Sports Envoy
Sports Envoy Program

Sport: Track & Field

Willie Banks

Track & Field

Served as envoy

  • 2023  –  Virtual

Willie Banks is President of HSJ, Incorporated, a sports management and consulting firm that specializes in marketing and networking between the US and Japan. HSJ, Inc. provides its clients with value-added skills and experience for events and sports organizations. With vast, sports experience, industry knowledge and operational skills for sports businesses, HSJ, Inc. and its network help businesses and individuals implement new programs, develop strategic planning, and create fresh marketing tools.

For many years Willie has assisted cities bidding for international events like the Olympic Games. He has served as the Deputy Executive Director for the 1994 World Cup of soccer and the Director of Athlete Services for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Village. He is famous throughout the world and has represented his country in many ways. Taking note of Willie’s international popularity and outstanding personal character and leadership qualities, Time Magazine once dubbed him “The United States’ ambassador of track and field”.

Though Willie is a former world record holder and Olympian, much of his fame comes from his innovative approach to sports. Willie entertained the crowd and in response the spectators rhythmically clapped while he ran down the runway for his jump. It became so popular that it set a tradition that is mimicked throughout the world to this day. In fact, in Finland they call it “the Banks”!

Willie continues to participate in athletics and has set several age group world and national records in the triple jump and the high jump. He is an avid Zumba dance fitness enthusiast and loves to work with kids through his World Record Camps program.

Willie is a leader. He currently sits on the World Athletics Council, the international federation for Athletics (Track and Field). He is a past President of the US Olympians. He sits on the Board of Director of the USATF, and the USATF Foundation. He is the former Vice President of The Athletics Congress (TAC) 1986-89, 1988 Olympic Team Captain, former USATF Alumni President and past chairman of the Athletes Advisory Committee. While working on the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games the Martin Luther King, Jr. Women’s Association awarded Willie with their “Drum Major for Justice” award given to that individual who exemplifies a positive leadership image.

Rose Monday

Track & Field

Served as envoy

  • 2017  –  Morocco

Rose Monday is currently the women’s USATF head coach. 20 years ago, became UTSA Track and Field coach. When she began coaching in 2001, she was training for the 2001 World Masters Championship and became an 800-meter champion that same year.

In 2004 at an annual meeting, she was selected as an assistant coach to the World Indoor Championship team in Budapest before going on to be selected for the World University games, the head coach for the World Juniors in Beijing, and in 2012 was selected as an assistant women’s coach for USA Track and Field Olympic games.

She will be the head track and field coach for women at the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo.

Maggie Vessey

Track & Field

Served as envoy

  • 2017  –  Morocco

Maggie Vessey is an American athlete who competes in middle distance track events. She represented the US at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics and 2011 World Championships in Athletics in 800m.

While competing for Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Vessey was the Big West Conference 800m champion twice. She finished second in the 800m at the 2005 NCAA championships. At the 2008 Olympic Trials, Vessey finished 5th in the 800m. She ran her fastest 400m times of 52.82 at the 2014 Occidental Invite. In 2015, she won the gold medal at the IAAF World Championships breaking a national record.

Jeneba Tarmoh

Track & Field

Served as envoy

  • 2017  –  Uganda

Jeneba Tarmoh is a track and field sprinter who specializes in 100 meters and 200 meters. Tarmoh was an All-American for Texas A&M University, helping them with back to back to back wins in the NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships 2009-11 seasons. She came in third at the 2011 USA National Outdoor Championships, earning her a place on the 2011 IAAF World Championships team.

At the 2012 Olympic Trials, Tarmoh finished third tying with Allyson Felix for third place in the 100m finals. Tarmoh traveled to London as a reserve on the US team and ran the second leg of the women’s 4 x 100 meter relay. She received a gold medal for setting a world record in winning the finals.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Track & Field

Served as envoy

  • 2014  –  Palestinian Territories

Born in 1962, in East St. Louis, IL, Jackie came from very humble beginnings but despite the at times, very strained conditions she describes her early home life as being full of love, principle and discipline. Engrained values have served Jackie well both on and on the field through her life. She has been described by the sports media as one of the warmest, most even-tempered, grace-led persons in all of athletics.

