p33

Frank Lulich of Eugene, Oregon, arrived a little late for Thursday's session. He could be excused -- he had just flown in from New Zealand.

p34

Phil Byrne of Massachusetts, a world-champion multi-event specialist, headed the candidate-seeking Nominations Committee.

p35

Suzy Hess, publisher of National Masters News the past several years, ran for re-election as USATF Masters T&F vice chair.

p36

Competition for Hess came from British-born Max Hamlyn, who ran a mile in 4:16 in the days Bannister was active.

p37

Harry Brooks of Amherst, Massachusetts, challenged Mathews for the job of masters chair.

p38

Middle-distance runner Mark Cleary of southern Orange County is the force behind the mighty SoCal Track Club. He was the third candidate for masters chair.

p39

Cleary mostly read from his notes. But he had a lot of ground to cover.

p40

Ken Weinbel and Suzy Hess passed out yellow folders containing information sheets on George Mathews' candidacy for masters chair. Included was a notepad with the slogan: Let George do it, again.

p41

The incumbent chair, Mathews stressed his experience, but admitted that he did some learning -- and changing -- on the job since being elected in 2000.

42_G

Mathews lived a short time in San Diego County, but managed to launch a successful series of throws meet under the Team Thor label.

43_G

Brooks detailed an impressive record of corporate titles and board memberships in Massachusetts. He worked for the Spaulding Athletic Co.

p44

After speeches that tried to stay at 5 minutes each but tended to go over, the three candidates took questions from the floor.

p45

Mathews, Cleary and Brooks got along quite well, and spoke positively about their own skills rather than negatively about their opponents.

p46

Cahners and a USATF Membership Services staffer helped conduct the chair election on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2004.

p47

Pink and yellow slips were handed out, with one being used for the chair election and the other for vice chair balloting.

p48

Suzy Hess and vice chair rival Max Hamlyn smiled for the birdie after Hess won by four votes.

p49

Jerry Bookin-Weiner, a sprinter and meet director in Colorado, helped count the ballots.

p50

No question about who was running.

p51

p52

Rex Harvey of Ohio lent his expertise. He's a technical whiz and vice chairman for stadia of World Masters Athletics.

p53

Harvey recently finished the latest version of the WMA Age-Graded Tables.

p54

Phil Raschker of Georgia congratulates Mathews, who had more votes than his two rivals combined -- thus avoiding a runoff vote.

p55

The new lineup of MT&F leaders: Secretary (and hurdler) Lester Mount of Texas, Treasurer (and vaulter) Joy McDonald, Vice Chair (and thrower) Suzy Hess and Chairman (and hammer guy) George Mathews.

p56

When the election was over, the Internet Cafe (with eight laptops connected to the Internet) were available for posting the news worldwide.

p57

On Friday, the Big Apple squared off against Beantown for the right to host the 2007 USATF National Masters Indoor Championships. New York's Armory center easily beat Boston's Reggie Lewis center.

p58

Bookin-Weiner, Byrne and Fine count the ballots for 2007 indoor nationals. Boston will host the 2006 indoor nationals, however.

p59

Mark Murdock gave a pep talk on the upcoming 2005 masters national indoor meet in Boise, Idaho, which he is directing. He had to apologize, though, for a typo on entry forms saying the superweight throw would be held outdoors.

p60

Boise reps tossed out little dolls to the crowd. Outside the meeting room, a table had packets of candy in the shape of potatoes.

p61

Murdock was one of the least formal presenters at the Friday session. He danced in front of the audience showing off the logo on his shirt.

p62

Mark Zeug, Mr. Aloha himself, promoted the 2005 masters national outdoor meet at Honolulu with his own brand of pineapple humor and cheerleading.