New Brunswick, Canada, to host 2012 WMA region championships
UNB track: meet site
Here’s the story, in case the north story goes south:
SAINT JOHN – Stability proved to be a major factor for the Saint John Track Club in landing an international championship meet for 2012 at the University of New Brunswick Saint John’s Canada Games Stadium.
On Thursday, organizers of North American, Central American and Caribbean World Masters Athletics (NCCWMA) announced its Aug. 9-12, 2012 championship is coming to Saint John. They cited a strong bid from a local committee headed by Bill MacMackin, a solid political climate and an excellent facility.
“It was the best bid presentation I have ever seen,” said Brian Keaveney, president of the NCCWMA on the plans put in place for the event that could attract more than 500 athletes.
The four-day event features athletes aged 35 and older from North and Central America, the Caribbean as well as others from South American, Great Britain and Australia, Keaveney said.
Athletes will compete in female and male age classes that are separated five years apart from 35 to over 90 years of age. The individual events range from sprints and distance running to high jump and pole vaulting.
In addition, the meet will double as the 2012 Canada Masters Athletics championships.
Saint John hosted that national event in 2007 and approximately 250 athletes, including 25 from New Brunswick took part.
“We look at this as an opportunity to try and grow that and attract a greater number of masters people into the sport,” MacMackin said.
“We think it is one of our growth opportunities in the sport. A lot of our coaches like to compete and not only have the chance.”
In fact, it was the success of that 2007 event that led Keaveney, past president of the Canadian Masters Athletics Association, to recommend Saint John as a potential site for the North American event.
MacMackin developed a bid for 2008 but after considering the renovation project at the Stadium, he pulled it from consideration.
However, it never left his mind and earlier this year, after he learned at the World Junior Track and Field championship in Moncton that there were few formal applicants in place for 2012, he formally applied to host.
“I dragged it out of my electronic file, changed some dates and tuned it up,” MacMackin said. “I put some new pictures of the stadium in and added some more current information and sent it off.”
The bid was formally approved in September during the NCCWMA’s annual meeting held in conjunction with the 2010 championships in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
It was contingent on a technical visit that evaluated aspects of the bid, including the stadium, safety, athlete housing, transportation and the government’s stability.
Considering the strong state of the Canadian athletics system, the freshly renovated Canada Games Stadium and MacMackin’s strong organizational abilities in New Brunswick, the board was impressed.
“The committee decided in a flash that if indeed Saint John was capable of hosting a championships (as per the technical visit), they would jump at it,” Keaveney said.
MacMackin is actively recruiting volunteers for the event and says the biggest items on the agenda in the coming year are securing sponsorship, finalizing the details of the schedule and marketing the event.
“The neat thing about masters competition is that it is walk-up event,” MacMackin said. “You don’t need to qualify, anybody can compete. It is very open and there is a lot of fellowship in it, which makes it a lot of fun.”
The meet received endorsements from both the university and the city in a release.
“We are thrilled to have this event on the UNBSJ campus,” said UNBSJ vice president Robert MacKinnon. “We can offer an outstanding competition venue for these athletes plus the university setting and residences will be available providing an economic benefit to the campus. We are an international campus and hosting an international sporting event of this caliber is a natural fit.”
Saint John Mayor Ivan Court said the city has a proud sporting tradition.
“It will be a great pleasure to have these athletes in our city, enjoying all Saint John has to offer, especially our new stadium. It shows how investments in recreation facilities, like the Canada Games Stadium can really pay off for our community.”
17 Responses
This sounds great. Our Canadian cousins put on very well run meets and have a date this far in advance should help in increasing participation. St. John’s is a very nice city – and a fine place to visit in the summer.
Ken,
What is all the background noise sounding like
commercials???? Please take it off.
