USA Track & Field President STEPHANIE HIGHTOWER easily won election to the IAAF Council, the worldwide governing body of track and field, during the organization’s annual meeting in Beijing today. Hightower was the top vote-getter among 10 candidates for six seats reserved for women, winning 163 votes after needing 105 to advance past the first round of balloting. Hightower ascended to the international body after a highly controversial domestic nominating process last year. The USATF board in December chose Hightower as the American candidate, going against an overwhelming recommendation of its membership to re-nominate longtime IAAF Senior VP ROBERT HERSH, who had served since '84. At the time, then-USATF Board Vice Chair STEVE MILLER argued the body needed a fresh start because of expected leadership changes, calling Hightower a “new-era person.” Since then, Miller, the former Dir of Global Sports Marketing for Nike, ascended to Chair after Hightower stepped down and became Vice Chair. “Putting these candidates forward was a strategic decision by our board to be a leader rather than a follower in the IAAF’s new era,” Miller said today. “None of these outcomes was guaranteed.” Hightower said she was “humbled and thrilled” to join the council. "I am inspired and excited to embark upon this next phase of service to the sport of athletics and am extremely optimistic about the work the ‘new’ IAAF will undertake in the immediate future,” Hightower said in a release. Other Americans elected to various governance positions include ANNE (TIMMONS) PHILLIPS being named Chair of the IAAF Women’s Committee, MARYANNE DANIEL being selected to serve on the Race Walking Committee, BILL ROE winning a seat on the Cross Country Committee and DAVID KATZ getting re-elected to the Technical Committee. Former LOCOG Chair and Gold Medal-winning runner SEBASTIAN COE was elected IAAF President, succeeding 16-year veteran LAMINE DIACK of Senegal.
