12/12/2002
Kansas City, Kan. ? Georgetown University associate head coach Andrew Valmon was honored at the USA Track & Field (USATF) Annual Meeting held in Kansas City on Thursday, December 5. USATF President Bill Roe rolled out the red carpet for 12 President?s Award winners, given annually to USATF figures that have made notable contributions to the organization and the sport of track & field, with Valmon among the honorees.
The 2002 President?s Award are: Long Distance Running Committee Chair Jerry Crockett, former Officials? Committee interim chair Finn Hansen; outgoing Athletes Advisory Committee Chair and two-time Olympian Patti Sue Plummer; new Rules Committee Chair John Blackburn; Maters Committee Chair George Matthews; Associations Chair Alan Roth; USAC Athlete Representative and Olympians Sandra Farmer-Patrick and Valmon; two-time Olympic gold medallist and athlete activist Gail Devers; strategic advisor David Morey; ; Maintain/Ultra/Trail Committee Chair and World Mountain Runner Association treasurer Nancy Hobbs; and Penn Relays Director and track & field historian Dave Johnson.
After a stellar career at Seton Hall University, Valmon earned a spot on 13 U.S. National Teams. He won gold medals at the 1990 Goodwill Games, the 1993 World Championships and the 1994 Goodwill games. His team?s 1993 World Championship time of 2:54.20 established a new world record. The highlight of his professional career was winning Olympic gold medals at the 1988 and 1992 Games in the 4x400-meter relay. He was also a semi-finalist at the 1996 Olympic Trials; however, injuries prevented a change for a third gold medal.
Valmon joined the Georgetown Athletics Department in 1997. He works primarily with the sprinters, half-milers and jumpers. Since his arrival on the Hilltop, Valmon has helped lead the men?s track & field team to back-to-back indoor and outdoor championship titles, as well as the school?s first IC4A outdoor Championship in 1998. In 1999, the team repeated its success, winning the BIG EAST Indoor title as well as the IC4A Indoor and Outdoor Championship. The 2001 season saw the Hoya men win the BIG EAST Indoor and Outdoor titles as well as the IC4A Outdoor Championship. The 2002 season brought another IC4A Indoor crown. In recognition of his numerous accomplishments, Valmon has been recognized on the regional level with the USA Coaching Association?s Coach of the Year Award.
From 1998-2000, Valmon served as chair of the Athletes Advisory Committee (AAC) for USATF. He was elected by the USATF AAC to be their representative to the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) in 2000. Valmon is also involved with the USOC Summit Program in which Olympic gold medallists help prepare athletes to achieve at their highest level at the next Olympic Games. In addition, he is the founder of the Avenue Program, a youth enrichment program that organizes track & field clinics and donates equipment to children.
