Another masters track futzes with age groups, loses M30/W30
I have a Google News alert set for “masters track,” which means I also get links to stories about masters cycling. I found it amusing that the wheel-spinners also argue about age groups — and when their sport should start. The news? Velonews reports: “There will be one less stars-and-stripes jersey up for grabs at USA Cycling’s masters road and track national championships in 2012. The governing body dropped the 30-34 age category for both men and women, citing what national events managing director Micah Rice called a ‘chronically low level of participation. … For example, this year at masters road nationals, we had 25 men show up for the 30-34 criterium while our 40-44 and 45-49 fields had over 100 riders each,” Rice said. “For the women’s 30-34 race, there were 10 riders. The numbers at masters track nationals were even smaller.”
7 Responses
I often wonder why there are the 30-39 age groups in masters track. Many events have few particpants, and some events have none. Seems that anyone stiil serious at age 30-34 is still running open events, and many folks in the 35-39 are busy with their careers, or starting families.
I respectively disagree with the inference of eliminating 30s from masters track due to lack of participation. The emphasis should be on inclusion, not exclusion. Although the participation in some events may be low, not having anything for us under 40 group would have pushed me out of the sport for good. I wish I were still able to run open events, but am lacking somewhat in the talent area. I can accept being told I’m not ALL THAT, but being told I am not serious about track is a bit of an insult. I know it won’t happen, but how about a radical proposal of adding a 19-29 age group to masters. Open elites of masters age rarely, if ever, come to masters nationals. The addition of a 19-29 group would likely attract some sub-elites and perhaps encourage some more of the “average joe” athletes like me to stay in the sport.
I agree with Dan. There are some elites that are very good in their 30’s, but if we want to grow our sport we need to provide opportunities to people aged 30-39 who want to participate . I think that we should be about encouraging a life long participation in our sport. We do such a poor job of promoting our sport it is a wonder that any of the 30-39 year olds even know about Masters Track. I would rather have one person running than none, because at least that one person still has the passion to compete.
Sorry I gave the impression that 30-39 should be eliminated, and I agree with Terry’s comments about promoting out sport. I wish we could get more folks involved in every age group.
I competed in local and association meets until my late 20’s, but back then masters started at 40. I gave up the sport and started to play age group softball and soccer instead. Unfortunately the national governing body of our sport has little interest in promoting masters track and places its focus on elite and youth particpation. Some local USATF associations like mine (New England) provide opportunities for masters competition, but other associations do nothing. The only group that I see promoting track participation for masters in the NSGA, but they exclude anyone under 50.
Guess it’s up to all of us to actively promote our sport since no one else has enough interest to do it for us.
It is my firm belief that all masters age groups should start at age 40. I repeat, age 40. In a day and age where we are finding out more and more that men and women can, and do, run, play and compete at an elite level well into their 30s (just look at Lance Armstrong, Bernard Legat, or even Brett Farvre)it is a shame that masters records should fall to these elite competitors. And to Dan, I would answer, well there are a lot of people in their early 20s, and even teens who are somewhat lacking in the talent department, that’s why many of them consistently get beat buy guys in their 40s and 50s. Furthermore, that is what age group competition is for. Come on! lets face it! We all know deep down that competing and staying competitive past 30 is no great feat today, but doing so past 40, well now, that’s something special. I am much more impressed with Pete Magill’s 15 minute 5Ks at age 50 then with Bernard Legat’s world competitive times which I have come to expect. Now, if Legat can keep that up at age 40, then that would truly be amazing!
Yes, all masters sports age groups should begin at 40. It was a mistake to change to 35 for masters track and field.
I will be forever grateful that Hawaii Masters Track Club warmly welcomed me at age 31. Mike Tymn hosted a 15 minute run. I got my certificate for completing 2 miles within 15 minutes. The announcement of this masters meet was in the weekend social activities section of the Honolulu paper,not the sports section. I ran in my basketball shoes. Earlier that year I had broken my ankle for the third time playing basketball.
Before that day I had spent my youth in baseball, basketball, football, boxing,swimming, gymnastics, snorkeling and partying. I got hooked on masters track that year and the following summer did my first decathlon including 4:45 in the 1500. Bud Deacon, a founder of the club and former record holder in the pole vault, cheered me on every lap saying, “it only hurts a little longer.”
I have now competed in masters track for forty years and have been a coach, official, meet director, and officer of HMTC for most of the forty years.
If I had not gotten into track and field in my early thirties, I would have been an out of shape, typical couch potato, softball/beer swiller by age forty.
I hope we keep and cultivate the sub-masters categories or 30-34 and 35-39 in our program and championship meets.
I wish we could give 3 medals and ribbons for places 4-6 in every age bracket for 30-34 to 95-99, 100+ regardless of the number of entrants in an age category. It is not the fault of those who enter if not enough people enter. This is the responsibility of the promoters of the meet.
Pete Taylor recommends more participants at our meets. A giant, sincere welcome mat is the best way to encourage people to train, pay their fees and travel costs and fill out the fields until they develop their full potential.
Aloha, Jack Karbens, President, Hawaii Masters TC
Leave a Reply