Or maybe not. With two days until the “on-time” deadline for Olathe masters nationals, the Status of Entries says I’m among only six or seven M55 entrants in the 1, 2 and 4H (I just coined that). I’m also set for a ribbon in the high jump, if fourth-place awards are given. Of course, others will trickle in. So my excitement is short-lived. My hurdling entry is another leap of faith. If I managed a lap over 33-inch hurdles at age 59, I’d be perhaps the oldest quarter-mile hurdler in the country. But the most I’ve run in practice is three sets of three 30-inch hurdles. So we shall see. But at least I have my confidence back more than six years after ACL-reconstruction surgery on my lead knee. In the meantime, what are everyone’s theories on the so-far low turnout at Olathe?
31 Responses
My low turnout theory: “Fear the Stone!”
More likely: too far from either Coast.
or
Lack of masters’ groupies likely in Kansas
My low turnout theory is: (1) Senior games are just 2 weeks later, In a more fun location, and (2) then there’s also that Kansas tornado thingy…..Is there an underground shelter at or near the Olathe track?
Ken, just to give this some perspective, the modern record (and certainly the all-time best) for the turnout at outdoor nationals is 1503, set way back in 2000 (Eugene, Oregon). The record low in the modern era (beginning in 1989) continues to be the 802 registered by Honolulu in 2005.
It’s hard to be certain at this point, but entries to date suggest a turnout of 840 or so. Thus, I believe the record low of 802 is safe. As for the reasons, how about the following 6, perhaps in this order:
1. National Senior Games in Berea, Ohio, conducted later in the month, will take away a lot of Olathe’s thunder (and entrants).
2. Expectation of intense heat in Olathe. Ironically, while that was the case last year and in 2011, it looks like it will not be true this year. Predicted high for opening day (July 11) of the meet is just 92 degrees. Furthermore, predictions for July 1-11 show no days above 93 (this is from AccuWeather).
3. Feeling that Olathe is in an isolated area. This is essentially untrue, as Kansas City is readily accessible. Still, I doubt that Olathe per se has a lot to offer in terms of culture and recreational opportunities (just talking off the top of my head here).
4. Population. For a meet like this you need a big population of masters athletes who can drive to the meet. Kansas ranks only 33rd among the states in population. Even little Connecticut has more people than Kansas.
Contrast this with Landover, Maryland, which set a record for attendance at indoors this year. The number of people who live within driving distance of Landover is staggering.
5. Long distance from California and New York, which have huge numbers of people and tons of masters athletes.
6. Some big-meet alternatives, one in Brazil and the other somewhere in Europe (Italy, I believe). Haven’t paid much attention to those meets, and I doubt that US turnout will be very big in Brazil.
Ken, I’m glad to hear that the hurdle mojo is returning! And, Peter, for me your reason #5 fits. I will be following this meet on my computer. Best of luck to all the competitors!
7. The date is much earlier than previous years.
Gary – that was my initial thought, but then I looked at recent years, and it does vary quite a bit. The last time it was this early was when it was in Oshkosh in 2009. I wish I could make it this year, but it conflicts with both the Utica Boilermaker and a family vacation. Given all the concern about the heat in recent years, early July might become the norm rather than the exception.
How about that the meet costs way too much per event. What am I getting for that money that I can’t get at a local meet for 1/4 of the price. In many cases with better overall competition, depending on what division/age you are in.
When will event times and reporting for events be posted ? So far only the days events are available.
All of the reasons cited above likely play a role in low turnout. I would like to add that the facility is not inspiring… a high school football field? Why not a respectable track facility? The field events are all apparently located outside of the stadium. In my event (javelin) the runway is located a good 200 yards away from the stadium. Hard to get thrilled about competing when you are so far away from the center of action.
The Kansas City Corporate Challenge just finished last week. Ages 20-65 and only five individual events plus two relays. 4300 results.
Back to the low-turnout theories…
Well, it’s all relative. Here we are talking about a low turnout in masters terms. We expect masters (but not Sr Games) to have modest numbers every year.
“Low” in masters might mean anything below 1000, going all the way down to the modern low of 802, which Olathe may approach (also called “very low”). A medium/acceptable turnout might be 1000 to 1199, with a higher turnout being 1200 all the way up to the modern record of 1503, which may never be surpassed.
Let me check to see what the turnout is right now in the 400 dash, which I have been using as a marker. Last year, Lisle had 209 entered in the 400 ….. OK, there are 81 in the 400 at 5:00 PM EDT. With the regular deadline tomorrow that is rather discouraging, but stranger things have happened (coming up with a decent turnout when hope looked lost).
616 M/W30-65+ ran the 400m. In Kansas City, in the summer, and they were local.
I checked the Olathe Chamber of Commerce and did not see this track meet listed. Of course, I might have missed it. I saw a few people write about Olathe, after this city was first selected, and their comments were slightly negative. I did not understand the negative comments when they seemed to be avid supporters of the outdoor Masters T & F Championships. Maybe, being positive is a good thing to attract more people? I signed up from the Philippines, so distance is not a problem if there is a desire and determination. I hope everybody that shows up has a good time and good luck in your events.
