Photos back critics of Clermont site of 2009 nationals
M40 sprinter John Simpson from Texas is used to heat, but he wasn’t ready for the poor facilities at the WMA regionals over the weekend in central Florida. So he took some pictures to document the site of the 2009 masters nationals. (See below.) The shots also support arguments made in the petition against the National Training Center site. John writes that the online petition was a collaborative effort of him and Allan Tissenbaum, Andrew Seach, Val Barnwell, Tony DiSalvo, Lonnie Hooker, Courtney Muhammad, Don Drummond and Allan Sims — “basically every athlete at our hotel,” John says. “It must be known to all folks thinking about Clermont that it will be a pain in the ass the entire time. We aren’t here to complain, only speaking the truth.”
John continued:
We must sell our package to a city that wants to earn our spending potential and safely and effectively accommodate the athletes and families . . . It’s amazing someone didn’t know all this before making a deal with the NTC.
And here’s the USA M40 4×1 relay team that ran 42.44 in a 20 mph wind that threatened the world age-group record of 42.20. From left are John, Val, Allan Tissenbaum and Lonnie:
19 Responses
A picture is worth a thousand words – thanks John for sending in the photos – and I like the newer uniform too!
On the subject of the meet facility and surrounding area. Bets the heck out of me why anyone would want to go there twice. There were “indoor plumbing” at the little white building where results were posted – but that information was not broadcast – but no changing and showering facilities – one woman athlete asked about showering at the National Training Center facility – which is a health club. She was told she would have to pay $10. Nice huh!
Lovely to have spectator stands on the side opposite the finish line – as in – who cares who is doing what.
Enough from me – I agree with the good lucking fast running sprinter dudes – do not hold the national masters outdoors in Clermont next summer – or any other summer. The facility is a really nice training facility but it is not a competition facility for national nor for international meets. Can you imagine that the Open championships would be held there !!!!!
sorry for the typo – that is supposed to be “good looking” should have previewed before I clicked post.
Not a great place, but was there a better choice? We also picked on WMA championship choice in Canada, but it turns out there was no other choice. Nevertheless, it is depressing that our top competitions are taking place in what others consider training facilities. It definitely cuts down on participation. Finland sounds better and better.
Milan
“If you build it, they will come” only works in the movies ! These pictures are an eye-opener. This facility is clearly lacking in the basic necessities required to host a medium/large track meet. It’s a shame SoCal did not get this bid. I will have to reconsider my plans and might even sign the petition.
Finland sounds better to less than 5% of USA Master Competitors…maybe they’ll come up with some solutions on the ‘Clermontgate’ deal..
Well, at least it is not in a middle of a corn field 🙂
But seriously: Maybe some extra tents and couple of misting stations will reduce the health risks.
not a cornfield..more like a dug out landfill
My two cents! I was at Clermont earlier in the year and could not understand why the venue would be held there, for the obvious reasons that have already been stated. Our delegation from Puerto Rico were happy to compete but we were less than happy with the facilities. WE did luck out and stay at the Hampton Inn which treated us like GOLD though! It seems to me that the meets are more about the officials and less about the Athletes, which is ridiculous. I can run any day without the benefit of an official, it would be good that they knew this, so they don’t feel like they are doing us a favor by being at the meet. Also it would have been nice to have a couple of officials who spoke Spanish, luckily for a number of athletes I was around to translate but I couldn’t believe that a competition of this stature hardly any officials who spoke Spanish, thats crazy since a lot of Athletes were from Spanish speaking countries. Regardless I would like to thank the Athletes on my country’s behalf for a great competition, it was fun and the unity of the Masters community is refreshing!
We thought we were getting a 2009 Mercedes and instead ended up with a 1972 Chevrolet Impala. Oh, well. Just a quick note — I like the idea set forth by Tim Edwards that we should explore times other than first week in August (I would like a June championship). I must, however, note that it really does make a difference where we are.
Just looked at the weather stats for Orono, Maine, which I consider to have an ideal climate for our meet. Average low-high for Orono in the summer months: 51 to 75 in June, 56 to 80 in July, and 55 to 78 in August. Wow. Note also that our most recent data for a full month (August 2008) gives an indication of just how mild Orono is (you can fool the weather gods for a week but you sure can’t fool them for a month). In August 2008 Orono had exactly five days where the high was 80 or above — August 17th was the killer, when it hit 83.
Don’t even ask me how this compares with running under that brutal semitropical sun in August (in Clermont). And don’t forget the humidity in Florida.
I was there last weekend and enjoyed the meet but do agree that as is, the facility needs some improvement to hold a large meet. I had heard that there is a plan to address the facility’s shortcommings. If that is so, let’s hear what the meet otganizers have to say before we decide.
Regarding future sites and dates, Peter makes a great point. Historical data from the weather bureau allows anyone to calculate the odds of 90 degree weather and high humidity for anywhere in the US. Almost any location can get high temps in the summer in the US, but it doesn’t seem wise to schedule daytime competitions where the odds are extremely small of good conditions.
