Missouri Southern track in Joplin
, chair of the site selection committee for USATF masters track, reports on the possible bidders for 2014 USATF indoor and outdoor masters nationals: “2014 Indoors: Boston, MA; Gainesville, FL. 2014 Outdoors: Bloomington, IN; Winston/Salem/Wake Forest, NC; Norfolk, VA; Savannah, GA; Tulsa, OK; and Joplin, MO.” Mike also writes: “Tentative list. I expect some to drop out.” Gainesville for indoors would be very interesting. The meet would probably be at the
site of the Jimmy Carnes Invitational at the O’Connell Center of the University of Florida. It has a flat, six-lane track, which Track & Field News called: “One of the finest indoor track facilities in the world, and perhaps the fastest track in the world for long sprints.” Missouri Southern State University in Joplin (notable for May 2011
tornado devastation) would be the Joplin bidder, I’ll guess. Delegates meeting later
this month in St. Louis will choose the winners.
Indoor track at 2014 bidder Gainesville is at the University of Florida.
41 Responses
Very interesting indeed. I always enjoy thinking about the locales in addition to actually going there when I am invited.
In terms of indoors, it’s hard to imagine that a site with a banked track and a proven record of strong performance (Boston) would lose out to a site with a flat track and no history of masters indoor nationals (Gainesville), but stranger things have happened.
In terms of outdoors, and according to http://www.weather.com, the “least hot” site as measured by average highs in July and August is Bloomington, Indiana. Not surprisingly, the hottest site is Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The number of 100+ days (actual temperature, not heat index) is of interest as well, although there is “dry heat” and “muggy heat.” For the quantity of 100+ days I looked at AccuWeather and totaled up the number in 2011 for July and August combined. Here are the numbers:
Bloomington: none.
Winston-Salem: none.
Norfolk: 2 (highest temp was 103).
Savannah: 3 (highest temp was 100).
Joplin: 28 (highest temp was 110).
Tulsa: 40 (highest temp was 113).
If either Bloomington (Indiana University) or Winston-Salem (Wake Forest University) wins it we will have our first national outdoors at a nationally prominent university since 2003 (University of Oregon, Eugene) and I will have to eat my words about the big universities not wanting us any more.
As
Ken your insider is mistaken. I stated on the executive committee conference call last week that the site is Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, In, not Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. They have a nine lane Mondo track, 3 long jump pits. Throws inside the track stadium and enough dorm and dining space for 3000 athletes and officials. Marion, In is located 81 miles NE of Indianapolis, In and 56 miles S of Ft. Wayne, IN. Sorry Pete it’s a small university with great facilities. The Indiana Association is submitting the bid. The same group that is hosting the 2012 Indoor Championships at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.
Thank you, Robert. Sounds like a great site. Let me go to the temperature data…OK, Marion, Indiana, is even “less hot” than Bloomington, Indiana, making it easily the “coolest” of the six projected sites.
I am concerned about heat, of course, because these summer meets can be long and rough. Charlotte (2006) was the roughest I can ever remember, with Honolulu (2005) second.
I am rooting for Winston-Salem for the outdoors as this is my hometown and I ran my first all comers meet at Wake Forest some 35 years ago!
Still trying to get an answer to the question “When will registration open for the Masters Indoor Champs in Bloomington?” I left a call for Robert Thomas but no return. He is, supposedly, the Event Organizer, according to Carmen Triplet. I’ve tried to get the info for over a month. I’ve attempted to go through about 8 folks at USATF. A tiny few tell me to check the web/link. I do THAT before asking the question. I have just received a return call from Robert Thomas. He doesn’t have a date for registration to begin but “it should be soon after the forthcoming annual USATF meeting.” Smartty
An indoor track meet in Florida – well as one from the frozen north – that does sound inviting – but flat track is not inviting. Of course I would vote for Boston because they know how to run a masters meet – and frankly I am sick and tired of poorly run masters meets put on by well meaning meet directors with NO experience running a national masters track meet. Experience running an NCAA national or regional meet is NOT the same as running a masters meet.
RE the hot and humid south – sorry – not doing any of those again – yes I know there are folks who live in those climates and think that anyone who complains is a wuss -but those folks usually are not running a 5k or 10k or doing long race walks.
The lack of info coming out from Indianapolis does not create confidence about the meet. I see that they have a list of hotels – but no information about transportation from the hotels to the track.
