USATF picks Jacksonville, FL, for 2015 masters outdoor nationals
The University of North Florida will host the USATF National Masters Outdoor Championships in July 2015, according to a delegate at the USATF annual meeting in Daytona. It was the only bidder, I hear. The 2015 masters indoor nationals will be at an independent facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, sometime in March, beating out Bloomington, Indiana, which hosted the 2012 indoor meet. (One of the selling points at N.C: Mondo surface between the track and restrooms.) But the exact dates of the 2013 Olathe masters nationals were still in flux and were to be publicly revealed Saturday. Delegates also voted to guarantee the official status of the shuttle hurdle relay at nationals. The event also was made optional at association and regional meets — a huge victory for hurdlers led by Jeff Davison. USATF Masters Hall of Famers are due to be revealed Saturday. And thanks to masters multi-eventer Joe Johnston, pole vaulters from open to masters will be able to wear gloves in the vault. Heard anything else?
We’ll be running on this track at 2015 masters nationals: No hurricanes allowed.
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Sounds like a beautiful facility, Ken, thanks. A 9-lane Olympic-quality track and a 3-lane warmup track. An unheard-of 8 pole vault locations, 4 high jumps, and multiple areas for each throwing event.
Main concern looks like weather. This past July (per Accuweater) the temperature reached 90 on 28 of 31 days, but with a high for the month of just 96. In 2011 these numbers were 23 of 31 and again a high overall of 96. Looks like we can expect a plethora of 90-96 days.
Fortunately, the stadium has lighting, and thus it looks to me like another meet that needs a morning-evening schedule, as Jacksonville is quite humid in the summer.
Very interesting that Jacksonville was the ONLY bidder, but at least we got a first-class facility. Reminds me of Oshkosh (2009).
Finally a home meet for me….sort of. The facility also won the three year bid for the Florida State HS T/F finals. It’s new and ready for records. Also we all get to watch Mike Brown chuck on his home turf.
Anyone know whether the indoor track in Winston-Salem (2015 nationals) is absolutely flat? It looks that way on the video. Anyone know what kinds of times people have been running there in the 200?
I understand the track opened this past January. It is an old factory building turned into an indoor track facility
Somewhere I read that there will be a masters track meet there this coming March – maybe someone has more information about that.
http://myfox8.com/2012/11/08/old-w-s-factory-turns-into-indoor-track/#ooid=hqY2dyNjoG1Uwg_M08rTJHQTa09KHOKC
for a video clip about the facility – yes it is a flat track.
Just one more comment about the new Winston-Salem indoor facility – just have to ask -since when is the distance between the track and the bathrooms such an issue? And where are the hotels for the W-S meet? Are they in some one of those hotel parks way out in the middle of no-where that require a car to get to the track or to find somewhere to eat? That is more of an issue for me than the distance from the track to the bathroom. Good grief folks.
Also of even greater concern for me – the experience of the meet director in putting on a masters meet – personally I am fed up with meet directors who just know it all – having never had to deal with the issues of multiple age group masters meets. They tend to turn off the clock on multi-age group multi-lap races after the first runner crosses the finish line leaving the rest of us hung out to dry wondering about our splits. And lap counting -bring your own as it can be a mess. I am sure the track facility is nice but I am sorry that we will not be going back to Bloomington – that meet was run the right way.
Meanwhile – the Olathe meet – is it going to happen or not? And when? I am not getting a warm and fuzzy feeling about the 2013 National Masters Outdoor meet.
http://jdlfasttrack.com/index.php/schedule
I found this website re: the 2015 indoor meet facility. The address of the facility is 2505 Empire Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. If you open up the “meet info” flyer for the Dec 8 High School Kickoff you get some useful information.
Thanks, Liz. Well, correct me if I am wrong, but the big issue for people traveling from a long distance away looks like air travel. I may not be right, but I believe we will not be flying into Winston-Salem. Rather, I believe we will be flying to Piedmont Triad International just outside of Greensboro and then finding a way to negotiate the 28 miles or so to the meet.
Personally, if I am asked to announce I will drive down from Fairfax, Virginia, but again, I believe others will be flying into Greensboro, not Winston-Salem. Does anyone know for sure?
Winston-Salem is 16 miles from Piedmont Triad International Airport (thanks Google) – no clue if there are reasonably priced shuttles to local hotels -and do not know where the track is in relation to W-S.
Can an Indoor World and/or an American record in the 200m be set on a flat track?
Any records set at USATF national masters meet are automatically good to go. But as long as a track is properly surveyed and meet sanctioned, it doesn’t matter whether track is flat or banked, I suspect.
BTW, 2014 outdoor masters nationals will be at Winston-Salem:
http://masterstrack.com/2011/12/20745/
So the South gets the meet two years in a row. This gives the West a big opening for 2016. Time for L.A. or San Diego to step up. Mt. SAC would be great, too.
Did anybody really believe that the “mondo walkway to the bathroom” was a criteria? Not even Ken would believe that.. or did he……
We – here at the convetion – had a good laugh about it!
the mondo walkway is in case some people need to sprint to the bathroom.
A 200m flat track is a disadvantage compared to a 200m banked track, so I can’t imagine them using that as a reason to not ratify.
You are right, Ken, this is where some of our western state friends need to step up. I would love to come to San Diego or Eugene or San Fran for a Championship. But we won’t until someone organizes and puts a bid together. Big thanks to the Folks from Jacksonville, Winston-Salem, and Bloomington for taking the initiative!
Mike Travers
For those worried about getting from the Greensboro airport to Winston Salem, the bidders promised free buses from the airport to the meet hotels and shuttles from there to the venue.
ah free buses – sounds good – along with the mondo track surface from the track to the bathrooms -whats not to like!
seriously – those concerned about flat tracks – remember that outdoor tracks are flat – and many indoor tracks are flat. Yes I understand the sprinter’s desire for banked tracks, just having a little fun here.
And the next Nat Masters Indoor track meet -this coming March – is on a flat track.
I think the facility sounds great – and what a grand use for an old factory building.
My old stomping grounds as well! I am a former member of the Jacksonville Track Club. I lived in Jax in the 1980’s, was a Jacksonville Bulls Cheerleader and got married there. My mom still lives there and I visit about every 3 months. Pretty convenient for me…no hotel cost!
Hopefully West Coast again in 2016, too much East Coast/Midwest lately!
JDL FastTrack is a very nice facility, if a little off the beaten track. The have had the Southeastern Regional Indoor Masters meets there the last 2 years and they do seem pretty well organized. It is only a few minutes from the freeway (Interstate?)and traffic is not generally an issue, although the presence of a national meet may change that somewhat. Since I am a So Cal native I am familiar with traffic, and I just don’t see it as an issue. I’ll be there, ready to get badly beaten… I do think with this many athletes it will get a little cozy. It is not a large facility.
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