Hired: Josh Rowe
As new Executive Director of the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation, replacing the retiring Jim Spier. Rowe has previously worked at Nike, as head of performance marketing at New Balance, and is Director Of Marketing for Harvard’s Innovation Labs.
Died: Jane Haist, 73
On May 21, in Fort Erie, Ontario; of cancer. An AIAW champion and collegiate record holder in the discus for Tennessee, she also won ’74 Commonwealth gold in the shot and discus. Was 11th in the ’76 Olympic discus.
Died: Gene Johnson, 81
On March 30. The Cal high jumper was the only one ever to clear 7-feet using the Western Roll. He was the NCAA runner-up in ’62 and ’64. In ’63 he won the AAU title and ranked No. 3 in the world that year after being No. 4 in ’62.
Died: Anatoliy Mikhailov, 85
On June 13, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. After not advancing from the heats in ’54 & ’60, he was the bronze medalist in the ’64 Olympic 110H. A 9-time World Ranker, he was No. 2 in ’61 & ’63.
Died: Kenny Moore, 78
On May 04, in Hawaii. A full obit of the Olympic marathoner/journalist appeared in June’s “Last Lap.”
Died: Seppo Nikari, 74
On April 18. In ’73, running in the snow, he broke the World Record for 25,000m with his 1:14:55.6. He World Ranked twice in the marathon, No. 10 in ’71 and 9 in ’72, the year he was 4th at Fukuoka.
Died: Géza Varasdi, 95
On May 4, in Point Lonsdale, Australia. A member of the Hungarian 4×1 team that won bronze in the ’52 Olympics, he also ran in the 100 heats in ’56.