Congratulations are in order for Gwen Wentland-Mikinski, currently the Athlete Advisory Committee's Elite Athlete Representative from the Missouri Valley Association. Gwen was recently appointed to serve as an Assistant Coach for USATF team at the IAAF World Indoor Championships. The World Championships will be held in Doha, Qatar, March 12-14. What a great honor.

Gwen’s track & field accomplishments are legendary. In 1990 Gwen set the Michigan Class A State High record in the high jump with a jump of 6’ and was named the 1990 Athlete of the Year. The Michigan record marked the beginning of an illustrious career for Gwen. While competing for Kansas State University, Gwen collected four NCAA All-America certificates, four NCAA Runner-up trophies and a US National Championship. Gwen also set the pentathlon high jump American and World Record of 6-4 1/4 and also tied Jackie Joyner-Kersee for heptathlon high jump American Record of 6-4. In 2003 Gwen was the runner-up in the high jump the US Nationals and qualified for the World Championship Team that traveled to Paris, France.

Gwen currently serves as the Vertical Jumps Event Leader for USATF and is involved with Women's Development Committee. She has served as an athlete liaison officer for World Championships in Athens, Greece 1997. Gwen also served as the athlete's liaison officer for the World Youth Championships in Debrecen Hungary in 2001 and was an assistant coach for the World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica 2002.

Breeana Coleman a senior at Olathe East High School, and Oliver Bradwell a senior at East H.S. in Wichita were named the Missouri Valley Association High School Athletes of the Week for January 15, 2010. Coleman won the 60m hurldes and placed third in the 60 meter dash at the Arkansas High School Invitational. Bradwell ran a 6.98 (60m dash) and 22.22 (200m) at the Arkansas High School Invitational and a 6.92 at the K-State H.S. Invitational.

Any officials interested in helping out with the upcoming USATF Midwest Zone Track & Field Championship in Columbia, Mo should either register online or contact the Chair of the Officials Committee.

The series consists of six independent meets that conduct indoor competitions for high school athletes on the USATF Missouri Valley Association Youth Athletics Calendar. Grand Prix points are awarded for performances in the 50/55/60 meter dash, 50/55/60 meter hurdles, 200 meter dash, 400 meter dash, 800 meter run, 1500 meter/Mile run, 3000 meter run, 1500 meter race walk, Long Jump, Shot Put, High Jump, and Pole Vault in each of these competitions. The three athletes with the highest point total in each event will receive a medal. The series will culminate with the Missouri Valley Association Grand Prix High School Indoor Finale. The date and location of the High School Indoor Grand Prix Finale will be determined on or about January 15, 2010. The Grand Prix Schedule will be updated immediately upon determination of the date and location of the Grand Prix Finale.

The Midwest Zone Meet is one of USATF's most prestigious indoor championship. This Championship will be held on February 14, 2010 at Hearnes Center Fieldhouse, University of Missouri on the campus of the University of Missouri at Columbia. Athletes from sub-bantam to young men and women may compete at the championship. Online registration is now open.

The 2011 USATF Junior Olympics Track & Field Championship will be held in Wichita, Kansas. This will be the frist time USATF Junior Olympics National Track & Field Championship will be held in the Missouri Valley Association. Future track & field Olympians will descend on the capital in 2011 as Wichita was selected as the winning city of the bid process in Indianapolis on Friday, December 4, 2009. The successful bid was submitted by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission, USATF Missouri Valley Association, Go Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau, the City of Wichita and Wichita State University. Representatives from all organizations attended the presentation.

A revew for the attendees of the May 3rd 2009 certification clinic will take place at the Missouri Valley USATF Office on Sunday, December 13, 2009.

Results from the 2009 Cross Country championships contested at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kansas on November 21, 2009.