Mark Cleary is the 2019 David Pain Award Recipient!
Mark has been a tireless promoter of masters track and field and his club, So Cal Track Club, for decades. He has competed in every masters outdoor championship for more than 30 years (since he turned 30). He founded the So Cal Track Club in 1997 and has served as its President and Coach ever since.
For MTF, Mark chaired the Masters Invitational Program (now known as Masters Exhibition Events) for 17 years, served as West Region MTF Coordinator for almost 20 years (still serving), has been a member of the MTF Awards Subcommittee since 2002, been a delegate to the Annual Meeting each year since 2000, and now chairs the MTF Hall of Fame Subcommittee (since 2019).
Few, if any, athlete/administrators have served as long and in as many positions as Mark, and he is a very worthy candidate for this award.
Other Awards:
He is the winner of the 2012 USATF Southern California Association Service Award.
Other Notes:
Mark has coached numerous athletes who have medaled at the World level, as well as also being Masters National Champions. A sampling of his athletes include; Multi-World and American record holder Nolan Shaheed in the 800m and 1500m; Mary Greene, World 1500m Champion in 2007; Lisa Valle, the Masters World Steeplechase, 1500m, and 800m Champion, also becoming the World Record holder in the Steeplechase in 2011; Barry Givens, Team World Cross-Country Champion, and 1500m and 10,000m National Champion; plus, Debbie Lee, Masters World Silver, and Bronze medalist in the 5000m, and the 1500m runs, respectively, and multiple time National Champion in the middle distance/distance events; as well as Jill Vollweiler, World Bronze in Cross-Country, World Silver in the 10,000m, as well as gold in the 3,000m, 5000m, and the 10,000m at Masters Nationals.
Mark has served as meet director for the West Region Masters Championships for 19 of the past 20 years.
