Orono nationals meet director touts Maine’s beauty
Two things you can expect at Maine masters nationals: lobster and lovely views. It’s the scenic part that meet director Rolland Ranson stresses in Peter Taylor’s first interview on the August 2-5 meet. But Coach Ranson (a University of Maine assistant) also recalls a freaky moment from the last nationals held there: “At the last nationals in 2002, many remember the car lineup on the highway, when a moose sat on an exit ramp and did not allow cars to go around him; eventually the moose got up and wandered off.” Feel free to suggest questions for Pete to ask Rolland. (And to revisit the 2002 nationals, check out photo files beginning with “orono” here.
Peter Taylor: The 1998 championships at Orono were hailed as the best ever by the National Masters News; the 2002 version was just about as good. Will you have the resources (both internal and external) to match your last two championships? Who will be your coordinator of officials, and do you still need to recruit officials for the various events?
Rolland Ranson: We have the same enthusiastic staff, most of the same officials, the same format. We are attempting to tweak it a bit, and we are going over helpful critiques, to make improvements. The newer computer technology is already helping.
It is our goal to match and improve as best we can, on our last two hostings of the USA National Outdoor Masters Championships, in 1998 and 2002. Don Berry is still coordinator of officials. He received 196 applications to select from.
We will have lots and lots of great officials from every corner of the USA officiating. In the past we had 28 Olympic officials, and we expect similar numbers this time. Thus it will again be one of the best officiated competitions, and smooth flowing, and enjoyable for the competitors.
Of course we have the greatest announcer in the USA again joining with us. Thanks, Peter. You make it a great four days.
Your turnout was 1061-1062 in your two meets; with the world masters in Italy this year you might have trouble hitting those numbers. Or will you be able to break 1100 or even 1200? Do you have any special plans for publicizing the meet?
Peter, here in this wonderful scenic corner of the Nation, with wonderful people, word of mouth is the best advertising method. Our Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau is again helping us in many ways. They can be reached at www.bangorcvb.org for general information on the region, including travel, hotels, dining tourist ideas.
However, changes and improvements have been made by the USATF national governing body, since 2002. Already I have seen a wonderful ad with our exciting new logo, printed in a magazine.
They are marketing the championships in many new ways. Andy Martin, from the USATF national office has added new advertising methods. Also the Masters National Committee has Robert Weiner as chair of the publicity committee and we have already and will receive lots of help from Bob and his committee, via many different publicity, advertising methods. It is exciting for sure.
Speaking of entries, when will paper entry be available, and what about entering on the Web? What will the Web address be?
Attached is a copy of the complete entry form with all needed information and schedule of events. Hopefully Ken will put it up on his website. (Ken: It be done!) I have emailed and mailed copies out to athletes who have requested it, they needed it for work related holiday requests, and hotel and air travel information.
The campus dormitory and meals form is up. The website will be up soon or is up. www.usatf.org/events. They are recommending that people register online. If uncomfortable with online registration, then postal mail paper copies to me in Maine.
Weather was not a problem at all in 1998, and it was no problem in 2002 until the final day (high of 92 in Bangor that day). Orono has one of the finest climates for our nationals (average high for a day in August is just 78), but if we do catch a 90+ day will the meet be fully prepared? What kind of medical/physical therapy staff have you engaged? Will there be
sufficient shade?
The weather is a great cure all for sure. I love the relatively low humidity, the clear nights, the wonderful air. It all makes the trees, shrubs, flowers, lakes, hills, shine with bright joy at that time of year.
Our medical staff is on top of all situations. Our campus public safety is equally on top of all
situations. The large regional hospital is 8-10 minutes from the campus and stadium. We have the university sports medicine department actively involved, They direct all facets of the medical staffing.
We again will have it covered to meet all situations. They are in charge of all medical and weather related decisions. We have staff at the track. We have our sports medicine facilities in the fieldhouse 40 yards away.
We have the campus health center 200 yards away, etc. Maine is known as the pine tree state, we have lots of shade trees in the throwing area at the edge of the track facility. There are tents everywhere, The huge open area underneath the stadium is a wonderfully cool breezy place.
The hockey arena is 30 yards away and the huge fieldhouse 30 yards away are open. Both are cool, spacious, out of the sun. The river is about 100 yards away. We again will have the canoe rentals available, so people can enjoy the river as well, to keep cool, be relaxed and peaceful
as well.
I suppose that most athletes will fly into Bangor, then either take a meet-sponsored shuttle, a rental car, or a cab to Orono. Many of our athletes come from California or Texas, although we should attract athletes from almost all 50 states as well as Canada.
What can Californians or Texans experience in your part of Maine that they don’t have in their home states? Will you have information or even “counselors” to inform them of these activities/attractions?
