Posted: June 11, 2005

Athletics: USATF News & Notes: Volume 6, Number 45

Visa takes top award for Olympic sponsorship

Saint Louis University's John Cook School of Business has named the winners of its first annual Bill Veeck Sports Sponsorship Awards.

Visa, AT&T, Nestle Purina Petcare and Hardee's Food Systems are this year's award winners for the most innovative and fan-focused sponsorship relationships in the sports industry.

The overall winner of the 2004 Bill Veeck Sports Sponsorship Award was presented to Visa for its promotion of the 2004 Olympic Summer Games. Visa partnered with the IOC in an integrated marketing campaign that included TV ads, promotions for cardholders and incentives for member financial institutions.

Visa is also currently the title sponsor for USA Track & Field's Visa Championship Series providing more than $1 million in prize money and athlete-support dollars.

The award, named after Hall of Fame baseball owner Bill Veeck who is best known for his unusual promotion of America's favorite pastime.

For more information on the award or winners visit www.billveeckawards.com.

Pilgrim receives Larry Ellis Alumni Award

Jill Pilgrim, USA Track & Field's General Counsel and Director of Business Affairs, has won the 2005 Larry Ellis Alumni Award, given annually to an alumnus/alumna for their distinctive service to track and field and cross country. Pilgrim was presented with the award at Princeton University's Class of 1980 25th Reunion Program last month.

Pilgrim's list of accomplishments include winning the 1977 Ivy League 100m in 11.4h, becoming the first women's track athlete to be a Heptagonal Games (Ivy League Championships) first-team performer and the first black woman in league history in any sport to become first team.

She was also All-Ivy League and All EAIAW performer. Her 55m time of 7.14 seconds ranks second and her 200m time of 24.94 seconds ranks third on Princeton's all-time list.

Pilgrim holds the second fastest times on Princeton's all-time list outdoors for the 100m (11.80) and 200m (24.34).

The award is named in honor and memory of Larry Ellis, Princeton University track coach from 1970-1992 and first African-American head coach of any sport in the Ivy League. Under his guidance Princeton won 19 Heptagonal (Ivy League) titles in his 22 seasons.

Pilgrim has been a member of the USA Track & Field staff since 1998.

Longtime Nashua coach Francis Tate dies

Retired Nashua High (N.H.) track and field coach Francis Tate died early Wednesday, June 8 in Manchester, New Hampshire. He was 94.

Tate graduated from Keene State College in 1934 and began his teaching and coaching career at Portsmouth High School, founding the Clipper Relays invitational meet in the process.

For a man known New England-wide as "Mr. Track," the cumulative numbers are impressive: 13 consecutive winter track state championships and 13 spring titles, including eight consecutive, as well as three New England titles.

In 1981 the track facility at Nashua High - it's now Nashua High South - was christened the Francis G. Tate Track. He was in the first class to be inducted into the Nashua High Hall of Fame in 1991.

Cited numerous times by New Hampshire, New England and national coaches associations, Tate received many awards, among them the Carl Lundholm Award, the Walter Smith Award and the William Loeb Award.