No masters events at ‘Dream’ indoor meet in January
This coming January 21, Fresno State is putting on a world-class indoor meet called Run for the Dream (its name honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.). But the dream is for the youngsters, not us. I wrote to several people associated with the meet, asking if perhaps (pretty please?) they might find space for a masters event or two. This week, Fresno State events director Nate Wills replied: “We will not be having any masters events at the Run for the Dream due to the revised meet schedule we will be using. Coach (Bob) Fraley has stated that this event will be run differently than any other meet in the past and therefore will not be able to accommodate additional events.”
Earlier, Fresno State assistant coach Ramona Pagel wrote me: “There is great demand in all categories and all events for indoor meets, with this demand I believe that in the future the administration will allow us more opportunities to hold meets. Keep and eye out for future meets.”
So maybe the venue is available to masters, at least.
Once upon a time, in the 1970s and early 1980s, indoor meets in San Francisco and Los Angeles offered masters sprint events — featuring the likes of U.S. Senator Alan Cranston. It would be nice to have someone in USATF pushing for masters exhibitions at Fresno State’s meet in the future. Or better yet: Working Fresno State’s new track into the masters nationals indoor rotation.
No masters events at Fresno indoor meet in January
Sigh. A couple months back I got my hopes up for masters events at a Fresno State indoor meet on Monday, Jan. 16, 2006. Now I learn it’s mainly for high school and college kids, with a few invitational events. No open events for masters. However, two days before the indoor meet, a Bulldog Weight Pentathlon is scheduled, and the “U/O” (for university/open) designation suggests masters can compete in that event. I’m checking into it.
5 Responses
I wouldn’t hold your breath for any masters indoor meets at Fresno State. The indoor track is something they set up at the Sav-Mart Center, it’s not a dedicated track facility. I am sure it’s not cheap to rent the building or get the track set up.
Have Cleary contact them.
USATF has an invitational program. How about a Masters 400 or Indoor Mile?
By the way when is the 2008 schedule going to be posted?
http://www.usatf.org/groups/Masters/programs/mastersInvitational.asp
FR: David E. Ortman (M54) Seattle, WA
Let’s see. An age-graded 200m would take, what, 30 seconds? Take the time, make the time.
Matt, I will get it posted just as soon as I get final approval. The events we are trying for are the Men’s 60m and Women’s 400m, which would be contested at the Open Indoor Nationals in February–Mark
as dave wrote a race like the 200 or say 400 would take maybe 1 min and 30 seconds including set up time etc etc …lets say 5 min TOTAL…so its clearly NOT about time…its totally about NO RESPECT (and SUPPORT) for Masters Athletics…quite simple actually…NOW if we want to make it say an 800…it could actually take 10 min!!! imagine that!
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