BEIJING – USATF President Stephanie Hightower on Wednesday was elected to IAAF Council as the highest vote-getter for one of six IAAF Council seats designated to be filled by women. Ten candidates stood for election.

Receiving 163 votes, Hightower easily exceeded the 105 votes needed in the first round of balloting. Nawal El Moutawakel of Morocco, an IAAF Council member since 1995 and IOC member since 1998, was second in voting with 160 ballots.

“I am humbled and thrilled to have been selected to serve on the IAAF Council,” Hightower said. The United States has worked hard in recent years to step up and serve the sport internationally in the way we should, as the world’s most successful track and field team. I am inspired and excited to embark upon this next phase of service to the sport of athletics and am extremely optimistic about the work the ‘new’ IAAF will undertake in the immediate future.”

A world indoor and American outdoor record-setter in the women’s indoor hurdles and an Olympian, Hightower was elected president of USA Track & Field in 2008. She has led the federation’s efforts to better serve the sport of athletics internationally, working closely with IAAF leaders as well as colleagues in fellow federations. As an athlete, she was part of 10 U.S. international teams, and later was U.S. women’s team manager at the 2004 Olympic Games, assistant manager at the 1996 Games and U.S. team leader at the 2005 IAAF World Youth Championships. She was chef de mission at the 2003 IAAF World Championships and head team manager at the 1999 IAAF World Championships.  She has served USATF committees in many capacities, including Athletes Advisory Committee and Women’s Track & Field, where she was chair.