Among the highlights of the final Generation Session of the 21st Annual Convention of USA Track & Field (USATF) was the acceptance of Long Island Track & Field as the 57th member Association of USATF. USATF is the official governing body for the sports of track & field, long distance running, race walking, and cross country in the United States. The convention was held at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles during the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 4 and the final General Session took place on Saturday morning, Dec. 4.

Long Island was formerly part of the "Metropolitan" association of USATF that also included the five boroughs of New York City, as well as Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties.

The fledgling Long Island Track & Field organization is less than a year old, but in the short period of its existence has conducted the highly successful KeySpan Energy Grand Prix Series that included 21 of the most important road races on Long Island, including the prestigious Great Cow Harbor and Shelter Island 10 Kilometer Runs and the Canon Long Island Marathon/Half Marathon, held a series of six summer all-comers track & field meets at the Mitchel Park Athletic complex, two youth meets, and a weekly series of race walk events. It has also conducted a successful officials clinic that resulted in the certification of 38 new USATF officials on Long Island.

"We are thrilled at the acceptance of LITF as a member association of USATF," stated LITF President Susan Polansky. "With the continued support of local governments in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, the incredible support provided by our good friends at KeySpan and the other corporate supporters of our sport, we can only go up from here for LITF, for our sport, and for all Long Island."

The new LITF Association will formally become a part of USATF on Jan. 1.

LITF has big plans for the year ahead, including its second annual KeySpan Grand Prix of Long Distance running and a winter series of indoor track meets to complement last summer's outdoor series. LITF also plans to emphasize the strengthening of existing Youth Clubs and the promotion of new and additional Youth Clubs on Long Island. "The youngsters are the future of our sport," observed Ms. Polansky, "and working to promote youth programs will be our number one priority." There are also plans to use LITF as a springboard to promote Long Island as a potential site for the Junior Olympics and the Junior National Wheelchair Games.