Restrepo Becomes First Female IAAF Vice President

Former Nebraska track sprinter Ximena Restrepo was selected as the new Vice President of the International Association of Athletics Federation on Wednesday. Restrepo, the 1992 Olympic 400-meter bronze medalist from Colombia, will become the first woman to serve as an IAAF Vice President.

"Ximena is a former athlete which is tremendously helpful when you are driving the sport forward," IAAF President Sebastian Coe said. "I am delighted that we have for the very first time elected a female Vice President and that she will be joined by seven other women on the council. This is a historic moment."

"I am really honored to take this position," said Restrepo. "It is a great moment for me and my country. I think we, as women, now have more opportunities than before. I just hope I can do a good job. I'd like to thank all of the member federations who voted for me. I hope I can be all that they expect me to be."

Restrepo captured the bronze medal in the 1992 Olympic Games at Barcelona, Spain. She was the 1991 NCAA outdoor 400-meter champion and anchored the Huskers' first-place 4x400-meter relay team. Restrepo, an eight-time All-American and five-time Big Eight Conference champion, was named the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational's Most Valuable Performer in both 1990 and 1991. She is the only female athlete in the meet's history to win the MVP award in consecutive seasons.