Thursday marks Craig Masback's one-year anniversary as
USA Track & Field CEO and he discussed his first year in a
Q&A with David Woods of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS.
Masback: "I think the achievement over the last year was
getting some consensus within the organization that, one,
things are not as bad as people think. ... We're the number
one high school sport in terms of participation, there's a
huge running boom going on in this country, and we're far
and away the world's number one track team. If that's a
sport in trouble, then I dare say some other popular sports
are in real danger. Number two, getting a consensus on
change, that we as an organization could and should change.
And finally, it's a cooperation and a partnership with the
athletes." On his biggest failure or disappointment: "The
financial challenges were bigger than I expected upon taking
the job." On marketing the sport: "What there is in the
public is a great interest in professional sports but a
great deal of disillusionment with the players and owners.
The basic premise of the whole marketing plan is that we're
an antidote for that. We ... offer a very refreshing
difference and opportunity for sponsors" (STAR-NEWS, 7/12).