USATF Board Of Directors Vote To Replace Bob Hersh On IAAF Council With USATF President Stephanie Hightower
USATF Press Release
December 5, 2014
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.