Prize money being offered in Puerto Rico masters Grand Prix meet

World champion long hurdler Tony Echeandia from Puerto Rico writes: “I am putting together the first (as far as I know) Masters Grand Prix meet here in Puerto Rico. It is tentatively schedule for July 21st & 22nd and will involve both Men and women ages 35-60 and some over 65-year-old events. It will also be both track & field including but not limited too the following events: 4×100, 4×400, 100, 100/110 Hurdles, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 3000 or 5000 or both, long jump, high jump, shot put, discus, javelin. The meet is being sanctioned by the Puerto Rican Masters, the meet director is Mr. Michael Serralta (who is absolutely brilliant). He was the meet director for the 2003 World Championships here in Puerto Rico and he did an incredible job.”

Tony continues:

The meet right now is tentatively scheduled for “El Sixto Escobar” in San Juan, the idea being that San Juan would be easier for athletes to find hotels and do Site seeing. The track is beautiful and on the beach, it has parking and easy access, the track is also to be resurfaced which will be even better because the track is fast.

If it is not held in San Juan it will be held in Mayaguez where the 2010 Regionals Championships where held, another Excellent Track and a fantastic town to have a meet in. Everyone who participated had a great time. The prize money is coming form private sponsors like my own company and others I do business with both in NYC and PR.The breakdown will be as follows:

1st Place $200
2nd Place $100
3rd Place $75
4th. Place $50
5th Place $25

There will be music and dancing like the meet in Mayaguez, which is basically how we run meets here in PR, even Masters Events has music between races. A website is being developed right now for information and entries and I have a Facebook page set up to give information about the meet.

The time of year I have selected is also a benefit because it is the low season here in PR so airfare and hotels will be economical.

Any emails can be directed to me as well at tonygon400h@yahoo.com

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March 8, 2012

37 Responses

  1. Ace Bond - March 8, 2012

    This sounds like a brilliant idea. Who knows….maybe the concept will catch on and we can have our own Grand Prix circuit.

    Tony,
    If you add the Triple Jump to the meet schedule, I might have to plan a trip to PR.

    Great Work.

  2. Don Drummond - March 8, 2012

    -Tony

    I look forward to competing in the Puerto Rico masters Grand Prix meet. Cannot get enough of the Puerto Rico sunshine.

  3. keith McQuitter - March 8, 2012

    hay Don they dont have the best hurdlers there,if you go its like takeing candy from well you know the rest,IF my funds are good i would like to go,be nice to win 110H IN a nother country.any way have a nice season to come

  4. Calvin Padgett - March 8, 2012

    Sounds very good! I might be on my way… money or not… but the cash sounds good!

  5. G Dixon - March 8, 2012

    No hammer????

  6. Aaron Thigpen - March 8, 2012

    Love the idea of a Gran Prix circuit. Would be lots of fun to have some other high profile designated meets on the calendar with an international flavor other than worlds. Cold hard cash doesn’t hurt too!

  7. Panama Kid - March 8, 2012

    Pegame una llamada

  8. Jerry Smartt - March 8, 2012

    I ran the World 10K race in Puerto Rico. Beautiful beaches, beautiful girls, beautiful people, ugly “humisingaditty.” I knew I was in trouble when a cat in flip flops passed me. I never saw him again. To top it, Spiderman(full costume)blasted by and was gone. “Gee, Tex, maybe you could simply spectate.” Smartty

  9. Tony Echeandia - March 8, 2012

    Gentleman thanks for responding! The meet is experimental and my hopes are that we get a great turn out. If so this could develop into a masters circuit in which we all can compete in and have fun with. The actual Grand Prix events will be determined by actual entries, in other words if we get 3 or more world champion class or ranked athletes, lets say in the High Jump, that becomes a Money event. I feel it’s only fair to us all that the athletes chose the events by participation and not by design. In the future with enough participants all races could be present in the meet or different countries can host the events they wish to. Please give me any feed back you can as I am curious to know what other athletes think.
    Regards,
    Tony

  10. Ruthlyn Greenfield-Webster, RN - March 8, 2012

    I’m with Ace…add the Triple Jump and I may be making a trip to PR! 😉 Good Luck with the meet Tony!

  11. Tony Echeandia - March 8, 2012

    Get some of your competition and I’ll make it a Grand prix Event and add it.

  12. DeAneth Edwards - March 8, 2012

    That’s a great idea Tony I would definitely make the trip.

  13. Miriam Hernandez - March 8, 2012

    Tony, I will be there…………

  14. Eric Prince - March 8, 2012

    I think I might be coming to make my debut in Puerto Rico. I will promote it at the indoor Nationals meet to the elite Masters runners. Keep building it up.

  15. Brian ashley - March 8, 2012

    Sounds like a great idea and a excellent location.

