Posted: November 24, 2004

Triathlon: Dan Empfield and Susie Gallucci Resign from USA Triathlon Board of Directors

USA Triathlon Board of Directors News

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 22, 2004) – The USA Triathlon Board of Directors has announced the resignations of two of its members: Dan Empfield and Susie Gallucci.

Empfield of California was a Western Region representative and also served as Board secretary. Gallucci of Colorado was an elite athlete representative and served as Board vice president.

"We would like to thank Dan and Susie for all their service to USA Triathlon," said Board President Brad Davison. "Their passion and dedication will be missed."

Both members will be replaced by the Board in accordance with Article VII of the USAT bylaws. Those can be found on the web site at www.usatriathlon.org/USAT_Bylaws_12_98.pdf. There are normally 11 members on the USA Triathlon Board of Directors.

The two new members will serve until June 30, 2005, when a new Board will be seated following elections.

Board to Support Springman

The Board of Directors has announced that it will support Dr. Sarah Springman, honorary president of the British Triathlon Association, in her bid to become president of the International Triathlon Union (ITU).

Springman, who served as ITU vice president from 1992-96, is running against current president Les McDonald, who has served in that role since 1989. During McDonald's term, triathlon was put on the Olympic program and has been contested in two Games.

"USA Triathlon's Board of Directors appreciates all the leadership that Les McDonald has given triathlon and multi-sport around the world during his ITU presidency," Davison said.

"However, we feel it is time for a change in leadership and support Dr. Springman's ideas and vision for moving the ITU in a new direction."

Springman was a leading elite triathlete for several years and was the European Triathlon Champion in 1988 and European Long Distance Champion in 1985-86. She also took part in five Hawaii Ironman competitions and won 11 British Triathlon Championships between 1984 and 1992.

Springman was a member of the Great Britain and United Kingdom sports councils from 1993-2001 and governor of the International Masters Games Association from 1992-2002. A graduate of Girton College in Cambridge, England, Springman is currently professor of geotechnical engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

The election for the ITU presidency will take place during the ITU Congress on Dec. 4 in Vancouver, Canada.

Election Deadline Extended

The deadline for nominations for the 2005 USA Triathlon Board of Directors election has been extended to Dec. 31, 2004.

Instructions for submitting a nomination are available on the web site at www.usatriathlon.org/fs_newsPC.asp?File=11-11-2004_0.txt.

Minutes Posted

Minutes from the Board of Directors meetings held Sept. 13-15 and Oct. 13 have been posted to the USA Triathlon web site at www.usatriathlon.org/Pages/Board_Minutes.htm.

From: USATriathlon.org.