This award is presented annually in honor of Vanessa Hilliard (1941-2011). Vanessa was a pioneer among female Masters throwers.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Angela Herzner |
| 2024 | Myrle Mensey |
| 2023 | Carol Finsrud |
| 2022 | Angela Herzner |
| 2020-2021 | Gloria Krug |
| 2019 | Carol Finsrud |
| 2018 | Carol Finsrud |
| 2017 | Gloria Krug |
Angela topped 6000 points setting the Ultraweights W45 record in addition an Indoor Shot record (13.61m) in NY. She won Gold in the Throws Pent, Ultra Pent and Superweight at the Throws Champs in Seattle, won Gold in the Shot, Weight and SuperWeight at Indoor Nationals in NY, and won Gold in the Shot, Weight, Hammer, and Discus with a Silver in Javelin at Outdoors in Lexington. Great throwing!
Dave is an athlete, a coach, a meet host, an official and friend to masters throwers. Creating a throws mecca in his backyard, Dave hosts frequent meets providing opportunities for athletes at all levels to compete. His integrity and attention to detail is what have people coming back for more competitions. Dave is a huge asset to all track and field especially in Arizona. He is the USATF Masters Records Sub-Committee chair and has done an outstanding job of clarifying and streamlining the process and transparency. He has also served on the Throws Committee for several years. Dave leads the Arizona Desert Throwers (AZDT) team. As an athlete, he has held 8 USATF Age Group Records. Thanks, Dave, for your dedication to throwers!
Scott won Gold in Shot and Discus at the 2022 Outdoors Nationals, Gold in shot at the 2022 Indoor Nationals and won Gold in both Shot and Discus at WMA in Tampere! He set and holds the American Records for Discus and Shot (M60). And all this while battling cancer…outstanding throwing!
George has been a fixture in Masters Throwing, and in USATF organizations, for well over 40 years. He has been ranked #1 in the US 27 times, with 57 Gold medals in USATF Nationals/Throws Champs and 8 records. He also has 17 WMA medals in Hammer and Weight, with 2 records. Positions have included National Masters Chairman and member of USATF Board of Directors, 2000-2006; Masters National Site Selection Chair 1996-2000; Masters Association Chair in Pacific Northwest and San Diego; 2001 USATF National President’s Award; Co-Founder of Seattle Masters Athletic Club 1991 and many more. He has hosted/directed many invitational, association, regional and national Masters champ including the Throws Champs multiple times. Thank you, George, for your lifetime commitment!
Mary was a prolific and talented thrower throughout her career, earning 74 Gold, 30 Silver and 8 bronze at USATF Nationals including 18 US records. With 13 #1 World rankings between 2005-2020, she won at WMA 3 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze across all throwing events. She greeted everyone at meets with a smile and she was less impressed by her own athletic accomplishments but was thrilled for you when speaking of yours. Gracious, big-hearted, she was a friend for life of all she touched. Unfortunately, we lost Mary to Covid in the early 2000’s, but she lives on in all our memories.