THE NCCWMA REGION BOASTS THREE (3) OF THE TOP (4) WMA MASTERS ATHLETES OF THE YEAR FOR 2017
USA’s M80 sprinter Bob Lida and USA’s W65 middle-distance runner Kathy Martin, are the top overall 2017 WMA Best Masters Athletes and Mexico’s M65 race walker José Luis López Camarena is the male runner-up. It was Bob Lida’s second time winning the award…he also won the overall award in 2012.
Nine (9) of the twenty-eight (28) awards for event-groups went to NCCWMA athletes, representing Canada, Mexico and the USA. Those winners included Rita Hanscom (USA), William Harvey (USA), Carol LaFayette-Boyd (CAN), Bob Lida (USA), José Luis López Camarena (MEX), Kathy Martin (USA), Paul Osland (CAN) and Jeferson Souza (USA)
In past years the IAAF invited the overall male and female winners accompanied by a person of their choice, i.e., spouse, family member, friend, for an all-expenses paid to Monaco to the annual IAAF Gala where they were acknowledged and given formal recognition for their achievements. When the IAAF GALA was not held in recent years due to internal review and cost-cutting, the WMA flew the top overall winners the WMA championship and acknowledged them there.
NCCWMA President Guillermo Guzman joins the NCCWMA board and athletes in congratulating all the award winners for a job well-done.