  16. Jack Karbens - March 8, 2012

    The information in the posting above gives the impression that $400 in total prize money will be available for every Male and Female five year age bracket, for every track and field event staged if at least five competitors are entered in each category. Is this a correct interpretation?
    If this is not true, on what basis will the first through fifth place booty be awarded? If only five prizes will be given to the entire field of entrants, does prize money for the very best elite athletes encourage or discourage others to bother to enter the meet? Down with prize money.

  17. Panama Kid - March 9, 2012

    I DO NOT intend to win NADA DE DINERO…just a good excuse to go to La Isla del Encanto.

  18. Tony Echeandia - March 9, 2012

    Jack
    There will be approximately 8 women’s and 8 men’s events that will be
    Gran prix and of course determining the amount of entries that could change. As this is experimental it is also a learning process.
    Regards,
    Tony

  19. Mike Sullivan - March 9, 2012

    Sounds like a vacation destination.
    Sully

  20. Panama Kid - March 9, 2012

    That’s the plan Mike #17..from the finish line to beach and then “salsa merengue” at night. You Like “cuba libre and mojitos?”

  21. Tony Echeandia - March 9, 2012

    Sully YOU MUST COME!!!!

  22. Mike Sullivan - March 9, 2012

    Panama Kid,
    Cuba libre and Mojitos….Hate to say it but if liquer is involved I have a slight weakness! May test one out tonight ….my spring break starts in 4 hours…..Tony, do I need a passport or what!
    Sully

  23. Panama Kid - March 9, 2012

    Mike: NO passport NEEDED for Puerto Rico (U.S. territory) unless your a REPUBLICAN.

  24. Mike Sullivan - March 9, 2012

    Thanks Panama Kid,
    That is Funny!

  25. Panama Kid - March 9, 2012

    No hay problema…Look me up.I will be wearing a “bunch” of Panama “stuff”

  26. George Patterson - March 9, 2012

    #3 – Hey Keith easy there, You didn’t know but a Puerto Rican at 75 to 80 % health beat you in the decathlon at worlds.

  27. Panama Kid - March 9, 2012

    HEY Mc Quitter…IS George #24 telling the truth?

  28. Michael Daniels - March 9, 2012

    I need more details. If I am going somewhere to win some cash I need more details. Like is there going to be a limit as to how many events I can win or place in? Grand Prix to me means more than one event or meet during the season that we can qualify at for a major purse of money. We have established meet worldwide. Why not just incorporate everal of them into a real Grand Prix.

    There are two simular ideas or concepts on the web at http://www.mastersworldrecordchallenge.com

  29. John Altendorf - March 10, 2012

    Michael (#26), It looks like the “Masters World Record Challenge” is just another place to post your results. How is that better than the excellent rankings pages of http://www.mastersrankings.com other than you would get a piece of paper with your name on it?

  30. Michael Daniels - March 10, 2012

    John #27, Mine is not a ranking system like the excellent ones that are out on the web. My idea is to offer an award to those who would like one that validates what they have accomplished. If the other websites would offer one that would be great.

    I love the ranking systems that are out there and would like to see a World Class certificate offered to those who qualify. It is all workable.

    Very good response. Thanks.

  31. Panama Kid - March 10, 2012

    #14 Eric: Keep in mind,that TSA will NOT allow anyone to board for P.R. if THEY cannot dance SALSA/MERENGUE or DRINK PUERTORICAN RUM.

  32. mark williamson - March 10, 2012

    A grand prix meet offering that little extra incentive gives that extra shot to do ones best.
    Many kinds of records are likely. I recommend a split purse of each event into 4 places. Not too much to 1st and none to 2nd. We have to remember this is as much recreation as a sport…We are not young professional athletes under contract or anything even close to it. When more people see a chance to take something for their efforts there are going to be more entries and thus a more successfull meet. I mean if 4th place gets 50 bucks and it gets better from there then that is nice. Anyway, hope the dream gets off the ground. I will go for it.

  33. Linda Carty - March 11, 2012

    Count me in, even if they’re only having the 20m wheel barrow race!

  34. Freddy Mejia - March 13, 2012

    Awesome idea Tony. I did compete many times at Sixto Escobar arena back in the days, as a member of “InterAmerican University”. This will be my comeback as a master in International competition. Will love to see who’s still out there from those days. (High Jump, Long Jump and – if my body permits – 110 hurdles.)
    Good luck.

  35. Dell - March 14, 2012

    Tony, Sounds great! I know you have been talking about making this happend for a while, so I glade it comming together. If we have half as much fun as we did for the regional meet it will be well worth the trip. Thanks for blazing the path to what could be a great new way to highlight Masters Track…

  36. Fernando Febres - April 4, 2012

    It is great idea and firts celebrate at Puerto Rico.

  37. Corey Moody - May 22, 2012

    Lets support it and make it happen?

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