Gill Athletics and USA Track & Field Announce Contact: McKenze Rogers, USATF, mckenze.rogers@usatf.org

National High School Track Coach of the Year Award Steve Vogelsang, VP, Gill Athletics, info@gillathletics.com

Feb. 22, 2010

CHAMPAIGN-- Gill Athletics and USA Track & Field (USATF) announce a new Gill Athletics National High School Track & Field Coach of the Year Award. This inaugural honor will recognize one high school girls’ program track coach and one high school boys’ program track coach that exemplifies excellence in his/her coaching record and team’s performances, while also exhibiting positive service to his/her team, school and community.

The high schools of each winning coach will receive Gill Athletics track & field equipment valued at $5,000. In addition, the respective Coach of the Year will be hosted at the 2010 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 25-27 in Des Moines, Iowa and featured in the on-field awards presentation. The regional finalist coaches will also receive tickets to the championships and be invited to participate in the awards ceremony.

“Because we are well aware of the investment these coaches put into helping their student athletes improve and grow on and off the field, we could not be more pleased to recognize the most outstanding coaches and their efforts toward being the very best,” said Terry Crawford, USATF Director of Coaching.

Gill Athletics National High School Track & Field Coach of the Year nomination and selection details follow:

The Gill Athletics National High School Track & Field Coach of the Year nomination instructions and forms are available at www.GillCoachoftheYear.com. Coaches, Athletic Directors, school administrators, athletes, booster clubs, parents, and anyone interested may nominate a coach through the online process until May 21, 2010.

Twelve coaches from different parts of the country will qualify as regional finalists and be notified after June 1. The USATF Coaches Advisory Committee will determine from this pool of regional finalists the two Coach of the Year recipients no later than June 15. To see a complete list of regional finalists and winners, go to www.GillCoachoftheYear.com after June 15.

About Gill Athletics

Gill Athletics, founded in 1918, is the world’s oldest and largest manufacturer of Track & Field equipment. Gill implements and equipment are in use on most of America’s collegiate, high school, and junior high school tracks & fields. For more information about Gill Athletics, call 800-637-3090 or visit www.gillathletics.com.

About USA Track & Field

USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, the World's #1 Track & Field Team, the most-watched events at the Olympics, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport, and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States: www.usatf.org.