Pete Taylor begins reflections on Charlotte
Meet announcer Pete Taylor, recovering from four hideously long days of Charlotte excitement, has sent the first of several compilations of notes and quotes on this past weekend’s masters nationals. Soon I’ll share my own hideously voluminous recollections — as well as photos and videos. Also in the meantime, send in your own favorite stories! Pete, BTW, was profiled over the weekend by Washington Times running columnist Steve Nearman, an M45 finalist in the 1500 at Charlotte.
Pete writes:
At the end of this meet I was physically and emotionally exhausted, but it was worth it. “We got ourselves a track meet,” to use the vernacular. When I started in masters I was somewhat appalled that many competitors simply showed up, completed their events in relative quiet, then went home.
Here’s some evidence that we had something very, very good at Charlotte (quotes used even for approximations):
Sid Howard (M65): “It was so loud at the end of the race (800) that I thought I was at the Penn Relays.”
Joan Hunter (W40 400 in 62.73, 5th, in her first nationals). Not what she expected; “it was like a big college meet.”
John Stilbert (discus thrower, on masterstrack.com)… “I felt like a NASCAR fan with a pit pass. It was so awesome!”
The movement of a large number of fans from the traditional end of the 100 dash to the start when the 100 was reversed. They really wanted to see the dashes from the best vantage point.
The post-race interviews by Andy Boyajian of Saladin Allah and Alisa Harvey right down on the track (think he did a third one, which escapes me).
Sid Howard reporting that two W30 track competitors likened their experience to being in a televised meet.
Because my primary duties were on the track (Andy Boyajian did a great job with field, and Eric Braschwitz handled awards), I will mention some of the track performers, beginning with the shorter races. We all know that Earl Fee, Bill Collins, Nadine O’Connor, etc., are fantastic, and so I will emphasize some of the newcomers (men and women who have not competed in nationals before 2006 as far as I recall). I must also mention a few of the other top performers, however, even if they are veterans.
Renee Henderson (NJ). This newcomer blasted to wins of 12.68 in 100 and 26.52 in 200, but I was not surprised (had announced her earlier in year). Sara Davis, a new face from Texas, was also very impressive in W40. Most amazing thing: The last-place time in the W40 100 was 13.78 !!! What? Eleven years ago (Michigan State, 1995), only two women in W40 broke 13.78. These young women can fly !!!
Liz Palmer (CA, W45) looked great in hurdles (3rd in 13.69, Joy Upshaw-Margerum was first) and 100 (4th in 13.60 to Joy’s 12.90). I love her quickness to the first hurdle. We are now so strong in W40 and W45 that 3rd and 4th can be great finishes (I assume Liz won the pentathlon). Karla Del Grande (W50) and Kathy Bergen (W65) are gods; they are not new, but I must mention them.
Catherine Nicoletti (W55) stayed pretty close to Phil Raschker in W55 200 (31.15 to 31.86); I don’t know Catherine at all. In W40 400, newcomer Joan Hunter, as noted, was 5th in 62.73 and first-year competitor Terri Rath was 8th in 65.16. How far we have come when the 8th finisher runs just over 65 (remember when we didn’t even have 8 finishers?).
Derrick Archie (Charlotte) ran 10.56 in M30 100, but Antwon Dussett topped that with a 46.98 in the 400. Really? Yes. Are we running a college meet?
Getulio “Tony” Echeandia is a thoroughbred, as he won the 400 in 49.93 and the 400 intermediates in 54.34. Karl Smith (M45) must be mentioned, as the 1984 Jamaican Olympian ran 14.41 in 110 hurdles and 23.05 in 200. His performance in the hurdles was one of the highlights of the meet. Karl is not a newcomer, but I had to mention him. William Burch (M70) won 100 in excellent 14.09; I don’t think I know him at all.
2 Responses
Wow, what a track meet. My first outdoor Masters championship (this being my “rookie year” in Masters track) and it was awesome.
There were so many great people to meet and outstanding performances to cheer about. Mr. Taylor’s announcing is first-rate. Hopefully he’ll continue for many years to come.
And yes Pete, I won the pentathlon. My birthday was the day before that event. What a way to celebrate!
I am glad that so many athletes had success in Charlotte despite the incredible heat. Personally the meet lived up to my worst fears – excessive heat and humidity. Having lived in the Charlotte area many years ago I have memories of oppressive heat and being soaked with perspiration constantly. Ok – it was so long ago that air conditioning was uncommen!
So – with that in the back of my mind – I tried to prepare mentally to deal with it. Being a northerner I rarely have the opportunity to acclimate to such heat and it just beat the life out of me. That is no one’s fault – and unusual heat waves must be a meet director’s nightmare. With my asthma I had a second problem – trying to get a deep breath! There were not too many of them around in my part of the track. So there you have it – all of my excuses for stinking up the joint!
I enjoyed the hospitality, the fine facility, the good officiating, and the wonderful announcing of Peter Taylor. I was sorry to not be able to be more sociable – as I spent alot of time hiding out in my air-conditioned hotel room. And I missed the socializing that goes with eating in the cafeteria with so many other athletes. I ate lunch there one day and the quality of the food and the price made me decide not to repeat the adventure of walking a half mile up hill in the near 100 degree heat.
I am looking forward to next year in Orono, ME – of course they could have a heat wave too – but perhaps they will not. Hopefully the climatic conditions will be better for me, if not, well I can continue to stagger around the track trying not to look like I need a canister of oxygen.
I thank the Charlotte folks for all their hard work, they put on a first class event and showed great flexibility and calm in dealing with postponements and thunderstorm delays.
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