Secrecy prevails in bidding for 2012 USATF masters nationals

In recent days, I’ve been trolling for who is bidding for the 2012 USATF masters nationals (indoors and outdoors) — to be selected at this week’s USATF annual meeting in Indianapolis. I’ve written to Gary Snyder, our national chair, plus folks in various cities with a history of interest. Finally, I got an absurd note from Mike Travers, USATF Masters Site Selection chair. He writes: “I am not going to release any bidder names and locations prior (to) the meeting. Some of these bidders appear to be sensitive to the competitive nature of this bidding process. I don’t want to lose any bidders because of any early disclosure. I will however let you know soon after voting and acceptance of the bids, so you can post to your blog. It’s fair to assume that there are multiple bids expected for all open dates.”


Sensitive, huh?
Do you realize how insensitive this makes you look in the eyes of masters athletes nationwide, who might want to have a say in the process? 

And what bidder would pull out because of “early” disclosure — just a couple days out? What do they have to hide? 
What would happen if the IOC or WMA adopted this paternalistic attitude?
Well, I can tell you who isn’t bidding for 2012. Boston won’t seek indoor nationals.
Longtime Boston nationals meet director Steve Vaitones wrote the other day: “Not bidding for 2012. Don’t know who else is. Mike Travers is site selection chair and wants to get a 3-year rotation going.” 
Which leaves us to wonder: Rotation among whom?
In addition, I got a reply from a Southern California Association meet director, who wrote: “No we are not (bidding for 2012) and no I haven’t heard. I did hear that New Mexico was going to bd for the 2011 (masters) indoor nationals.” 
So I guess we have to be good little masters. Wait our turn to speak. Raise our hands politely to be recognized. And take whatever town is shoved down our throats.

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December 1, 2009

4 Responses

  1. Roger Pierce - December 1, 2009

    Ken,
    Is this a particularly slow day for any masters news to report?
    Be patient and nice…I know you can do it.
    Mike Travers is a very conscientious and reasonable guy. He works hard for Masters Track and has our best interests at heart.
    We should know who is bidding for the Indoor Nationals in a few days and I would venture an opinion that there are not too many of us out here too overly concerned about waiting a few days to find out.

  2. indoor nationals 2011 - December 2, 2009

    New Mexico here we come!!!!

  3. Tim Edwards - December 2, 2009

    Where and when is the 2011 Nationals? Or is it taking a year off due to the World Championships in Sacramento?

  4. peter taylor - December 2, 2009

    Well, Tim, the 2011 outdoor nationals are at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio (I don’t know the dates). For some reason I don’t know who’s holding the indoor nationals in 2011 (you’re a thrower, and so I guess you might have more interest in outdoors, although you could put the shot and throw the weight indoors).
    Peter T.

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