Competition done right
Fair, accurate, well-run championships at every level, built on clear rules and consistent technical standards worldwide.
Candidate · World Athletics Council
David
Katz
Nearly five decades in the sport, from Long Island road races to six Olympic Games. Proven experience at every level of competition, ready for the World Athletics Council.
6Olympic Games
3,000+Events delivered
6Terms on World Athletics bodies
1985International course measurer since
DK
About David
A lifetime behind the sport's biggest moments
David Katz grew up in Coney Island, ran track at Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn and at SUNY Fredonia, and has been part of the sport ever since. In 1978 he founded Finish Line Road Race Technicians on Long Island. The company has since delivered more than 3,000 events and was the first in New York State to use chip timing. For 36 years he also taught science at Port Washington Middle School.
Internationally, David has been a road course measurer since 1985, measuring Olympic marathon courses from Los Angeles 1984 through Paris 2024. He co-authored the World Athletics Road Course Measurement Manual, served four terms on the IAAF Technical Committee and two terms on the World Athletics Competition Commission. He has led technical operations at World Championships on three continents.
He is running for the World Athletics Council to bring that experience from the competition floor, along with a strong American voice, to the sport's top decision-making table.
- World Athletics Competition CommissionTwo terms
- IAAF Technical CommitteeFour terms, 2003–2019
- USATF Road Running Technical CouncilChair
- USATF Rules & Records CommitteesMember
The platform
From the field of play to the Council table
Officials & volunteers
Recruiting, training and recognizing the officials and volunteers every meet depends on, and giving them a voice in governance.
Roads & cross country
Strengthening the sport's largest participation base and the pathway from community races to world championships.
Athletes at the center
Decisions on rules, scheduling and competition formats that put athlete safety, fairness and experience first.
Record of service
Trusted with the sport's biggest stages
-
2026
Competition Director
World Athletics Cross Country Championships, Tallahassee
-
2024
Technical Delegate
Olympic Games Paris 2024; member of the Olympic marathon measuring team
-
2023
Competition Director, Race Walks & Marathon
World Athletics Championships, Budapest
-
2022
Technical Manager
World Athletics Championships, Eugene
-
2020
Technical Delegate & Technical Director
Marathon and race walks, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (Sapporo); U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon, Atlanta
-
2012–2020
International Road Course Measurer
Olympic Games London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020
-
2003–2019
IAAF Technical Committee
Four elected four-year terms
-
1979–2011
Technical Director
Millrose Games, New York
-
1978
Founder
Finish Line Road Race Technicians, Long Island
Recognition
Honored by the sport he serves
“One of the best in the world.”
- World Athletics Veteran PinPresented at the 55th World Athletics Congress, Tokyo 2025
- Robert Giegengack AwardUSATF's highest service honor, 2022
- USATF Officials Hall of Fameand USATF New York Officials Hall of Fame
- USATF President's Award2011
- Ted Corbitt & Marja Bakker AwardsUSATF
2026 USATF Annual Meeting
Meet David in Portland
David will be at the Annual Meeting and wants to hear from athletes, coaches, officials and delegates about the future of the sport. Stop him in the halls or reach out to set a time.
- Dates
- December 3–6, 2026
- Location
- Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon
- Find David
- [Reception, session, or table details]
Get in touch
Questions or want to help?
David welcomes conversations with athletes, coaches, officials and delegates.