Pompey Elected President Of Panam Sports Athlete Commission

Mexico City - Former Manhattan track and field athlete Aliann Pompey will serve as the next president of the Panam Sports Athlete Commission. She was elected earlier this month at the first meeting of the new commission, a group chosen by more than 6,600 athletes who competed at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. 

"It's a tremendous honor to lead the commission and it was obviously something I would love to do, so I'm very, very happy with the outcome," said Pompey, who will serve in the role through the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games. "It is a lot of work, and I quickly realized that once we went through the timeline and what's expected in the upcoming years. But I think we are a very collaborative group, and with everyone working together we will do great things."

Originally from Guyana, Pompey was Manhattan's first female NCAA Champion, winning the Division I 400-meter dash in 2000. She also holds seven Manhattan records and won eight individual Metropolitan titles in the 200- and 400-meter races. Pompey was named All-East in those events six times, and was selected as one of the top 25 MAAC all-time performers in 2006.

Pompey has competed in four Olympic Games, in addition to participating in the World Championships in athletics five times and the IAAF World Indoor Championships on four occasions. She was a gold medalist in the 400-meters at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and a Commonwealth Games silver medalist in the event in 2010. Currently, Pompey serves as an adjunct professor of Kinesiology at Manhattan, and as assistant coach for the St. John's track and field program. She was inducted into the Manhattan College Hall of Fame in 2009. 

The Panam Sports Athlete Commission assists in the development of the upcoming Pan American Games. Pompey was elected to the commission in 2015, and was one of three standing members eligible for the role of president. 

"We are all thrilled to be on the Panam Sports Athlete Commission because it's a way for us to have meaningful impact in our sport and region outside of actual competition," she said. "I have and continue to learn so much, it's truly an enriching experience. In a few short years we've experienced the commitment of the Panam Sports Executive staff to the commission in making sure the athletes' voice has infiltrated pretty much all of their operations."