Site chosen for 2009 outdoor nationals — but it’s secret
USATF Masters T&F Chair Gary Snyder wrote me this morning that “the committee has selected a site (for 2009 masters outdoor nationals), which I email about after a few loose ends are tied. Folks will not be disappointed. I can confirm the dates, which are July 9-12. I expect to release information early this weekend.” Your guess is as good as mine about the site, but I’ll go out on a limb and predict it’s either Eugene or someplace in the Midwest. A couple dozen people who took part in the conference call Wednesday night are in on the venue, so the site might be leaked sooner. But Gary has sworn them all to secrecy, and there must be a reason for it. Whatever. When I learn it, I’ll share it. But several people on the committee are upset that the decision wasn’t delayed until December’s Reno convention.
14 Responses
I think I heard something about the National Championships being moved to Bismark, North Dakota? Can only hope…
Only two people out of thirteen who voted wanted to wait until Reno- I would not call that several people. The Rationale for not waiting is quite simple–The people who are putting it on need to know they were chosen so that the date does not get scooped up by someone else–we need to get that date guranteed. Secondly waiting until Reno Convention really means for practical purposes waiting until after January 1st- because with the Christmas Holidays nothing will get done between convention and the beginning of the year, when the holidays are over. Thirdly- not choosing the site for 2009- causes a log jam for the people that are considering a bid for 2011 at this years convention.
I can tell you that Eugene was not a bidder and has not expressed an interest in bidding for 2011-They have the Outdoor Nationals for the open folks for the next couple of years and they have their hands full. After the weekend I can tell you of the 3 places that have said they would like to bid for 2011.I will give you a hint there is one from the West, one from the East and one from the Mid-West all interested for 2011.
GO Bismark!!!!!!
Thanks for the info. Not sure why it needs to be kept secret at this point.
Knowing where we’ll be going in 2010 but not 2009 is a bit odd to say the least.
It could certainly be released with the caveat “if all the logistical pieces come together, the site for 2009 Outdoor Nationals will be …………” and we’d all understand, particularly after the Clermont debacle.
Nonetheless, I can definitely be patient for a bit longer and what choice do I have anyway?
omaha
Gosh darn…am I too late to bid on the 2009 meet? I’ll be headin back to Alaska soon, and as the maverick governor of a maverick state, I’ll authorize construction of an 8 lane mondo track, with dual runways and circles for the jumpin and throwin events, in the town of Wasilla. I know you older folks will enjoy the low July humidity and temperature that Wasilla offers. Besides, I need another excuse to fly the kids and the first dude back home to Wasilla on the taxpayers dime. What better a reason than hostin a track meet for a bunch of old foggies.
Anyone know who are the two committe members that voted to delay the decision until Dec/Reno?
I’m hoping for the Midwest myself at least out of fairness for those that live east of the Mississippi. Sure, Spokane again would be nice for me: 3 straight years I get to fairly easily drive to Nationals.
However, not fair to those who live elsewhere in the country and I believe 3 straight years on one side of the country could alienate several of those who live in the eastern half for good.
2011…hmm…Mt. SAC? Orono? and Baldwin-Wallace?
I just heard that it’s Spokane in 2009! They did such a great job last year that they’ve agreed to do it again this year.
And the committee looked at Christian Salas’s poor performance this year and decided they’d better give him a chance to redeem himself, because if the meet is anywhere else, Christian will be too lazy/broke to drive/fly there.
Yep, definitely Spokane.
Where’d you hear that, Salas?
Definitely mixed feelings for me. Great meet but again, could see us losing some masters track folks east of the Mississippi for good.
And as Peter Taylor has pointed out repeatedly, the numbers in Spokane were not good. A return trip along with National Senior Games in the Bay Area could mean an even more paltry showing.
Let me start out by saying, Chicago would be a fine place to hold the 2009 USATF Master National Championships! My first plan of change will be… only runners who run sub 23 seconds in the 200 meters, sub 11.5 seconds in the 100 meters, sub 54 seconds in the 400 meters, pole vaulters that reach the height of 14’6″+, shot putters that exceed 47’+ and discus throwers that exceed 150’+, will be taxed on their accomplishments with time added and feet taken away from their final efforts because they can afford to! By doing so, we will randomly reduce the times of slower runners and tack on extra distances to weaker throwers, jumpers and vaulters. My Second plan is to make a change in the awards ceremony where the Gold medal winner shares his or hers award with the Second and Third place finishers, doing away for good the Silver and Bronze! I also propose… a new, and exciting course, for the steeplchase, designed by my friend and colleague Bill Ayers, that we should all get a bang out of. The meet will not lack volunteers to time events, mark distances or rake sand, because my minion of door knockers and Acorn volunteers will be there to monitor your every move, or in case you didn’t get your Meet entry information in on time. I hope you say Obama when you think of the 2009 USATF Masters Track and field National Championships!
not a secret anymore, according to Gary,University OF Wisconsion,Oshkosh, facilities look GREAT !
had suspicions after I read through the post by Salas more closely that he was kidding…
If it is UW-Oshkosh, it has hosted D3 nationals a few times so assume the facilities are in fact top notch…
just checked out the Oshkosh facility at the following link:
http://www.titans.uwosh.edu/WOutdoorTrack/JJKellerField.html
if that’s really it, that’s a nice facility…warmup track right next to it and the European style track with long turns and short straightaways (due to the interior soccer field which has wide dimensions as you can see that are beyond a football field). And extended family in Wisconsin so can combine the trip with a visit to them. Hoping that’s the case.
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