policies and guide the direction of USATF.
"Because of my experiences in both the grassroots of the sport and the business of athletics, I felt compelled to help bring about a shared vision, and, as a result, a more united and stronger USATF," Lananna told Pole Vault Power's Becca Peter on Sunday.
"I want to be a voice for stronger Associations, increased money and opportunities for elite athletes, additional support for our youth and officials, and more resources directed towards all aspects of the membership."
RELATED Interview: USATF Presidential Candidates Vin Lananna, Jackie Joyner-Kersee
To learn more about Lananna's plans as USATF President, visit his campaign page.
USA Track & Field announced the news on the governing body's Twitter page two days before the general election was scheduled to take place at the USATF annual meeting in Orlando, Florida.
UPDATE: @JJoynerKersee has withdrawn from the #USATF Presidential election. #USATF16
— USATF (@usatf) December 1, 2016
UPDATE: @vinlananna is elected #USATF President by acclamation. #USATF16
— USATF (@usatf) December 1, 2016
"I am excited to serve as President of USATF," Lananna wrote on Twitter. "We are so fortunate to have JJK as the iconic figure for our sport. She is a class person."
Lananna is the president of the nonprofit organization TrackTown USA, which has overseen multiple national championships and the 2014 world junior championships. It is also responsible for overseeing the 2021 world outdoor championships in Eugene, Oregon. Lananna has also served as head coach to storied track programs Stanford and Oregon.
Joyner-Kersee is a former long jump and heptathlon champion who earned three Olympic gold medals while competing for Team USA in the 1980s. She has acted as a member of the USATF board of directors since 2012 and founded the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation.
As USATF President, Lananna will oversee the board of directors who will work to set policies and guide the direction of USATF.
"Because of my experiences in both the grassroots of the sport and the business of athletics, I felt compelled to help bring about a shared vision, and, as a result, a more united and stronger USATF," Lananna told Pole Vault Power's Becca Peter on Sunday.
"I want to be a voice for stronger Associations, increased money and opportunities for elite athletes, additional support for our youth and officials, and more resources directed towards all aspects of the membership."
RELATED Interview: USATF Presidential Candidates Vin Lananna, Jackie Joyner-Kersee
To learn more about Lananna's plans as USATF President, visit his campaign page.