I have no vote -and those who vote decide based upon who knows what. Hopefully they will take into account the ability of the various bidders to actually deliver a good meet, with proper timing, suitable field event facilities, and lap counters for all track events that go more than twice around the track. And know enough NOT to stop the clock after the first finisher in a multi-age group race.
Lets not panic too much about Bloomington. It is still 4 months away.
Milan – I think that some of us who live in the north are just very eager for spring to come!
The Joplin picture was not encouraging. An artificial football field on the infield is not what a javelin thrower wants to see! And it doesn’t make a nice atmosphere for track in general. Doesn’t anyone have real grass anymore?
The O’Connell Center at UF is interesting..fast Mondo track….but….to run the HJ they need the track for approaches. The PV, Shot, LJ and TJ are down below, where the hoops court is. You can’t really see the jumps if you are on the same side as the runways. They pull in the bleachers to use the track underneath. LJ and TJ are off portable wooden runways. Weight has been thrown outdoors at the Carnes. Nearest airport is Orlando. Any airport requires a rental car. Would nice for me as it is a 2-1/2 hour drive.
I don’t care where the meets are just hope I am healthy and able to go when the time comes.
I find myself at a lost for words when I read Jerry and Mary’s comments considering that the two of you have competed at numerous National Championships and could probably tell me more about previous championships then I could find out on my own. First of all today was the first time I heard from Jerry. He called me at 11:30 while I was at work and I returned his call at 2:30 while I was still at work. My email address is listed on the website if anyone has additional questions. The National office has nothing to do with this event. So if you contact them they will refer you to the website or me. We have also set up a special email address, that goes directly to my phone for questions about the meet. indianamasters@gmail.com
Not sure why it’s so important that entries are not up 4 months out from the event. Most meets around the country don’t open entries until three weeks out and close the week before the event. Entries will be open soon. We just needed to add a couple of items to the entry process. November is Junior Olympic Cross Country season and we have been in full swing. Most individuals want to know the schedule of events and the hotels. So we made sure you had the necessary information to make your travel plans. Keep in mind that the final schedule will not come out until entries close. The day of the event will not change, but your event could be the first one in the morning or the last of the day. So don’t make travel plans on the day you compete unless you are confident the meet will be over by the time you have to leave the event.
Mary I’m also disappointed that you would base your opinion of the LOC on the fact that you don’t see information regarding the shuttle service from the hotels. I realize that I have not competed at as many National Championships as you have, but I don’t recall any that did not provide a shuttle service from the hotels. There will be two shuttle buses running 1 hour before the start of the first race to 1 hour after the conclusion of the last race.
We will also have massage therepists and a chiropractor for the athletes for a small fee. Officials and volunteers will be served a hot meal catered in for them. There are two airport shuttle services available with door to door service to a number of the hotels listed. We have great officials, volunteers and the timing crew is top notch. We plan on hosting a great event.
I would ask that those of you who think that we are not capable of putting on a great event, hold your opinion until you have competed in our event. If after you come you still think that the event was not up to your standard then I would expect your negative comments.
Hi, Robert. Thanks for the extra info on meet sites. I contacted Mike Travers and others in the interest of letting masters NOT attending the USATF annual meeting to have a voice in site selection.
I’m grateful that Mike sent even minimal information. Ideally, the formal bid sites should be posted on usatfmasters.org. But nothing appears there at this writing.
On a different subject: Who’s Your Daddy? — the cranky commenter on politics — is banned. He won’t appear here again if I have a say. And I do.
BTW, Daddy’s IP address is based in Pittsburgh, according to Geolocation services. What’s in their water?
As Robert posted, and I mentioned above, he gave me a call and explained the Bloomington situation. Thanks, Robert. I tried your email address, as listed, and it didn’t go through. One of those glitches, I suppose. It’ll all work out. Smartty
#12 Robert,
Thank you for all this additional info. I appreciate it.
Looking forward to a great event…
Indiana Wesleyan University gets my vote (not that I have one), not just because it’s my home state, but also because they typically open all of their track meets to open athletes through Direct Athletics. Being inclusive gets bonus points in my book. The facilities sound good, Indianapolis is centrally located with a good airport, and the smaller venue would make it easier to support and interact with other master athletes.
Sites are slected by vote of the Masters TF committee, which includes the masters TF chair or designee from each USATF association.
If you have an opinion on a venue, contact your association masters TF chair, or if there isn’t one, the president who will have the association rep for Masters TF meetings.
