30-year-olds invited to compete in WMA Florida meet
World Masters Athletics exists as a governing body mainly to hold world championships. But a sideline is encouraging more countries to foster track. One way of doing this is putting on regional championships. This year, our region (formally known as North, Central American and Caribbean) is having a meet in Clermont, Florida, after the USATF masters nationals in Spokane. Usually, the WMA regional meet is held in Canada or Latin (not South as mistakenly posted earlier) America (in 2006, it was in Guatemala), but we host it Aug. 28-31, 2008. The event Web site is posted now. And it notes that M30/W30s (aka submasters) are welcome. They’ll be eligible to win medals. Guatemala also had M30/W30 entrants, but dang few (see results here). So spread the word.
12 Responses
Unfortunately, the timing of that is not good for a teacher who lives on the Left Coast. And, along those lines, having to fly to Clermont two years in a row on a teaching salary is unlikely.
Any chance this means the WMA championship meet in Sacto could host submasters as well?
The timing of the meet is less than ideal – it ends on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend – making the fares higher than usual. I priced the tickets and said “wow” – what a run-up in airfare – of course I could hang around longer and return on Tuesday after the holiday weekend – and spend the difference in hotel, meals, and rental car expenses.
The meet has been held in Mexico Ken – as well as Central America, and the Carribean, in fact – it is never held in South America since it is a meet for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean!!! -South America has its own sectional meet – the last time was in Brazil.
Althought it does not say so on the NTC website, the track looks to be an 8 lane beauty, although I don’t see a stadium or cover anywhere (hopefully a few tents will be set up). Clermont is 30+ miles west of Orlando, and I found plenty of flights from the Boston area to Orlando for $315 to $350, returning on Sunday. So I don’t see it being higher normal due to it being a holiday weekend for those booking early. Orlando car rentals can be obtained for under $20 per day. Room rates run from $70 to $95+ per night depending upon where you stay, which is affordable especially for those doubling up.
Warren is correct – from the Boston area – not too bad if the return flight is on Sunday – if on Monday – the price goes up as that is Labor Day.
Hotels and car rentals will not be too expensive – the heat is likely to be pretty amazing for those of us who live in the north. But – since it is off season for Florida – the air fare should be lower – however -with the ever increasing fuel charges – likely to pay more for the additional fuel charge and taxes than the so-called ticket price.
BTW – the next South American WMA meet will be in Rosario, Argentina the end of November – late Spring in Argentina -nice time for a trip south!! Get out your Tango Dancing Shoes.
I really hope that Warren Graff or someone else who attends this meet in late August will give us all a detailed report, especially for the benefit of those who will be out on the track (in 2009) more than one hour (the slower runners in the 10,000 run and most of the competitors in the 10,000 road walk). I am aware that the longest track event in this year’s event is the 5000, but this year’s experience should still be instructive. It would also be nice if the report commented on medical care, ice, shade, restrooms, etc. Maybe two or three competitors could report — after all, our 2009 outdoor nationals are only 14-15 months away.
Anyone know why the National Meet in Clermont is scheduled for early July?
Conflict in August perhaps?
The facility does look really nice:
http://www.usantc.com/track.htm
Only problem is the steeple pit is on the outside of the track- don’t like those myself due to the tighter turn.
Mellow Johnny: Please post the dates for the 2009 outdoor nationals (Clermont, Florida). I have not seen them posted anywhere, but apparently you have seen something that shows them to be in early July of next year.
Peter T.-
I hope I didn’t speak too soon but this is from the minutes from the USATF Annual Masters Meetings in Honolulu, it lists the following:
2009 Championship Sites
Outdoor- Clermont, FL- July 9-12 (not confirmed)
2010 Championship Sites
Outdoor- Sacramento, CA- June 30-July 1st (can’t be right of course- would need 2 additional days) or July 7-11 (also not right unless they want 5 days of competition)
Anyway, appears there’s a move to July in the works unless they change it…
Mellow Johnny (and others): I don’t want to make too much of this, but if your dates are correct we are only 13 months and 17 days away from our 2009 outdoor nationals, and we don’t even have the meet posted on the USATF Web site. Wow! Contrast this with Sacramento (2010 outdoors), which already has its dates posted, although they seem a bit odd (July 7-11, 2010, a 5-day meet). I wonder what could possibly be holding up the listing for Clermont in 2009. Which hotels will be used? Will there be lights? When will the distance races be contested? Will we find out?
Peter T.: Those are great questions.
So the July 7-11 dates have been listed somewhere?
If it is a 5-day meet, wonder how the race schedule will change?
And if that is the case, wondering if that somehow is in preparation for the WMA meet, which is of course a week-long affair.
PT: Can’t wait to hear your voice over the P.A. in Spokane in August. I’ve only heard you on the webcast from Orono and you’re a consumate professional at what you do. Here’s hoping you announce my name somewhere towards the front the steeple!
This is from the Sacramento Sports Commission press release:
“The four-day event will be held July 7-11, 2010, at Sacramento State’s A.G. Spanos Sports Complex. Approximately 1,000 athletes ranging in age from 35 to over 90 are expected to compete.”
So, sounds like the dates are just a mistake (dates listed are Wednesday thru Sunday so should be 8-11).
Also, athletes 30 and over should be competing or I guess after competing in nationals this year and next as a “submaster”, I won’t be going in 2010.
Leave a Reply