Let’s Make It Official: Become a Track Official

By Christina Adkins, KTC Secretary and KTC Officials Association Member

I started this series to not only recruit more USATF officials for our KTC Association of
Officials, but to also preserve the memory of our officials and pass on their wisdom.
Each article will highlight my own experience as a new official and share some insight
from veteran officials. My most recent track official meet was the Amateur Athletic Union
(AAU) Track and Field Area 6 meet hosted at Hardin Valley Academy that included
athletes from Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky. This meet acted as the regional
qualifier for the Junior Olympics.

On Friday, rain delayed the event for 3 straight hours. Officials stayed dry in the weight
room that served as the hospitality area for us. Although we knew it’d mean a long day
for us, we pushed through and made sure all of our participants had a great time at our
events. Speaking of the participants, Holy Cow! I’ve never seen so many kids at a meet!
The stands and the walking areas around the track were packed with team tents and
kids. There were hundreds of athletes aged 5 through 18. The little itty biddies had to
hold hands single file with the clerks to the start line and field events, which was
absolutely adorable.

During the track events, course officials lined each lane with cones to make sure the
littles would stay in their lane. You’d think that little kids would struggle with their running
form, but their strides, arm pumps, and leg kicks made them look like micro
professionals! What made it more amazing was that I had a front row seat to the
competition!

It was just amazing to watch. I worked horizontals both days judging the long jump and
score keeping. After having a dozen track meets under my belt, I finally feel comfortable
being a score keeper and running the sheets up to the meet director in the press box.
When I first started, I didn’t know were to write the numbers, what to write, or how to
write. I was asking so many questions that I’d often distract the flagger from doing his
job. What has really helped me grow as a new official is the veterans they place me
with. It’s ok to ask questions because you’re learning. Everyone has a first day.
Everyone started out as a newbie like me. If I have a question about run throughs,
measurements, or when to even mark a score, there is someone who has decades of
experience there to help me along the way. Like I’ve said previously, all of our USATF
officials are helpful, encouraging, and so knowledgeable. These folks know the rule
book like the back of their hands and they do not mind helping to show you the ropes.

For this article, I wanted to highlight an official that was a dear friend and mentor for
many years within our USATF Official Association who recently passed away: Wendy
Williams.

Wendy was a well-known member of the Knoxville Track Club and running community.
At one point, she held close to 40 state road racing records! She currently still holds
about 29 state running records for age 57 and up.

Like most of the officials in our association, Wendy became an official to give back to
the sport of running. She volunteered at local races all over town and was a track official
for several decades. In 2010, she was inducted into the Anderson County Hall of Fame.
In 2016, KTC inducted her into their own Hall of Fame. In 2015, Wendy received the
Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the University of Tennessee to longtime
officials who have worked UT Track and Field meets. She worked the Sea Ray Relays
for over a decade before the event was renamed the Tennessee Track and Field
Invitational. Her events included umpiring and her fellow officials remember her as
always being punctual, dependable, always having a good understanding of the rules.
She was not afraid to raise a yellow flag when she observed a violation of those rules
too. She will be greatly missed by the running community and association of track
officials.

If you’re interested in becoming a track official, you can apply here after becoming a
USATF Track Official member, completing your background screening and Safesport
training. For more information, contact our Official’s Coordinator, Steve Luper.