POLK CITY, Fla. — USA Water Ski's Awards Committee named Mike Meek of Albany, Ohio its National Coach of the Year and Rhoni Barton of Orlando, Fla. its Developmental Coach of the Year. They will now be considered for the United States Olympic Committee's National Coach and Developmental Coach of the Year awards.

Meek, 46, coached the U.S. Elite Water Ski Team to its first team gold medal in 12 years last September at the Water Ski World Championships in Recetto, Italy. The U.S. Team compiled 8,346.36 points to outdistance France (7,899.58 points), Australia (7,766.30 points) and 30 other countries. The victory marked the 22nd time in the tournament's 27 occurrences that the U.S. Team has secured the gold medal, but only the first time since 1989.

Meek served as the coach for the U.S. Junior, 17 to 21 and Veteran Water Ski teams that competed in last month's Americas' Challenge in Santiago, Chile. The Junior and 17 to 21 teams each earned the team overall gold medal, while the Veteran team claimed the silver medal. Meek also was named USA Water Ski's Coach of the Year in 2000 after leading the U.S. Junior Water Ski Team to the world title at the 2000 Junior Water Ski World Championships.

Barton, 25, coached in the slalom, tricks and jumping disciplines at the National Junior Team Camp, April 29 to May 3, in Destin, Fla. In addition to her work with the National Junior Team, she also serves as the personal coach for several national-level competitors in the Junior ranks.