Having been dubbed ‘Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century’ by Sports Illustrated, Jackie Joyner Kersee’s athletic accomplishments are literally second to none. By the conclusion of her career in the heptathlon and long jump events she had amassed six Olympic medals (3 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze) and four World Champion titles over four consecutive Olympic Games. Jackie was the first woman in history to earn more than 7,000 points in the heptathlon and today, over 20 years later, she still holds the world heptathlon record of 7,291 points. She continues to hold the Olympic and national records in the long jump and her 1994 performance in the long jump remains the second longest in history.

In addition to heptathlon and long jump, Jackie was a world class 100m and 200m runner and, after a decorated All-American career in basketball at UCLA, she eventually played professional basketball for a short time. Jackie’s athletic accomplishments have been well documented and remain some of the best ever across all of sports. Less well know are her tireless efforts and remarkable accomplishments off the field as a philanthropist and an advocate for children’s education, health issues (in particular asthma from which she has suffered throughout her life), racial equality, social reform and women’s rights.

DeeDee Trotter

Track & Field

Served as envoy

  • 2020  –  Japan

Trotter exploded on the Elite Track and Field scene in 2004. That year, she would win the prestigious NCAA title and become an Olympic finalist in the 400 meters, finishing fifth overall. Her Olympic debut was capped by a gold medal on the 4x400m relay, and she concluded the year ranked fourth in the world.

The 2004 season turned out to be the tip of Trotter’s athletic success. DeeDee is a three-time World Champion as a member of the 2003, 2007 and 2010 4x400m relay teams, a three-time 400m U.S. Champion and a three-time Olympian, which is an accomplishment that ranks her amongst the greatest female athletes in the world.

For the vast majority of DeeDee Trotter’s career, she has been considered by most to be the underdog. She would learn to use this imposed title as sheer motivation to propel herself to many unpredicted triumphs. In 2007, DeeDee pulled off a stunning upset defeating the #1 world-ranked Sanya Richards Ross, a victory that earned DeeDee her first Outdoor National Championship title. Although many were stunned by the aforementioned victory, DeeDee was not. Throughout her career, her strong belief in God, as well as her talent, carried her to heights many did not think were possible. To cap the season, Trotter would receive a nomination for “Breakthrough Performance of The Year” at the USA Track & Field Jessie Owens Awards, a much-respected honor among the sport. She also would reclaim her spot among the top 400m runners in the world. Through her experiences, DeeDee feels extremely blessed to share her medals and motivational truth with people all over the world, a gift she says “is worth its weight in gold!”

Allyson Felix

Track & Field

Served as envoy

  • 2014  –  Brazil

Allyson Felix is a track and field sprinter who competes in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meter races. She is a 2012 Olympic champion, a 3-time World champion (2005-09) and 2-time Olympic silver medalist of 200 meters. A 2015 World champion, 2011 World silver medalist, 2016 Olympic silver medalist, and 2017 World bronze medalist.

Felix also won five additional Olympic gold medals as a member of the United States’ women’s relay teams. Her 200 meters best of 21.69 seconds from 2012 ranks 6th on the all-time list. In the 4 x 400 meter relay at the 2015 World Championships, she ran the fastest split ever recorded by an American woman, and third fastest split ever after Jarmila Kratochvilova and Marita Koch, with 47.72.

Shannon Rowbury

Track & Field

Served as envoy

  • 2017  –  Morocco

Shannon Rowbury is a three-time Olympian, two-time World Championships Bronze medalist, six-time United States champion, and the American Record Holder at 1500m, 2 miles, and 5000m. At the time, her 6th and 7th place finishes at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing were the highest finishes ever by an American woman at that distance. In August of 2016, she finished 4th place at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In June 2009, she won the US Championships at 1500m for the second time and shortly thereafter, she earned a Bronze medal at the World Championships in the same distance. Despite all of her achievements, Shannon’s most impressive performance to date came in July of 2015 when she broke the American 1500m record that stood for nearly 32 years, running a blistering fast 3:56.29. She is also the second fastest miler in American history.

