THE BEGINNING OF THE DOUG LOGAN ERA
This month's story was intended to be a continuation of the Historical series pertaining to what is now known as the NIKE INDOOR NATIONALS. However, I've just returned from the 2008 USATF National Convention at which the new President of the organization, DOUG LOGAN was introduced. His inauguration may seem unimportant to you, the high school reader, but think again. He is the person who will chart the course for our sport over the next four years and, perhaps, beyond. So what? You ask. The decisions he makes and the course he charts could have an effect on your future.
For example, assuming you're an Elite athlete have qualified for the USATF Junior Championships, do you have the financial resources to get to the USATF National Junior Championships? This is your only avenue to earn a spot on a team representing your country in international competition. You've had a great season, won everything in sight, met the qualifying standard and want to go. BUT, do you have the money? Can you expect some level of financial support from USATF? You're thinking, sure, they want to send the best team possible and I'm one of the best athletes in the nation.
Look at the rankings; I'm #3-US. So you sit by the phone…and sit…and sit. Why don't you get the call? Well, based upon the past, you'll be disappointed. In the USATF organization, there is a Junior/Developmental Commission (JDC). It's their job to keep an eye out for athletes like you. And they will. But, based upon the budget for this coming year, there is no funding for the JDC.
Hold on! Don't despair just yet. Despite the lack of designated funding for the Developmental/Junior Commission, there are other resources that MAY be available. Both the Men's and Women's T&F Committees have $26,000 budgeted and you might receive funding from either of those. Then there's funding available from their Oversight of Champions budget, some $15,000 each. What are your chances? Not too good, I'm afraid.
USATF is an organization dominated and controlled by the college coaches. There are a few high school coaches that attend the convention but their numbers are so small they don't warrant much consideration. Accordingly, what funds are available usually go to collegiate athletes? But not all of it. Depending upon what international competition is being contested, USATF will expend some funding for Junior athletes. When the scheduled competition is the World Juniors, more funds will be spent; the Pan-American Games receive very little. The World meet is considered far more important than the Pan-Ams hence the discrepancy.
Well, now that I've said all of the above, let me point out, that's the past. Hopefully, those days are over and the importance of nurturing our young Olympians-to-be will become more apparent to those in charge.
Enter DOUG LOGAN. CEO Logan comes from a soccer background where the vast majority of the participants are young. It is hoped he will examine the present situation and suggest some changes be made. Any such changes will be readily endorsed by the Chairman of Men's T&F John Chaplin. For the past several years he has flown from his home in Washington state to serve as the Meet Referee for both national high school competitions, one in Greensboro, NC, the other in Boston. He skips the NCAA championships to do so. Chaplin is one of the most ardent supporters of our sport at the high school level.
Another whose reaction to any changes will be the newly elected President of USATF, Stephanie Hightower. She was in attendance at the 2007 Nike Outdoor Nationals and was suitably impressed. More importantly, she is a former world-class hurdler who missed earning a spot on our Olympic team on a photo-read that is still controversial! It took close to 30 minutes before the decision was rendered that left her in the agonizing fourth-position. Why is this important? Being a former athlete, she understands the utter importance of helping develop the young athlete.
But make no mistake, the major player in all this will be DOUG LOGAN. Thus, his selection to lead USATF will bear heavily upon the future, your future. And I am confident those improvements so vital to the success of our teams headed to the Olympics and World Championships will be made.
Why am I so optimistic? In his State of the Sport message delivered to convention attendees, Logan made reference to "…a sport that is played and enjoyed…by all Americans;" "We celebrate activities that have participants of all ages;" "…that both young and old…" indicating an awareness of the importance of starting with our Youth programs and providing support of those efforts and continuing onward through high school. While Youth athletics has a budget of $22,000, there is nothing for the Junior (19 and under) athlete. I cannot believe this discrepancy will go unnoticed and appropriate funding made available.
Last month I wrote about the greatest Boy's race I've ever seen, William Reed vs. Steve Lewis in the '87 indoor 400m. It will do Logan and his fellows well to remember the following year, 1988, Steve Lewis won Olympic gold in Seoul! They should make note that Deena Kastor competed in the high school championships as did Suzy Favor, Sanya Richards, Angelo Taylor, Lashawn Merritt and countless others. And those who control the destiny of our sport must realize had it not been for this foundation, many of those champions might never have made it to the top of the podium.
Logan's most emphatic statements had to do with the goals of this nation in London in 2012. He stated unequivocally, "Accordingly, we now will announce to the world that we are going to take our "A" game to London in 2012. Our goal: 30 CLEAN MEDALS IN LONDON." Significantly, one of the leading members of his Project 30 task force, Deena Kastor, is a former competitor in NSSF-sponsored championships. Most assuredly, as Logan learns the problems facing him and USATF in achieving "30 CLEAN MEDALS IN LONDON" he will also see the absolute and utter necessity of providing whatever it takes to develop the young men and women, hopefully including you, who will be faced with the challenge of making Logan's dream, 30 CLEAN MEDALS IN LONDON, come true. Of one thing he may rest assured, his, and USATF's chief partner in this noble quest will continue to be, the NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC SPORTS FOUNDATION.
