U of Washington among masters-friendly venues
People sometimes ask: Where can I compete indoors? My reply: Wherever a collegiate meet director is willing to take your money! You’d be surprised how many coaches are happy to let you run if you cough up the entry fee. Latest example is the University of Washington, site of several record-breaking Tony Young masters miles. Over the weekend, masters sprinters there were accommodated in sprints (including a mixed-sex 60). Check out these results. (Do a search for “maste”) These meets aren’t advertised for masters, so you just have to contact the coach, and ask: Can I run?
7 Responses
The University of Washington has been extremely kind to the masters athletes for several years, specifically the sprinters–thanks to Steve Robbins. We also thank the meet director each week for such a fantastic opportunity to run in a spectacular venue.
The meet director has set two heats in the meet schedule for a masters 60m dash. Currently, I work with the meet director to enter the masters athletes for each meet. Depending upon space, sometimes we may be offered a couple of lanes for a 200m event. And sometimes, due to injuries and illnesses of our regulars, we combine for one mixed 60m heat as we did on Saturday (Note the All-American time run by our one W45 sprinter Gail Kuhnly)
Most meets are “open” and all athletes meeting the minimum qualifying standards can enter—but the standards are stringent for most masters athletes.
Please note that space is limited, with no promise of any sprint event except the 60m dash(unless “open” entry standard met). Again this year the masters sprinting core is solid with all of us nationally ranked.
Also note the 3.11m Pole Vault result for W50 Donna Schultz
Scott,any of your sprint crew interested in racing a 60m at the Open Indoor Nationals in Boston–if so let me know runnermark@cox.net
Thanks for the offer Mark. Most of us have okay times but I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t think any of us meets the qualifying standard. Plus a few of the sprint crew are heading to Boston for masters nationals and can only afford one trip.
The 3rd and final indoor meet at U of W is Feb 16.
Great track to race on and workout on! With the cold, wet weather up here it is great to have a venue so close. Coach Metcalf has always been accomadating to me in the past when I have asked to race the youngbucks. Last weeks meet is on Flotrack.
I have to disagree here. The University of Washington “open” indoor meets are not particularly accessible to masters competitors in the northwest. With the exception of the men’s masters sprint heat that Scott mentioned above, masters athletes have to meet the same entry standards as open competitors. For example, the men’s mile standard is 4:42. This excludes all but elite 40+ masters competitors. Over the years, the schedule has been tightened, in part to avoid overworking the officials, so heats and meets have been dropped.
Despite this, we have seen some great masters performances at the facility recently, including an M60 indoor vault World Record by John Altendorf in 2007.
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