Folks (George Matthews?) have commented that we need multiple bids to even have a choice–otherwise all these discussions are academic. I would like to see the budgets from our nationals–even if presented anonymously or as averages. It is difficult to contemplate approaching community leaders and facilities about supporting a meet unless there is more a open (read: more information) process. I don’t mean to suggest our many hard working volunteers are trying to keep the info close to the vest, it’s just that we rank and file can only go the USATF pages where we find little of substance.
If I am merely missing something, please let me know–anyone.
Bill Pontius
Latest word from USATF Masters T&F Chairman Gary Snyder, which came today (Sept. 3, 2008), is that USATF has not yet signed a contract with the 2009 meet organizers at Clermont.
Also, here’s a PDF of the meet handbook of last weekend’s Clermont meet:
http://www.usantc.com/events/handbook.pdf
This contains names of the folks who ran the meet. Just FYI.
Bill Pontius, you are a man after my own heart. Remind yourself to say hello to me at a future meet (when I am announcing). I love weather, and I think I know a little about it. Running a 5000 at Clermont (lifetime best 19:48, present ability about 26:00) would have me crying for my mother; I doubt I could break 32:00 at that venue.
But back to your (and my) point: All we want to do is maximize our chances of good weather and minimize the chances of bad. Mary Harada caused me to recall another of the weaknesses of Florida — it’s hot so stinking early. Orono, Maine (my favorite), had daily lows of 46 to 64 in August 2008; you don’t think that Clermont had any that were below 73, do you? And 73 was the best they could do for a low. With a nice overnight low you can do plenty in the early morning (not the case in Clermont).
BTW, I still like Ypsilanti (Michigan) for our site (the home of Eastern Michigan Univ, appears to have a nice stadium for track and football, has student housing, etc., etc.). Ypsilanti had one day of 90+ weather in August 2008, its lows were in the 40s, 50s, or 60s on every August day except one, etc. Let’s go to Eastern Michigan !!! They are holding the 2009 US Youth Championships, I believe; maybe they can add us a bit later in the year.
roundtrip on expedia is only $278 for the last week in July…
I’m in, where do we sign? only 18 miles from Detroit airport right down the road from Ann Arbor…someone do some lobbying!!
From a masters newbie’s perspective, the whole talk of Clermont is pretty discouraging.
This was my first year of masters competition and you’ve got me, I’m hooked. Really enjoyed Spokane that any decent venue and location and I’d go. Orono, Ypsilanti, etc. But Clermont is clearly a different bird altogether.
These are real, legitimate concerns from many a masters athlete, not just gripes from one or two Ebenezer Scrooges.
I keep hearing that masters track is dying and the need to build for the future of the sport.
Holding National Championships in places like Clermont won’t help that any.
A place like Clermont is fine..IF they have suitable neccessities for athletes and spectators
In addition to the pictures taken, there should be a picture of the main hammer throw field which slopes significently downhill.
On the technical side: We were told to check in prior to our events. The timetables were given in the handbook on line and in the registration packet. However, the only ones who were keeping to the check in times were the athletes. In all running events, when you went to the table to sign up for the days running events you were told to come back later. At times the event was to go off in less than 30 minutes and when you returned to the table there still were no sheets to sign in. We were then told to go directly to the track.
The steeplechase was suppose to go off at 7:30am and at 7:15AM someone realized that there was no water in the water pit so the start of the steeplechase was delayed. At 9AM the first race went off. The men’s 70+ and all of the women were placed in one race. When one of the women asked to run separate from the men’s race, she was told that they had a tight schedule and they would have to double up. If the schedule was so tight why didn’t they run the women’s race at 7:30AM. The athletes were warmed up and ready to go at 7:30am but the meet was not ready for the athletes. Failure to organize the race correctly on their part resulted in the athletes suffering. There were many races like the 1500m where there was a mixed field of runners (60+). However, the athletes were not given age numbers to place on their backs, so once again the athletes were at a disadvantage. This meet was run technically like one would run a small developmental meet. Finally, I felt badly for the non English speaking athletes, which made up at least half of the field or more. There were many events were the officials only spoke English. Thanks to many bi-lingual American and Central American athletes, there was some races where the directions were given in Spanish, otherwise the Spanish speaking athletes were not accommodated.
Yes I must agree with all the above comments. I was hanging in there just fine until we got to the relays where we spent 15 mins on the track trying to sort out what team should be in lane 3 vs lane 8. There was no one to translate in Spanish! Then when I had to use the restroom … There was no soap or water to wash … yet we were all shaking hands, using the same batons etc. And 3rd … when we had to evacuate the track due to lightening … we could barely hear the little PA System. During the meet … the PA system was not used, so there was no hype, no intros, nothing but wind and a few cheering athletes. I have been to tiny all-comers meets with more action and love for our non-English speaking competitors.
I too competed at Clermont and was less dissatisfied than many of the entries above. But I’ll have admit pole vaulting in “flop sweat” conditions — just getting your grip dry long enough to jump was a challenge. I thank the organizers for their efforts but would strongly support a more northern (like Ypsilanti, MI– my home base ) as a better place for a national meet in the middle of the summer.
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