For Immediate Release
September 22, 1998

USA TRACK & FIELD-NEW ENGLAND ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT;
VOTING FOR OFFICERS AND SPORTS CHAIRMAN
HIGHLIGHT ANNUAL MEETING

Six officers and nine sport committee chairs were elected to coordinate activities in the sport of track & field and road running at the USA Track & Field-New England (USATF-NE) annual meeting on September 21 at Brandeis University. USA Track & Field-New England is the sanctioning body for track & field, road running, racewalking, and cross country running for the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Dan Hart of Dedham MA was elected President of the association. He succeeds Ron Boemker of Cranston RI who served a maximum two year terms. Active in many aspects of the sport, Hart has served as Cross Country chairman on USATF-NE's executive board for the past 5 years. In that time, he was course director for the 1997 NCAA Division III National and 1995 USA National Cross Country Championships, and started the regional grand prix series for post-collegiate runners. He also serves on the executive board of the Mass. Track & Field Officials Association, and is on the Jury of Appeals for the Boston Marathon. He is also a regular participant in regional running events. Hart and the other elected officers will coordinate sport activities for the association for a two year term. Marja Bakker (Medford MA), Courtney Bird (Falmouth MA), and Kathy Nary (Newbury MA) were elected as vice presidents, all having previously served in board positions. Besty Harshbarger of Cambridge was re-elected secretary and Jim O'Brien of Dorchester was elected as treasurer.

Nine Sport Committee Chairs were elected to one year positions. Their responsibilities include scheduling of championship events, compiling event calendars, promoting events, and establishing development programs to increase participation and quality of the sport within the four state region.

Three new sport chairman will sit on this year's board. Ken Robichaud of Leominster MA takes over duties as men's Road Running Chairman. An officer in the North Medford Club, Robichaud is the race director for, among other events, the 1000+ runner Lake Winnipesaukee Relay race. Overseeing activities for masters (age 40+) track and field is Roger Pierce of Essex MA, a national caliber sprinter in the age 50+ catagory. Dedham's John Finn, running promotions coordinator for New Balance and a former Mass. State cross country champion will now chair cross country running actvities.

Re-elected to their chair positions were Ron Boemker (Cranston RI / Youth Athletics), Mimi Corcoran (Mendon MA/ Women's Road Running), Dave Dunham (Bradford MA / Mountain Runnng), Richard Hart (Norwood MA/ Track & Field) Justin Kuo (Brookline MA/ Racewalking), and Rob O'Hara (Boston MA / Masters Road Running). Two athlete representatives were also elected to serve with the sport chairs on the USATF-NE Board of Governors for the coming year, acting as liasons for athletes and event directors, and working on development projects. Both athletes are first time board members; Tom Petranoff of Cranston RI, former World Record holder and Olympic medalist in the javelin, is ranked #3 in the US in the javelin for 1998, and Joanna Veltri of Harvard MA, a middle distance runner who placed third in this year's New England 5K road race championship, will also be representing New England at this year's USATF National convention in December.

The elected individuals, with their home towns and club affilliations: Officers:

President:          Dan Hart            Dedham MA / HFC Striders
Vice Presidents     Marja Bakker        Medford MA / B.A.A.
                    Courtney Bird*      Falmouth MA / Falmouth Track Club
                    Kathy Nary          Newbury MA / Liberty AC
Secretary           Betsy Harshbarger*  Cambridge MA / Liberty AC
Treasurer           Jim O'Brien         Dorchester MA / Greater Boston TC
Sports Chairs
Road Running - Men      Ken Robichaud   Leominster MA / North Medford Club
Road Running - Women    Mimi Corcoran * Mendon MA / Central Mass. Striders
Road Running - Masters  Rob O'Hara *    Jamaica Plain MA/ Tri Valley FrontRunners
Track & Field           Richard Hart *  Norwood MA / U. Mass. Boston
Track & Field - Masters Roger Pierce    Essex MA / Boston Running Club
Youth Athletics         Ron Boemker *   Cranston RI / Thunderbolt TC
Cross Country           John Finn       Dedham MA / New Balance
Mountain/Trail Running  Dave Dunham *   Bradford MA / Cent'l MA Striders
Racewalking             Justin Kuo *    Brookline MA / NE Walkers
Athlete Representatives Tom Petranoff   Cranston RI / M-F Athletic
                        Joanna Veltri   Harvard MA / Gr Boston TC
* indicates re-elected

The USATF New England operates a full time office in Brookline Mass. For further information on sport programs in the region, contact the USATF-NE office at (617) 566-7600 or by email at usatfne@ix.netcom.com

USA Track & Field - New England
usatfne@ix.netcom.com
P.O. Box 1905
Brookline, MA 02446-1905
United States

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This page was last updated October 15, 1998.
Corrections? Contact Justin Kuo (617-731-9889)