Direct contact makes more impression than posts to a blog.
Steve Vaitones
Peter:
As meet director of the bid from Winston-Salem, NC I can tell you we have some unique ideas to enhance the experience of our masters and their families during their stay in our city. Without letting the cat out of bag entirely before the convention, one of these ideas is to run a split schedule to allow the distance races and walks to be contested in the early morning and under the lights in the evenings to avoid the heat of the day. If we win the bid, you’ll be one of the first people I call to secure you’re announcing skills as we only want the best!
Noel
M55 Decathlon
Boston is hard to beat. Far from Houston, but they usually organize a great meeting. It is worth the trip.
Thank you for your kind words, Noel. I accept. More generally, I think we are in for an exciting USATF convention.
Savannah, Georgia: Interesting. I am almost certain that the masters nationals have never been contested in Georgia.
Norfolk, Virginia: Could be good. I really doubt that Virginia has ever hosted the masters nationals.
Tulsa, Oklahoma: Would be a first for Oklahoma.
Joplin, Missouri: They have some experience in Joplin, but I don’t think that masters outdoors nationals have ever been in Missouri (that state had indoors in 1994).
Winston-Salem, NC: Charlotte, NC, had nationals in 2006, and everyone who went there will never forget it. Winston-Salem has to overcome that memory, but I believe it can, especially with a split schedule.
Marion, Indiana: Indianapolis had outdoor nationals in 1990 and achieved the second-highest number of entries in the first 23 outdoors.
In summary, there should be a lot of interesting discussion before the 2014 outdoor site is picked. And it’s so nice to have such geographic diversity in the choices.
Wake-Forest University would be a great location. You can snoop around here: http://www.wakeforestsports.com/facilities/wake-kentner-z.html. Even better, you long and middle distance runners, come early and sign up for a mini camp at ZAP Fitness http://www.zapfitness.com/, one of the finest training centers in the world. Throwers, come early and stay at my house in Hickory, NC and train at Lenoir-Rhyne University… I have never seen better throwing facilities. And better yet, I could invite my buddies to my house in the mountains. It will give you magical powers but you don’t need a TUE! Noel, get this done, please.
I would like to respond to Robert Thomas’ (12.) comment: “Keep in mind that the final schedule will not come out until entries close. The day of the event will not change, but your event could be the first one in the morning or the last of the day.”
REALLY? REALLY? Is this how USAT&F runs its open championships? Is this how the Olympic Trials are run? I seem to recall that these track schedules are set up well in advance so that athletes know whether they can double or triple up in events (100/200/400 or 1500/5000). A few masters will enter a single event at a masters national championship, but for many of us, traveling thousands of miles means signing up for a number of events (adding to the costs). However, it is no fun, for example, to pay entry fees and then learn upon arrival that the long jump is now scheduled at the same time as the 400m Hurdles (Orono 98) or that you have to drop out of the high jump before the end of competition in order to go run the 100m (Spokane 08).
Just what exactly is the problem with printing an event schedule at the time entries are due so that athletes do not arrive only to find events scheduled that do not allow for adequate recovery time or that conflict with one another? Speaking for myself, and likely most others, if at the time of the meet quarter final or semi heats are not needed, then don’t run them. Run the finals when they are supposed to be run. Yes, meets can run behind schedule and weather can throw things into chaos, but stop switching the schedule and moving events around after entries close.
I booked my stay on campus at the Biddle House Hotel..Indiana Memorial Union. There are a bundle of restaurants within walking distance. Get ready, we’re taking the BUS from Missouri to Bloomington. “Gee, Tex, you’re one brave cat.” What can I say? Smartty
I HATE having to stay over on Saturday night after I jumped at 9 or 10 AM because I didn’t know until the last minute what time I compete. I travel many weeks on business and don’t want to extend weekends if I don’t have to. Just say AM or PM when you post the schedule.
If you look at last years schedule most of the event times will resemble that schedule. With the exception of some of the throws and that is do to the facility having a different set up than last years facility, but the schedule already expresses different days for those events. David I’m not sure what event you compete in, but I, nor the LOC make out the schedule. The games committee are the ones that put together the time schedule. If we put out a time schedule before entries are closed and we have prelims in the schedule that we don’t need. We cannot move up events. So then we end up having gaps of times with no events going on and unnecessarily extending the day. Or we have events schedule before we have time to complete the previous event. I knew when I mentioned that, that someone would not understand what I meant. The examples that you use are outdoor meets. I was speaking about the 2012 indoor meet. I also don’t recall any National Championships that did not consider events that are common doubles when putting together the schedule.
