Jerry Utecht wins Lifetime Achievement Award [The Miami Herald]

May 24--Long after the track stadium lights have dimmed, Jerry Utecht can be found packing sophisticated track and field timing equipment into his truck with the precision of a surgeon.

Utecht's labor of love for the past 12 years has been working each track meet as his own Olympics.

For his dedication to the sport, Utecht was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Miami Herald All-Broward Athletic Awards Breakfast at the Signature Grand in Davie on Wednesday.

"I am very flattered to win this award," Utecht said. "I think all the hard work I put in for helping the kids and coaches and getting the meets to run successfully probably means more to me than anything else. Time management is more of a hobby, and that is the enjoyment I get out of it."

Utecht said he runs a successful insurance brokerage firm, but he yearned for something else to fill that competitive fire that made him a champion hurdler at SMU and the Mustangs' overall athlete of the year in 1968.

After a short-lived stint as an oil rig diver in New Orleans, Utecht moved to South Florida, raised daughters Jenna and Kristen, who excelled in track, and found his second calling when the sport went to an intricate timing system 13 years ago in Broward.

Since that time, Utecht has crossed Florida from meet to meet with a reputation as a timing contractor who runs a tight ship.

"It goes back to when I was running," Utecht said. "I always tried to be a perfectionist. When people walk through the gate at track meets, they know the meet is going well. I have done my best to bring a high standard to the table that's very difficult to duplicate."

___

(c)2012 The Miami Herald

Visit The Miami Herald at www.miamiherald.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services