By Citius Mag Staff
November 14, 2024
USA Track and Field announced its end-of-year honors in a press release on Thursday afternoon. All of the winners will be honored at the 2024 USATF Night of Legends on Saturday, December 7 in Orlando, Florida as a part of the USATF Annual Meeting.
Here’s what you need to know:
Jackie Joyner-Kersee Athlete of the Year: Gabby Thomas
Thomas won gold in the 200 meters with a time of 21.83 and contributed to Team USA’s 4x100 and 4x400 relay victories.
Season Highlights: Thomas posted five sub-22 second performances in the 200, including a world-leading 21.78 at the U.S. Olympic Trials. She also earned two gold medals for Team USA at the World Relays in the Bahamas.
Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year: Grant Holloway
This past winter, Holloway lowered his own world record in the 60m hurdles (7.27) and won the World Indoor title in Glasgow. He finally claimed his long-awaited Olympic gold in the 110 hurdles in Paris with a time of 12.99. He recorded his season-best 12.86 at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Holloway also had six sub-13 second performances and four Diamond League wins.
Coach of the Year: Joanna Hayes
Hayes, who was recently appointed the director of UCLA track and field and cross country, coached Rai Benjamin to Olympic gold in the 400 hurdles and 4x400 relay. Before taking the job at her alma mater, she led Jasmine Jones to NCAA success at USC, including an Olympic team spot and NCAA 400 hurdles title. Jones finished fourth at the Paris Olympics.
Youth Athlete of the Year: Quincy Wilson
Wilson, 16, shattered the world U18 record in the 400 meters three times, with a personal best of 44.20, placing him second on the world U20 all-time list. After his sixth place finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials, Wilson was named to the Team USA relay pool for the Olympics. In Paris, he led off the 4x400 relay heats for Team USA to cap a historic season by becoming the youngest-ever U.S. men’s track and field gold medalist.
Other Winners
– 2004 Olympic champion and four-time world champion Dwight Phillips will receive the 2024 USATF Legacy Award.
– Nora Cary and Neringa Jakstiene were named the 2024 USATF Masters Long Distance Running and Track and Field Athletes of the Year.
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Citius Mag Staff