Phyllis Provost
Found this on the university website ‘UNB Saint John boasts one of the finest track and field facilities in the country. A legacy of the 1985 Jeux Canada Games, the Stadium has a 400-metre, eight-lane all weather running track and a natural grass infield. There is fixed seating for 5,000; a press box, and other auxiliary facilities.’ Also did a quick check on airfares, which appeared to be high. Us New Englanders may carpool up, since it looks to be a few more hours above Bangor, but hopefully airfares will not become a prohibitive factor.
Kamloops had the same luxury in 2000.
For Canadians, you can run once and win 2 medals…
St. John is a very nice city and this isn’t a terribly long drive for most of us in New England. I definitely plan to go.
Yes, Jimson, I remember Kamloops (2000), as I helped out with that meet. As I recall, the event drew 522 competitors (per National Masters News). The 2010 meet, per the story, “could attract more than 500 athletes.”
As the 4-day regional championship of Canada, the United States, Mexico, and a host of other countries, one would hope that it could attract at least 2,000 athletes, but for some reason it has never been seen as an international meet that simply “must” be attended.
I agree that Saint John will be a good host for this meet and hope it can attract at least 800 competitors. Following up on Warren Graff (above), those flying from remote areas of the United States, or even from areas that are not so remote, may face a bit of sticker shock when they search the Internet for fares. We will see.
Attended the 2007 CMAA meet in Saint John prior to Nationals in Orono. Had a fantastic time and if you have a car plenty of stuff to see. The hammer/ discus ring had the roughest surface of any I’ve ever thrown in by factor of 10. But hey, you can only get Alpine Lager in the maritime provinces, so 2012, I’m in.
Meant to say that the prediction for the 2012 meet is “could attract more than 500 athletes.” My original post said 2010.
Good facility… ran there when US Nats were in Orono (2007 ?). Did a Canada / Maine vacation trip since they were only a week apart. Forget whether it’s a river or lake , but the track is right near a body of water. Remember it being a bit windy. Would definitely consider going, but an Illinois / Canada trip would be a bit tougher to pull off if it’s only a week apart. Looking forward to more details.
Good idea Warren – pick me up at the Rocks Village Bridge –
seriously – from MA – a bit of a drive – but doable with a couple of drivers and a comfortable car.
Just a FYI…
Mary has St John’s, some have St John, and some Saint John.
The meet’s in Saint John New Brunswick
There is a St John’s Newfoundland (the capital)
Maritimers are touchy about this….and we don’t want our American friends looking for the meet when they get off the plane in Newfoundland! 🙂
LOL – Doug – good point – I know the difference – living somewhat close to the area – sort of – and having been to Saint John New Brunswick and St. John’s Newfoundland -although many many years ago – but they have not moved have they?
I am likely to drive – so no problem getting off the plane in the wrong province. But ..a good point to be made for all of us down here in the lower 48 especially those making plane reservations.
New Brunswick folks – not Newfoundland.
i feel this is a wonderful event and realy great that my home city is hosting it Saint John not st. john’s nfld. as every gets the two mixed up. I am a elite marathon runner and feel not enough is done for my sport
This is going to be a nice event to attend. I plan to go to this meet next year. The Canadiasns always hold great meets. I will be coming from Georgia to compete.
We hope to see a lot of you at the NCCWMA in 2012 in “Saint John, New Brunswick.” We are proud of our newly renovated facility, new Beynon track and improved throwing areas. We hope to see a large turnout. Our web site is up and running with more information being added soon. http://www.nccwma.com
Dear Wma staff Regional Games of Canada.
This is Ilka , from Puerto Rico. When I was a teenager, we invited the Canadian athletes to Puerto Rico to run the 10K, Sevice to Mankind at Guayanilla. We love to invite many people of different parts of the world. We value your effort abilities and performance. Many people believe you are talented athletes. Ilka Carbo
Early registration is building for NCCWMA.
A full 4.5 months prior to the event and close to 150 are registered. There are some great early bird rates for the next 2 days…. Sign up now.
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