Emil Pawlik of Jackson, Miss., on Wednesday was named 2005 Masters Athlete of the Year by USA Track & Field. Pawlik will receive his award December 1 at the 2005 Jesse Owens Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held in conjunction with the USATF Annual Meeting in Jacksonville, Florida.

A 66-year-old amiable oilman from Pawlik had great success on the masters scene in 2005. He won the men's decathlon (M65) with a world- record 7,909 points and posted an American record in the 100 meters, clocking 15.81 seconds to win a gold medal at the World Masters Outdoor Championships in San Sebastian, Spain.

Earlier at the USA Masters Outdoor Championships in Hawaii, Pawlik grabbed four titles in the M65 age division. He scored the most points in all of the age divisions to win the pentathlon with 4,023 points. He won the 100m hurdles in 16.19 seconds, the long jump with a leap of 4.84 meters/15 feet, 10.5 inches and cleared 1.50m/6 feet, 5 inches to win the high jump. During the indoor season, Pawlik won the titles in the M65 high jump (1.40m/4-7), the long jump (4.76m/15-7.5), 60m hurdles (9.86) and he scored the most points (4,401) by any male in the pentathlon.

"Emil has been consistently outstanding over the years in masters track & field," USATF Masters Track & Field Chair George Mathews said. "His enthuaisium, sportsmanship, and competitive spirit are a motivation to masters athletes in all the age divisions."