No matter what we do there is no way that we can accomodate exactly what everyone wants. You may think that elite nationals are run more smoothly, but they have there issues as well. The athletes just don’t have a blog to voice their opinions and complaints.
From the post above (the one with the photo of George Mathews), one can deduce that Joplin, Missouri, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, have dropped out of the running for the 2014 outdoors. Neither one is mentioned in the minutes of the conference call. That leaves it at four.
There’s another possibility Pete: they hadn’t put forward their bids at the time of the conference call and so were not on the list then. Timing is everything. The conference call was last week. Mike’s message to Ken was this week.
Yes, I will concede that, Jerry. Tulsa and Joplin might have just come forward with their bids. Personally, although I would not expect to be announcing there anyway, I hope that Tulsa will be rejected unless it has a very good plan. Why?
I just rechecked the AccuWeather data for this past July-August. In that 62-day period, the high for Tulsa was 104 degrees or above on 25 of the days, or 40%. They had better have a great plan for conducting a track and field meet in extreme heat.
Steve Vaitones. About blogs and contacting officers directly. I hope you mean well. Of course athletes should contact officers directly. And we do. The trouble is that you officers often do not respond, at all. That creates the problems – remember my Boston query way back?
Believe it or not we masters athletes are also adult human beings. We do lead full lives outside athletics and any postings on blogs, perhaps even fuller lives than our athletics officers can imagine. A majority of us are also democrats in the wider sense. We do not take kindly to snide hints that we should not use popular internet media such as blogs.
Despite everything, Ken’s Masterstrack blog has proved a useful vehicle for communicating the concerns of the masters athletics community. It is particularly useful in this context. Don’t knock it.
Robert Thomas, your hotmail address isn’t working. Smartty
Nobody does Indoor as well as Boston. Period.
I am thankful for masters track support regardless of where we toe the line. Happy Thanksgiving to all y’all tough old competitors.
IU Bloomington’s indoor facility has a better warmup area than Boston or ABQ. I would rate the turns as being slightly faster than Boston or ABQ. The throwing circles are concrete and they are fixed & recessed. The oval was recently re-surfaced and has a soft bouncy feel with a fair amount of enery return.
Also, keep in mind that this is the track from the inaugural IAAF Indoor World Championships contested in 1987.
Cold, dark training in the Arizona Mountains this morning….Time to come down and start working those tight indoor turns….Faster than Boston and Albuquerque,
Bloomington should be crazy fast……Sully
Sounds good, Sully. Let’s see, you ran 52.44 at Albuquerque this past March at age 50; are you looking at 52.24 at age 51 in Bloomington? Should be a great meet.
BTW, as far as I can see, only one indoor masters nationals in our long history ever reached 850 entrants, and that was Landover, Maryland, in 2009, which laughed at that number. Would be nice to see Bloomington be the second to hit 850 or better.
Mr Taylor,
I would really like to go under 52 this indoor season……tweeking my workouts a bit….no rounds like in the Worlds so I will give up a little strength endurence for a little more pure speed work…..always looks good on paper but lets see if this old body can keep up with what my mind wants it to do…….See you in Bloomington, Sully
Excellent, Sully. When I was in college I led off the 4 x 440 relay at the Penn Relays in 54+, so 51 high for you at age 51 sounds like a pretty good target to me. I was probably a freshman when I ran that 54+ at Penn and beat one guy (from Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania).
See you in Bloomington … won’t be long.
Peter,
We had 865 entries in Boston 2010.
Mike Travers
Thank you, Mike. I guess the problem is that the stories on nationals in NMN no longer include the no. of entries, as they did in earlier years. Now I see that we have had two meets of >850, and they occurred in consecutive years: 2009 and 2010.
Again, it is impossible to be as confident on the no. of entries for nationals as it was in the past, when the NMN headline, especially for outdoors, would often include the no. of entries.
Any word on who won the 2014 bid?
Check out the pictures of this new indoor facility in Geneva, OH.
http://www.spireinstitute.org/sites/default/files/Participant%20Guide%20-%202012%20SPIRE%20Scholastic%20Meets%20-%2011.22.11.pdf
Too bad it’s a 300m track located in the middle of nowhere.
Leave a Reply