Sacramento masters nationals won’t be like the 2000/2004 Trials
One of the attractions of competing at Sacramento State University this July was to be running, jumping and throwing on the same surface as Olympians-to-be in 2000 and 2004. Now it seems only runners and jumpers at masters nationals will get that buzz. Throwers, you lose. According to a posting at Track & Field News, the infield at Sac State is getting an artificial redo. This means no shot, discus, javelin or hammer on that hallowed turf. A nearby practice field will be your venue. Of course, masters nationals have frequently been held at sites with artificial grass. But dang, some of us were looking forward to using the same runways and rings as those of the Trials. A week ago, I wrote meetfolk for definitive word. No reply. Sigh.
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The shot, discus, and hammer have been taking place at the warm up track for all Sac St. meets for the last few years. The javelin is really the only change.
Will the Javelin be thrown off grass or
artificial surface?
I beliver the warm up track has an artificial surface runway – if I get a chance I will swing by and take a look.
Regarding housing, when they held the NCAA D1 meet at Sac State Friends and I stayed in Rancho Cordova, which is just up Highway 50 from the school. In 2007 we got nice rooms for under $85 a night. A little further and there are options in Folsom.
Nice…No throwing from the ring that in 2000 had one of, if not the best, USA Olympic trials shot put competitions ever with all three shot putters, Adam Nelson (72′ 7″) CJ Hunter (71′ 9″) and Andy Bloom (70′ 10″) throwing over 70′ in a very close competition. I wonder if Sac State site will continue using the practice field for throwers that are coming from around the World for the 2011 World Masters Athletics Championships or instead use Sac City’s Stadium (Hughes) or Folsom H.S. I’m hoping this is some sort of miscommunication or incorrect hear say, because I don’t think the Sacramento meet organizers would have deliberatly bid for these USATF Championships and World Championships knowing this ahead of time. If so, this gives throwers something to think about when some like myself mention having a seperate National Championships for throwers from the other events. Locations such as the Mac Wilkins Throws Center up in Oregon, etc. I hope the organizers respond to Ken’s questions soon. I’m sure athletes (especially thowers) from around the World want to know what’s up before committing to entering and flying to the States, to compete in a back lot. If USA runners flew to Europe to compete at a great venue, only to find out they’d be running in parking lot with traffic cones to designate the track oval or old vineyard with a dirt track that was plowed, because they were resurfacing the stadium track at that time. I’d be fine with that…wouldn’t you?
They had to have known the old rings were not there – there is a new building(Student Health & Wellness Center) in between the stadium and warm up track. That is the area that had the hammer and I think a shot ring. The construction started like 2 years ago and plans for it known well before that.
I think that the Worlds committe lists Sac St. and Hughes for competition and American River College for a practice facility.
Judging from recent world championships more than one throwing area (i.e, multipule facilities) will be needed to accomedate the 5 throwing events with qualifing rounds and finals in many age groups, plus the Thrower’s Pentahlon in 2011.
Last year at the Ontario Championship I threw hammer in the infield for the first time in a decade. It was nice.
Here are a couple of links that may be helpful. The construction of the new field house is specifically mentioned in the 2011 WMA bid.
Stats for the competition and adjacent practice facilities are mentioned. These facilities are first-rate; no need to worry about dirt fields, so don’t use that as an excuse not to come! Nick W. said he’d verify the artificial surface for jav run-up.
http://www.sacsports.com/images/WMA/WMA%202011%20Bid%20Presentation,%20Compressed,%20No%20Vocal.pdf
Pages 5 through 7 of the second link discuss the specifications of both the competition and the practice facilities.
http://www.sacsports.com/images/WMA/WMA%202011%20Athlete%20Workbook_8.23.pdf
Thanks for posting the information Liz. I’m sure this will ease any doubts or questions about the throwing area that athletes may have traveling from afar or in the States.
Thanks Liz and Nick.
Looks like the javelin may be at Hughes Stadium.
That’s OK, haven’t been there since l968, but it would be nice to throw inside the main oval sometimes.
let’s all go
to Sacramento
and throw!
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