Finke Appointed To USATF Board Of Directors



Fred Finke has been coaching for nearly four decades, the past 27 of those 37 years at Lyman High School in Seminole County. Finke is more than just a coach. He is an ambassador to the sport. He has been involved with USA Track and Field since 1981 and was an integral part into the launch of flrunners.com and the MileSplit Network. Recently, Finke added another title to his impressive resume, that as member of the USATF Board of Directors. He says it's an honor to be nominated by his peers for that position.

"After the long road and many positions and responsibilities I've had in the USA Track and Field organization it was a great honor."

The selection process didn't happen over night. First, the nominees are put into a pool of three pinalists. Then a nominating committee consisting of five people weigh their decisions for several months and then a final selection is sent to the USATF National Board of Directors for final approval. The board finally decided on Finke as well as Becky Oakes who has served on several governing bodies of sport and noted Olympian Doc Patton. Finke says it's a great group of people to serve with and a group that has their heart in the right place for the sport.

"Basically the board is supposed to bring vision, policy, and direction to the sport to maximize the number of medals at the Olympics and World Championships as well as make running, track and field and fitness a"sport for life". You are dealing with Jackie Joyner Kersee, Stephanie
Hightower, Larry James, Deena Kastor, Willie Banks and five or six other legends of our sport that comprise the Board on a routine basis to help guide the sport.  It is pretty humbling."

Finke has been on the budget and finance committee at the USATF for the past four years and hopes to continue in that role while also serving on the Board of Directors. He is also the Executive VP of Business Development for MileSplit and says that the hope of making track and field the "sport for life" starts with the youth

"You have to bring in the youth and get them involved in the sport. The greatest proponent for youth track and field and distance running in the media right now is MileSplit.  Personally, I have to set aside my own goals and make the goals of the athletes and the organization and its success my number one priority."

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