Lake Buena Vista, Florida — One of the most respected international technical officials in track and field, road racing and cross country, David Katz was honored Thursday, December 1 by USATF with the Robert Giegengack Award. The Robert Giegengack Award was established in 1982 in recognition of the late Yale track and field coach's half-century of "superior and outstanding contributions as an official, a coach, and an administrator in the sport and to the organization." It is awarded annually to a person "who excels in contributing to the excellence and high standards of the sport of Athletics." The Award is USA Track & Field's only accolade not limited to one of the sport's three disciplines (track & field, long distance running, and race walking), or to any one of the three principal areas of consideration (official, coach, or administrator). Katz, who spent 36 years as a high school science teacher in Port Washington, New York, was the Technical Manager at this summer's wildly successful World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. He also served as the Technical Director for the 2019 World Athletics Cross Country Championships, and has been appointed to the same position for the 2024 edition of that event. A member of the USATF Officials Hall of Fame, Katz served four terms on the IAAF (now World Athletics) Technical Committee from 2003-2019, and he is a member of the World Athletics Competition Commission. He is the former Millrose Games meet director and is a member of the USATF Records Committee and Rules Committee. He served as Technical Director for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, and was a technical delegate for the 2014 and 2016 World Athletics Indoor Championships. Katz is also one of the top road race course measurement experts in the world and was the International Road Course Measurer for the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games. He currently serves as the chair of the USATF Road Running Technical Council. Join the conversation with USATF on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtag #USATF. Photo Credit: Gareth Phillips for the Wall Street Journal