2018 masters nationals are July in Cheney, in case you’re confused
A brief flurry of email has led to official confirmation of where and when 2018 outdoor masters nationals will be. It’s July 26-29 — as noted on the USATF calendar and at USATFmasters.org. It’ll be at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington, 23 minutes southwest of Spokane. (The 2008 outdoor nationals were on the blue track at Spokane Falls Community College.) The issue arose because of conflicting information from a USATF email newsletter and several sites saying the meet would be in August. National Masters News also carried the wrong date (since corrected). National masters Chair Rex Harvey says: “We had to go a week earlier because of field availability. It will give a good recovery time before Malaga.â€
Sprint Force America dominated this 100 at 2008 Spokane masters nationals.
10 Responses
Thanks Ken for confirming date and location.
The USAAT Masters website has the correct dates, but still locates it in Spokane, Washington:
2018 USATF Masters Outdoor T&F Championships
July 26-29, 2018, Spokane, Washington
http://www.usatfmasters.org/cal_bigmeets.htm
In fact, the 2018 championship medal displayed also says Spokane, WA. The Cheney Chamber of Commerce will not be pleased.
http://www.usatf.org/Events—Calendar/2018/USATF-Masters-Outdoor-Championships.aspx
In 2016 we had a nice outdoor championship in Allendale, Michigan, but it was always listed as being at a different location: Grand Rapids. I predict that the listed location of the meet in question will remain “Spokane” even though the meet is in Cheney.
Interestingly, our next big meet (2018 indoors) will be only 7.5 miles (by car) from the White House in Washington, DC, but it is listed as being in little Landover, Maryland, rather than in Washington.
Six years ago we had our outdoors in the small, close-in Cleveland suburb of Berea, Ohio, and Berea was always the location given, not Cleveland. I wonder who ultimately decides whether to go with the name of the nearest big city or the actual location of the site.
More important, the weather in Cheney looks pretty good, with only 17 inches of rain a year and reasonable temperatures. The elevation of 2352 feet should help sprinters and hurdlers just a tad while doing only moderate damage to the distance runners. Or am I wrong?
More important in terms of getting good attendance will be issues of transportation and housing.
After all, as all readers now know, the meet is not really in Spokane. Anyone have any ideas as to the prospects for a good turnout and what may affect the numbers?
Nice! Being an alum of Spokane Community College and EWU, either would have been fine, both being good venues. Spokane is a great track town, going back to the years of John Buck. The weather will be hot but dry, lending to good performances.
I could be wrong but a quick Google search only resulted in 4 hotels in Cheney. I suspect most will stay in Spokane. I’ve never been to Cheney but have been to Spokane for Bloomsday and that race gets a large turnout. I know road races don’t compare to Masters track but maybe the Bloomsday folks can help with advertising
There are buses (38 minute ride) from downtown Spokane that drop off only 3 blocks from the stadium in Cheney. The buses run every half hour to hourly from morning to night.
We are excited to be hosting the prestigious 2018 USATF Masters Outdoor Championship, July 26-29 at Eastern Washington University. The location is in Cheney, WA a short 15 minute drive from the heart of downtown Spokane. Hotel RL Spokane at the Park will serve as the headquarter hotel. Free shuttles will be provided to the venue as well as to and from the airport.
Thanks for that information, Cherie. I predict that it will be a successful championship. I might even be there, which will depend on whether I am chosen to work the meet.
Thanks for the info Cherie.
Chuck Cacek, wrote: Nice! Being an alum of Spokane Community College and EWU, either would have been fine, both being good venues.
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Cheney is the site of Eastern Washington University
which had nice indoor and outdoor track when I last visited there. EWU has many students whose academic year lodging may be available for late July meet.
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