A recognized world-class runner with a tremendous range from 800m to 5000m, Shannon’s story is as much about strength and perseverance against odds as it is about speed. In 2007, while a film student and athlete at Duke University, Shannon won the mile race at the NCAA Indoor Championships and then placed second in the 3000m an hour and a half later. Shortly after that indoor season, her collegiate career was abruptly cut short due to an injury that could have permanently sidelined her from her sport. This major setback forced Shannon to evaluate her physical limitations and challenged her emotional strength and passion for running. Through diligent rehabilitation, determination and an unfailing resolve to resume the sport that she loves, Shannon emerged stronger than ever and was back training for the 2008 Olympics within six months.

Running is Shannon’s second sport; Irish Dancing was her first. Beginning at the age of six, Shannon competed in Irish Dancing competitions throughout the country and twice at the World Championships in Ireland. She was ranked 7th nationally, before retiring at the age of 16 to focus on the sport she was introduced to just before her freshman year of high school—running. Shannon believes Irish Dancing was the foundation for her successful running career, preparing her mentally for competition and developing her coordination, balance and speed.

Kenyanna Wilson

Track & Field

Served as envoy

  • 2017  –  Uganda

Kenyanna Wilson, running track and field at LSU from 2008-2011, was one of the team’s lead sprinters. During her career, she was a NCAA Champion, 8-time All-American, 2-time NCAA Mideast Regional Champion, 2-time SEC Champion, and 3-time All-SEC. In her senior year, Wilson’s personal best of 7.18 in the 60-meter dash ranked in a tie for number three on LSU’s all-time performance list. Following college, Wilson ran at Californian indoor and outdoor venues such as Los Angeles, Pasadena, Sacramento, and Norwalk.

Natasha Hastings

Track & Field

Served as envoy

  • 2018  –  South Africa

Natasha Hastings is an Olympic, World and US National Champion Track and Field Sprinter. She specializes in the 400 and 4×400 meter relay events. Born and raised in New York City, Natasha started running at the age of 9. While a student at A. Philip Randolph Campus High School, Natasha won the 2003 USATF Junior Nationals and the IAAF World Youth Championships in the 400 meters.

Following a successful prep career, Natasha attended the University of South Carolina, where she majored in Exercise Science. As a scholar athlete at USC, Natasha won both the 400 meters Indoor and Outdoor NCAA Championships her junior year, setting collegiate records in the process. Natasha finished her junior year undefeated in her competitions.

After turning pro in 2007, Natasha made her first USA Olympic Track and Field team in 2008, as a member of the Gold medal winning 4×400 meters relay team. Additionally, Natasha has made every USA World Championship team since becoming a professional sprinter. In 2007, 2009 and 2011, Natasha won the Gold medal as a member of the 4×400 meter relay team.

Not one to shy away from the Indoor season, Natasha won the 400 meters USA Indoor Track & Field Championship in 2011 and finished second in 2012. She went on to win the Bronze Medal in the 400 meters at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland. Although she missed the 2012 Olympic team, Natasha refocused on her personal goals and had an outstanding 2013 season. In 2013, Natasha won her first U.S. National Championship in the 400 meters. In addition to winning the 4×400 meter relay Gold at the 2013 World Championship, Natasha finished fifth in the 400 meter final.

While Natasha accomplishes a lot on the track, she knows that rest is just as important as exertion. She also knows how to have as much fun off the track as she does on the track. After she jokingly described the ladies of her collegiate track team as the “Gamecock Divas”, in honor of the University of South Carolina’s mascot, Natasha became known as the 400M Diva. For a further look into her personality and professional life, Natasha Hastings vlogs on her YouTube channel. Ultimately, as Natasha nears retirement, there is no doubt that she will continue to strive for excellence on and off the track.