Sacramento likely to host the 2010 masters nationals
Sacramento is seeking to host the 2010 USATF masters national outdoor championships — a dry (and hot) run for 2011 worlds. Bob Burns of the Sacramento Sports Commission yesterday confirmed the candidacy of California’s capital: “Yes, we’re bidding for it — seems like a natural with WMA the following year. To the best of my knowledge, no one else is bidding.” In response to a query on who is in the race for the 2010 nationals, USATF Masters T&F Chairman Gary Snyder wrote me: “Sacramento Outdoors. Boston Indoors.” The 2010 nationals would be at Sacramento State University’s Hornet Stadium — site of the 2000 and 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials and home of a very fast Mondo Sportflex Super X track (9 lanes for the sprints).
Although in 2010 Boston would be hosting its umpteenth masters indoor nationals (after a year’s break), Sacramento would be staging its first-ever masters nationals. In fact, this would be the first USA masters nationals in California since 1997, when San Jose held the nationals (and used the Los Angeles Olympic medal podium from 1984.)
On my Forum, folks have debated whether USATF masters outdoor nationals should be held in a centralized USA location or moved around. It’s a moot point.
USATF Masters has adopted a beggars-can’t-be-choosers philosophy when it comes to siting nationals. Although in Ken Weinbel USATF masters ostensibly has a “championship sites chair,” Ken has rarely recruited any candidates, it seems. Most years, the site vote comes down to two bidders at the most. Last year, in fact, nobody bid for the 2009 indoor nationals.
A facility near Washington, D.C., eventually was found to host 2009 — thanks to the efforts of Joy Upshaw-Margerum and others.
The key to getting more bidders is for interested athletes to nag their local USATF association to look into the process and consider the potential pluses. USATF has a bunch of data on masters demographics and spending habits. Use it.
So the lineup appears set: Spokane 2008, Clermont (Florida) 2009 and Sacramento 2010.
Decisions on the 2010 meet sites will be made by USATF Masters delegates in late November in Hawaii — at the annual meeting. I don’t know the deadline for bidders, but I imagine that a candidate city or association can still jump in the game.
Otherwise, let’s congratulate Sacto and Boston on their de facto victories.
3 Responses
Sacramento is a good place for the national championships. The city has an international airport and plenty of hotel space at reasonable rates. The heat is a downside. However, August is usually better than July. This year we had a relatively mild August. They should plan for hot weather. At least the humidity is less than 50 percent on most days.
That is great news. Since I miss 2011 Worlds being that I don’t turn 35 until October of 2011 (doh!), at least I can attend outdoor nats in 2008 in Spokane and 2010 in Sacramento.
This is a really old post and no one will probably ready this, but I’ll write it anyway. I agree a central location would be nice. August is much better for me than July as well. And maybe if they stopped charging so much they would get more athletes to enter. I would have to pay for a USATF membership for $30, then $45 to enter one event. Add to that a 6-hour drive and the fact that my dad’s event (high jump) isn’t on the same day as my event (long jump) and it becomes too big of a hassle for me. I’m guessing there are a lot of athletes that feel like me. We all would really add to the competitiveness of the event. I’m disappointed I can’t make it happen this year because I would probably win my event and I’m sure my dad would win his event, at least based on prior year results.
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