INDIANAPOLIS – World champion decathlete Tom Pappas and long distance runner extraordinaire Deena Drossin Kastor on Monday were named recipients of the 2003 Jesse Owens Awards by USA Track & Field.
Established in 1981, The Jesse Owens Award is USA Track & Field's highest accolade, presented annually to the outstanding U.S. male and female track and field performers. The 2002 Jesse Owens Awards will be presented December 5 at the Jesse Owens Awards Dinner and Xerox Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held at USA Track & Field's 2003 Annual Meeting in Greensboro, N.C.
With his gold-medal performances in the decathlon at the World Outdoor Championships and the heptathlon at World Indoors, as well as a #1 world ranking from the IAAF, Pappas had the most successful season by a U.S. decathlete in a decade and established himself as one of the greatest decathletes in U.S. history.
Pappas began his year with an upset win in the heptathlon at the World Indoor Championships, where he totaled 6,361 points to defeat decathlon world record holder Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic and became the first American since Dan O’Brien in 1993 to win World Indoors. When Pappas and Sebrle next met at Gotzis on June 1, Pappas posted a personal-best in the decathlon with 8,585 points, placing behind Sebrle’s 8,807. But Gotzis turned out to be Pappas’ warm-up act. His total of 8,784 points at the USA Outdoor Championships earned him his third U.S. title, a new personal best, and made him the #2 American of all-time, trailing only former world record holder O’Brien. He then accomplished what no American since O’Brien in 1995 had done, winning the gold medal in the decathlon at the World Outdoor Championships. Pappas’ total of 8,750 again relegated world record holder and defending champion Sebrle to second place (8,634).
In 2003, Drossin Kastor continued her dominance as America’s finest long-distance runner by breaking the American record for the marathon with her third-place time of 2:21:16 at the Flora London Marathon March 13. Her time broke the previous mark of 2:21:21 set by Joan Benoit Samuelson in 1984, and was one of many highlights for Drossin Kastor in 2003.
Drossin Kastor won her second consecutive silver medal in the long-course race (8 km) at the World Cross Country Championships March 29 while leading Team USA to the team bronze in Switzerland, a performance that came after she won her sixth career U.S. 8 km cross county title. On March 8, Drossin Kastor won her fourth consecutive U.S. 15 km road title, bettering her own American record in 47:15 – nearly a minute better than her previous record of 48:12. Drossin Kastor’s spring successes carried over to the summer as she ran the fastest times by an American on the track at 3,000m (8:48.66), 5,000m (15:08.14) and 10,000m (31:17.86). She won her third USA 10,000m track title (31:28.97) and went on to place 12th at the World Outdoor Championships (31:17.86).
“All of us at USATF congratulate Tom and Deena for being voted the Jesse Owens Award winners,” said USATF President Bill Roe. “They both had tremendous seasons in 2003 and are very deserving of this honor.”
“Tom had a true breakthrough year in the decathlon, and he now takes a place among the all-time great American decathletes, from Rafer Johnson to Bruce Jenner and Dan O’Brien.” said USATF CEO Craig A. Masback. “Deena continued her reign as America’s finest women’s distance star by breaking a record owned by one of the pioneers of women’s running. We congratulate them both and wish them future success, in 2004 and beyond.”
Male nominees for the 2003 Jesse Owens Award were John Capel, Justin Gatlin, Allen Johnson, Pappas, Dwight Phillips and Tyree Washington. Female nominees for the 2003 Jesse Owens Award were Amy Acuff, Gail Devers, Drossin Kastor, Torri Edwards, Regina Jacobs and Kelli White. Voters for the award included members of the Track and Field Writers of America and other members of the media.
The permanent commemorative Jesse Owens Award is maintained at USATF National Headquarters, and a replica is provided to each of the winners.
Previous winners are Edwin Moses (1981), Carl Lewis (1982 and 1991), Mary Decker (1983), Joan Benoit (1984), Willie Banks (1985), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1986 and 1987), Florence Griffith Joyner (1988), Roger Kingdom (1989), Lynn Jennings (1990), Kevin Young (1992), Gail Devers (1993 and 1996), Michael Johnson (1994, 1995 and 1996), Allen Johnson (1997), Marion Jones (1997, 1998, 2002), Tim Montgomery (2002), John Godina (1998 and 2001), Inger Miller (1999), Maurice Greene (1999), Stacy Dragila (2000 and 2001) and Angelo Taylor (2000).