Many also fly into Portland Maine, or Manchester New Hampshire and enjoy the very scenic peaceful drive to our campus.Some drive from Boston, and once out of Boston it is a scenic drive. Our travel agency, Bangor Travel, again has discounts available and is helping athletes and families find flights, etc. contact them at bgrtvl@att.net.
Our Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau will be staffed with volunteers, at our stadium, to direct you to wonderful vistas to visit; in fact you can start now by visiting their website at www.bangorcvb.org. Or contact info@bangorcvb.org.They have the hotels with discounts, restaurants as well as complete information on the region.
The uniqueness of Maine, is its unique combination of the people who live here with the western Mountains, the rolling hills of the coast, the pink granite cliffs [great to hike and walk], the many lakes, pine trees, picture book coastal harbors, with lobster boats, old New England homes, churches, village town centers; the unique Maine flea markets, antique markets and shops, wonderful downeast dining, whether on the docks of the ocean or at a lake or river, or in the center of a village.
Maine is a wonderful place to visit. Of course all of this is within one hour of our University of Maine and the Track and Field Stadium. Of course we never forget the lobster — the best tasting and fun eating that you will ever enjoy. This I enjoy sitting on the docks of Bar Harbor while watching all the sea birds, and boats in the quaint harbor.
Then unique meetings with the wildlife just pop up at unexpected times. In fact, at the last nationals in 2002, many remember the car lineup on the highway, when a moose sat on an exit ramp and did not allow cars to go around him, eventually the moose got up and wandered off.
Now that is something unique and unexpected. Finally our sky blue track facility with the river on one side and pine tree forests on two other sides and the beautiful brick buildings and winding walkways of the campus on the other side give the athletes a great place to compete!
We hope to see you and your families August 2 – 5, 2007 at Orono Maine, for the 2007 USA Natinal Masters Outdoor Championships.
Rolland Ranson
University of Maine
Director of the Championships in Orono
mainetrack_field@yahoo.com
rolland.ranson@umit.maine.edu
6 Responses
I was smiling and remembering both 1998 and 2002 at U Maine until the comment about the
“sky blue track”. Pleezzee – what ever a meet director want to say about the facilities, the color of the track is NOT A SELLING POINT”. Those of us who went to Hawaii remember the “rainbow track” that was not exactly first class. I want to know if the track is in good shape – not its color for heavens sake.
I would also like to know if the dorms have been renovated – or are they still pretty well worn – but then – they cannot possibly be as worn out at the Hawaii dorm – nor can they ever match the strange keys there.
You need a car if you go to Orono or you will be stuck on campus or left to the mercy of someone with a car.
The meets in 1998 and 2002 were very well run and the banquet is excellent. I say that as one who usually avoids them as the quality is often hit or miss. However the lobster meal is not to be missed.
I have not looked at the housing form yet – in 1998 I opted for the meal plan and the food reminded me of my college days, poorly cooked, high in fat, too much fried, too little fruit and vegetables that had not been cooked beyond recognition, and the menu inappropriate for athletes. The meal times and competition times conflicted so that one ended up paying for meals not eaten. In 2002 I did not take the meal plan, the university has a food court where it was usually possible to find something I could eat at times that fit my competition schedule. There are places to eat off campus as well- again assuming you have a car.
Don’t miss this meet – if it is better than the two prior meets – it will be most excellent.
Here’s a question: I’ve heard from several sources that Maine has its share of pesky flying (not to mention stinging and biting) insects. Last year, the Charlotte facility and practice fields were sprayed. Will the Orono facilities have such protection?
pesky flying stinging insects
spraying!!! – spraying with what – for what reason – the state slogan is “Maine the way life should be ” (or something like that ) which means – a Maine summer includes pesky flying stinging insects – you can buy a can of spray at the drug store, Wal-Mart, and probably the U Maine campus bookstore for that matter.
What would a New England summer be without swatting those pesky insects!
I was very glad that the grass on the Charlotte practice fields was sprayed for chiggers and ticks. Professional spraying is far more effective than applying bug spray to your body. I like to avoid bites that cause miserable itchy welts and possible infection and disease and I’m sure everyone else would too.
Does anyone know the schedule of events? I want to make my air and hotel reservations and only compete in one event.
General observations about U of Maine. Except for Eugene, these have been my favorite championships. I like the climate and the facilities are good. I suggest driving up the coast road from Portland. It takes a while longer but the trip is wonderful. The motels in town are ordinary but okay. There is a nice restaurant by the river.
Maine has some of the meanest bugs in America. The bites hurt and leave welts that last several weeks. Bring your bug spray!
I won my first masters discus championship in 1998 in Maine, so this venue has special meaning for me. I am really looking forward to this meet.
Dr. Fahey,
There is a link to the registration form on the Canadian Masters meet website.
All men’s discus in Maine will be in ring two( near the start of the 200) on Friday August 3rd.
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