Give Allen Johnson, Stacy Dragila free pass to Sacramento worlds
The December issue of Track & Field News features a nice career profile of retiring M35 hurdler Allen Johnson and an itsy bitsy status report on vaulter Stacy Dragila, who turns 40 in March 2011. T&FN says of Stacy, an Olympic champ like Allen: “Vault pioneer Stacy Dragila is considering trying to qualify for the ’12 Olympic Trials, when she’ll be 42.” Allen has recurringly pledged to run masters, but now he’s talking coaching, broadcasting or “agenting.” But I’d like to see them both at a little meet in Sacramento next year. What might we do to persuade them? How about free entry?
Stacy should be a slam dunk. She lives in the San Diego area (or has) with her little baby girl and big hubby Ian Waltz. She set at least one world record at the site of 2011 worlds, so this would be a great homecoming. And Allen has run at Sac State in the Olympic Trials several times.
So here’s a suggestion: Any Olympic medalist anywhere in the world gets free entry to worlds (as long as they’re over 35, of course). The Sacramento LOC is in a death battle for bodies, and this might prove a great attention-getter and promotional device. Not to mention a great thrill for spectators and other athletes.
13 Responses
How about free entry for all the proven #1 World Ranked Masters that show up at Worlds or Nationals.
Stacy is a tremendous person, and also just had a baby with Olympian husband, Ian Waltz. She also grew up in Auburn near Sacramento so why not Masters Worlds. I’ll ask her in Reno.
Some thought might be given to extending free entry to all former Olympians, whether they medaled or not.
As the first World Championship in the US, Sacramento World’s is a great opportunity to publicize Masters Track and Field and having a special ceremony to welcome former Olympians from all over the world might be a way to increase media attention.
At the Finland World Championships, 1936 Berlin Olympic vets Alfred Proksch and Ljubica Gabre-Gabric got a lot of media coverage (including inclusion in the film “Autumn Gold”).
There are many European Masters who are former Olympians who may skip Sacramento to simply compete in the European Championships. Getting a visa to come to compete in the US is hard for some countries (especially Russia), so why not at least offer some encouragement to come to Sacramento by offering free entry to all former Olympians?
Without good representation from Europe, Sacramento World’s could just become a duel between the US and Canada.
A lot of folks who went to Eugene, Oregon, in 1989 or Buffalo, N.Y., in 1995 would be surprised to hear that Sacramento will be the first U.S. venue to host the World Championships. As Casey Stengel used to say, you could look it up: http://www.world-masters-athletics.org/history.
Thanks, Ed, I stand corrected about Sacramento being the first US venue for the World Championships, but with Sacramento as the first US location in the post-9/11 world, organizers should do everything they can to encourage foreigners to come, whether it is giving free entry to former Olympians or some other tactic.
It’s easy for Americans to travel abroad, but have you ever talked to a foreign tourist who has travelled to the US since 9/11? We’ve become not a very welcoming place. Some foreign competitors may figure it’s just not worth the hassle to try to travel to Sacramento, so any incentive is worth considering.
-Our philosophy on the mountain is “You are only as good as your next race” Keeping it light -Sully
Here is something I learned from reading this post:
“The Sacramento LOC is in a death battle for bodies …”
I must be missing something; this is going to be the championship of the world for masters athletics, and it will be held not only in the US but in the most populous of the 50 states. What death battle? If the meet were going to be held in Pierre, South Dakota, that would be another thing.
Sacramento is a major city with a busy airport and a history of hosting national championships. In truth, it should be able to draw 7000 athletes, but I am still sticking to my original estimate of 5475 or something like that.
One reason we will not get 7000 is that foreigners do indeed have trouble getting here (see Rob D’Avellar’s posts above). If not for these difficulties I think we could do a lot better. Still, as noted at the top, this is the first time I have heard of a death battle. Must be just a bit of pessimism, I am guessing.
Mike thats our philosophy on our hill Kelton. Stay healthy my friend.
I get a bit tired of the claim that Europeans will not attend because of visa issues. A good number of European counties are in the Visa waiver program. Those who wish to travel to the US need one thing first – the money to travel. It is not a cheap trip. Some may prefer to stay closer to home and attend major masters championships closer to their homes. The cost of entry will be minor compared to plane ticket and hotel costs.
And btw – thinking of going to the WMA 2013 meet in Brazil – and you are a US citizen? Just wait until you see what you have to do and to pay for a visa to Brazil. It is tit for tat – for what the US does to Brazilians. That visa will be difficult to obtain and very expensive. You may decide it is easier to go to the World Masters Games in Italy – which conflicts with the WMA in Brazil.
As a frequent visitor to the USA from the UK I am always allowed entry but it’s rarely pleasant.
In my experience it might be useful if the organisers could give us guidelines / or a letter as to what best to say to immigration officials. Otherwise we’ll have to fend off questions as to whether we will be earning money and the “what is the nature of your visit” type of question can often result in confusion and worse.
Sounds ridiculous but having run the gauntlet over 100 times it can be a major pain in the arse.
European Championships next year? What in the world are you talking about, Rob? Still, traveling to Europe is wonderfully easy for Americans. (I cross the big pond all the time.) The other way around? A bitch and ever getting bitchier. Ever more restrictive requirements are in the pipeline as we speak. Leading European politicians are outraged, stopping just short of advising avoiding trips to the US altogether. The lunatics running the asylum = Congress next year won’t make it easier.
I think it is realistic to expect between 5500-6000 entrants in Sacramento, nothing like Riccione 2007 with over 9000. As for 2013 I will bet on Torino for the World Masters Games. The Italians have the experience running big meets with success. And the European master tracksters will flock to Torino and not Porto Alegre. My .02
How about free entry fees for some of the top ranked American Master’s athletes around the country who can’t afford the expenses to compete at Worlds, instead of sucking up to a few elite T&F open athletes who happen to be 35 and over and who also already for the most part, have sponsers who would pay for their enties if they desired to compete at Sacramento. I’m in complete agreement with Peter Taylor when he states in his post above,” I must be missing something; this is going to be the championship of the world for masters athletics, and it will be held not only in the US but in the most populous of the 50 states. What death battle?” Why prostitute a few Elite athletes for the sake of Master’s in an event that should have been planned out better to begin with if a “Death Battle” is truly now the case. Walk down any city street and ask 20 people,” Who is Stacey Dragila or Allen Johnson and what are they famous for” I’ll bet you 95%- 100% can’t tell you. How are they going to bring spectators in mass to watch the meet? The only ones that will benefit from watching these elites compete are the Master’s athletes that are already going to be competing anyway and die hard T&F spectators and families of competitors that had already planned on going to begin with. I also find it funny Ken that you of all people, are wanting younger elite Masters to help out a major Master’s competition because they would be,”…a great thrill for spectators and other athletes.” but yet, a very large portion of your stories posted on Masterstrack.com are about 100 year old throwers or Masters that are in advanced years compared to the younger Masters athletes. Get them to promote the meet and pack the stands. So your saying that there is no thrill in that? Can we now all expect to start getting the thrill of reading more about some of the truly phenominal 30-44 American Masters athletes like Lee Prowell, Adam Alderton,Chad Lindsay, Jim Sorensen, Bart Thomas, John Wirtz, etc… Don’t hold your breath folks.
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