Kansas
all of the above – and in my case the new and not improved schedule which has the women running the 5k and the 800 on Saturday and the mile on Sunday certainly was not inviting. Those are my events – why would I sign up for a national track meet that jams middle distance events into two days. This is a 5 day meet – not a two day meet – but for me it would have been a 2 day meet. At my age I cannot run decent races two days in a row never mind two on one day.
I am not running outdoor track this summer for a variety of reasons including I am still recovering from breaking my elbow and just back to running – if I can call it that right now. Plus – the need to stay home with my very ill spouse. Even if I were able to compete and could be away from home for 2-3 days – the schedule is a killer – I hope it is a one time experiment.
I’m really looking forward to this. I see a few other friends-for-life registered for the same races as me. I’m confident they are as grateful as I am to be healthy enough to toe the line. And fortunate enough to find a way to balance time away from family, work, time zone. USATF Masters Nats is about racing people in the same boat.
KP
Ken ..good luck and godspeed! I missed the “on time registration but am trying to see if my knee holds out in practice and may late register. I may have to have my lead leg knee fixed also..the fall at indoor nats did me in. I’ll be rooting for you!
My age group entries are the most competitive in the last few years. I’ll take great competition over numbers any day. I think it is going to be a great event.
Agree with Lisa. Those who are attending are high caliber. But greater numbers makes for a better atmosphere. Merging the Masters Nationals with the Senior Games would be ideal.
KP,
I’m moving up to your age group, but 2 Achilles surgeries since Nov is keeping me out. Glad you’re back at it though, it’s been a long time. Maybe indoor Nats next year.
Jeff
Stay inspired Jeff.
Dave Clingan once told me “wait till you turn 50”. I think I did at age 48 when 3-4 years of injuries (mainly feet) commenced. You too will get thru it. And we shall race again.
KP
I entered this meet weeks ago in 4 events by paper- mail
My name has not appeared on the list.
I have made numerous calls and sent E mails to the contact person. Have not gotten any respond.
I wouldn’t worry, Annelies. I just looked at the entry list for high jump at Lisle 2012, and I see that you and two other women had a star (asterisk) next to their names. Those other two women were Christa Bortignon and Olga Kotelko, both of Canada.
Thus, I conclude that your entry is being treated differently.
I seem to recall that you have a Swedish connection, do you not? Regardless, I would bring proof of payment to the meet. If that does not seem sufficient at this point, you might e-mail Sherry Quack at the USATF national office in Indianapolis. Go to http://www.usatf.org.
If that does not seem enough, e-mail me at petertaylor2@verizon.net
Annelies, my other comment did not go through. I believe that you are from The Netherlands, yes, although you live in California now? Thus, I think your entry has been accepted.
In a few hours my other comment should go through. In that one I make a couple of suggestions about your entry.
Hello Annelies, my name is Robert Thomas and I am the Vice Chair of USA Master’s Track and Field. For anyone that submits a mail in entry, you will not see your name in the status of entries. You entry information will have to be hand entered into the meet. It is not handled by the local organization putting on the meet, but rather a member of the masters games committee. We realize that this is not the most convenient process for those that have to submit a paper entry, but at this point it is the only way. If you would like you can email me at rjttrack@hotmail.com and I can check to confirm that you are infact in the meet. I would venture to say that if you sent you information off weeks ago you are infact in the meet.
Annelies, forget my earlier comment. Go with Robert Thomas’s offer to e-mail him. I had thought you were being treated as a foreign athlete, but apparently the issue is that your mail-in entry does not go in automatically.
In response to A. Oliveira #7 comments about the cost of the meet. You have to understand that there are additional cost for hosting a National championship. The LOC has to house any officials
that are not local, feed everyone that is working the meet. Along with the cost of renting a facility for four days and purchasing the National championships medals. Putting on such an event could cost upwards of $50,000. Masters events don’t usually attract sponsors to help offset the cost of putting on the event. So the athletes entry fees are the only thing that supports putting on the event. So you can see there are a lot more cost involved compared to a local meet that may last a half day or even one whole day.
In order to pick up more entries, the deadline has been EXTENDED until Monday of next week (the 24th). See details at http://www.usatf.org.
Given the information that some (all?) of the write-in entries have not been entered into the database, assuming that foreign athletes have not been entered on the list, and given a rather strong late rush of entries that can now continue until at some point next Monday, the true total of entries will not be nearly as bad as seemed likely a week ago.
Newbie questions
If you want to enter another event is it too late? Do they use spikes when racing or just running sneakers at these meets?
Russell –you can use spikes. Most likely 1/4 inch pyramid pins are allowed, but check on the website for any specifics. You can enter another event until the 24th. Good luck!
@ no. 8 (Todd J.) Schedule comes out tomorrow at the USATF Web site. Current temperature (late afternoon, Wednesday , June 26) is 98 in Olathe, but predicted highs for the meet are unbelievably mild for the site: 86, 86, 86, and 89.
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