Teleconference Excerpts
TOM PAPPAS
Q: What is your reaction to winning the Jesse Owens Award?
Tom Pappas: This is quite an honor. I was looking at the previous winners, and to have my name put up alongside those guys is definitely exciting for me. I noticed I was the first decathlete to win it, which was a nice feeling. This is a huge award. For me, this is as big as it gets, to win the Jesse Owens Award and be named the male athlete of the year in the U.S. There were many great performances – Allen Johnson, Dwight Phillips winning World Indoor and Outdoor. I thought I had a chance, but to be voted the athlete of the year was a huge achievement for me.
Q: Will you compete again at the World Indoor Championships in 2004?
Tom Pappas: I will compete in the World Indoors. I think that’s definitely a meet that gets me ready for the outdoor season. I wouldn’t want to change anything. Last year at World Indoors was a great meet. I felt like I still left a lot of points out there.
Q: Other decathletes have become multimedia superstars. You’re a humble guy; what kind of opportunities do you think might come your way?
Tom Pappas: I’ve already had a lot of things come my way. I am of Greek descent, and I think that’s the biggest thing on everyone’s mind. It’s always been my goal to the win the Olympics, and I think some good things would be in store if I could pull it off.
Q: Have you gotten inquiries from the Greek media?
A: Through my web site, about 75 percent of my emails are from Greeks – media or fans. They are mostly from Greece, but I get several from Greek Americans as well. I’ve never been there (to Greece).
Q: What event is there the most room for improvement?
A: Definitely the 1,500. My shoulder was bothering me in the javelin last year. If I can get my shoulder better so I can practice, that should be a huge event for me. I think my biggest improvements will come in the technical, second-day events.
Q: Did you have shoulder surgery after Paris?
Tom Pappas: Yes I did. It was bothering me all of 2003. I had an MRI and they decided nothing was really wrong. They went in and scoped it. The rotator cuff and tendons were fine. There was some fraying of cartilage they cleaned up, and that was about it. It’s been about 8 weeks since the surgery, and I’m back to pretty much all of the normal lifts.
Q: Does being the reigning World Champion affect how you approach the Olympics?
Tom Pappas: To end the season with the confidence I have right now is a good thing, but it won’t change the way I compete.
DEENA DROSSIN KASTOR
Q: What is your reaction to winning the Jesse Owens Award?
Deena Drossin Kastor: To win this award is very flattering. It’s the greatest honor in track and field, so it’s extraordinary to think of my name joining that list. It’s extremely humbling. It was an incredible year that I was able to reach some of my goals.
Q: What have you learned from the marathon distance?
Deena Drossin Kastor: The marathon is extremely humbling. I don’t think anybody can say they’ve conquered it completely. There’s always something in that race to lessen the perfection of it, to keep you coming back for more thinking you can do better next time.
Q: When you were running in high school, could you imagine yourself winning these honors?
Deena Drossin Kastor: I guess not. What keeps me coming back year after year is hat my goals keep elevating and escalating. That’s what athletics is all about. Any athlete on any level will admit that the Olympics are always in the back of their mind, even at the young age of 11, when I started.
Q: What will you focus on at the Olympic Trials?
Deena Drossin Kastor: As of right now, the marathon is my main focus, but I plan on running the 10 and 5 km on the track. I will definitely go in the marathon if I get in the top 3 at the Trials. … If I feel good after the Olympic marathon, I would like to run a fall marathon as well.
Q: What is your thinking in making the marathon your emphasis right now.
Deena Drossin Kastor: I think it’s my strongest chance at earning a medal for the United States. I wrote out a list of pros and cons, and at the top of the list of pros is that it’s my best chance for a medal.
Q: Where will your biggest improvements come?
Deena Drossin Kastor: The biggest improvement will be in my preparation. My best preparation tends to come earlier in the year, so I need to move it so it comes later on.
