USATF Masters Indoor Championships

The USATF Masters Indoor Championships is an annual track and field competition which serves as the national indoor championship for the United States for athletes in masters age groups. Organized by USA Track & Field, the national governing body for the sport, the competition was first held in 1975.[1] Athletes compete in 5-year age groups, beginning from 25 and up to 105 (where sufficient entries are made). Traditionally limited to athletes over 35, a "pre-masters" group was introduced from 2020 onwards to encourage post-collegiate athletes over 25 to continue competing.[2][3]

USATF Masters Indoor Championships
SportMasters track and field
Founded1975 (1975)
CountryUnited States
Related
competitions		USATF Masters Outdoor Championships
Official websiteUSATF Official website

History

David Pain organized a masters mile run competition in 1966 at Balboa Stadium in San Diego, which grew into a wider track and field championship two years later in 1968.[4] Seven years after, the first National Masters Indoor Track and Field Championship was held March 2, 1975 in Hightstown, NJ. The meet was for men and women athletes age 40 and older. Contact for the meet was Rudy Clarence of New York.[5][6] The 1975 meet was held at the new Peddie School athletic center with a Tartan indoor track (built in 1972).[7] The meet has continued annually since, with the exception of 2020 and 2021 which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8][9]

The 1975 meet included Jerry Donley, Bob Fine, Ray Gordon, George Puterbaugh, and George A. Sheehan all winning medals at the 1975 meet.[10] Ed McComas broke the listed Masters indoor shot put record.[11][12] George Braceland, Bud Deacon, Claude Hills, Len Olson, and Archie Messenger were competitors at the 1976 meet.[13]

Atlanta Track Club won the 1986 meet, with Philipa Raschker winning seven of their fourteen medals.[14] During the March 1988 meet, a major milestone was achieved when Raschker became the first female to pole vault at a major USA indoor track and field championship for any age category. She vaulted 2.44 (8’-0”) at age 40.[15] Track & Field News magazine would not report women pole vault records or rankings until after 1988,[16] and women's pole vault at the Olympics took a further twelve years.[17]

Denver Smith (Over the Hill Track Club) won three medals at the 1989 meet. Other winners included Jack Greenwood, Buck Bradberry, Horace Hudson, and Barbara Stewart.[18][19] Rose Thompson and Sue Tallard won four and three events at the 1990 meet.[20]

In 2005, June Machala won two gold medals, her husband Joe Machala won two medals, [21] Thad Wilson (M50) won gold in the long jump, [22] and Sean Maye (M35) set an American Indoor Record in the 200 meter dash.[23]

March 2009 Henry Rono competed at the Landover, Maryland meet.[24][25]

The 2019 meet included a full range of running, field, and relay events (including the pentathlon). Betty Lindberg (age 94), Dixon Hemphill (94) and George Roudebush (93) each won several medals at the 2019 meet.[26] A full history of past results of the competition is held by Mastershistory.org,[27] while a full list of organizer bids for the event is held at the USATF website.[28]

Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Massachusetts has held the meet on several occasions. [29]

USATF reports the 2022 meet included ten Masters American Records on the last day of competition. [30]

Participants

Olympians

Numerous Olympians have competed at the USA Masters Indoor Championships.

In 1975 Bob Backus, Bruce MacDonald, and Bob Mimm each won gold at the first National AAU Masters Indoor Track and Field Championship.[31] The 1976 meet included Bob Backus, Boo Morcom, and Phil Mulkey as competitors.[32] Bill Toomey competed at the 1981 meet.[33] Bob Mimm, Boo Morcom, Phil Mulkey, Bob Richards, Todd Scully and Fred Samara competed at the 1984 meet.[34][35]

The 1986 meet included Bob Richards going head to head with Boo Morcom twice in the M60 division. Richards winning the PV, and Morcom winning the HJ. Thane Baker won two medals in the sprints.[36] Bob Richards won a medal in the pole vault at the 1989 meet.[37] Cliff Blair, Bob Richards, Cindy Bremser, and Sandy Knott won medals at the 1990 meet.[38]

Eddie Hart, Phil Mulkey, Bob Richards, Jo Ann Terry Grissom, and Sandra Knott competed at the 1990 meet.[39] Bill Rodgers and Joan Benoit Samuelson competed at the 2003 meet. Benoit Samuelson broke the 3000 meter Masters Record at the 2003 meet.[40][41][42] Trish King (Patricia Porter) and Christopher Faulknor (Jamaican Olympian) won medals at the 2011 meet.[43]

At the March 1994 meet Dwight Stones won the M40 high jump.[44]

In March 2009, several Olympians competed at the Landover, Maryland meet, including Jim Barrineau, Renée Belanger (Canadian Olympian), and Howard Lindsay (Antiguan and Barbudan Olympian)[45][46] March 2023 included multi-time winner Michelle Rohl (USA),[47], and Jamaican Olympian Garth Robinson.[48]

Others

Competitors Charles Allie and Rita Hanscom received the male and female masters international athlete of the year awards from the IAAF in 2013 and 2009, respectively.[49][50]

Several former National Football League (NFL) football players have competed at this meet. Billy "White Shoes" Johnson competed at the 2002 meet.[51] Willie Gault medaled at the 2003 meet.[52] Todd Christensen competed at the 2004 meet.[53] Henry Ellard medaled in the triple jump at the 2015.[54] Phil McConkey competed at the 2017 meet.[55] Competing as a M25 athlete: Tyreek Hill won the 60 meter dash at the 2023 Masters Indoor Championship.[56]

Centenarians

Several Centenarians have competed at this meet. Everett Hosack (ages 100 and 101) competed at the 2002 and 2003 meets. Hosack set several records.[57][58] [59] March 2014 centenarian masters track and field athlete, Leland McPhie (age 100), won gold medals in the weight throw, superweight throw and shot put. [60] [61] Orville Rogers (100) and Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins (102) set Masters Records at the 2018 meet.[62][63]

Media coverage

The Championships are webcast on usatf.tv.

The competition receives mainstream coverage from American media outlets, typically focusing on the highest age brackets,[64] as well as more detailed coverage from athletics-related media such as Runner's World.[65][66][67]

1977, The Ashbury Park Press quoted a David Pain prediction, “there will be more Masters (40-plus) track athletes in the U.S. than younger athletes in less than 10 years”.[68] 1985 the Baltimore Sun stated on M35 Mile winner Jim Shank, "Westminster man devotes life to running; won't quit as long as it's fun, competitive."[69]

1990, Capital Times reports, “… take a back seat to the flood of world and American records that fell … four world records were broken, one world record was tied, and 22 American records were broken . . . “.[70] Wisconsin State Journal quoted Bob Richards in 1990, “Boo Morcom . . . without a doubt the greatest star in Masters”.[71] 1984 meet director Ron Salvio stated, “These Masters athletes are part of one of the most rapidly growing movements in sport”.[72]

1998 Boston Globe reports, "The National Masters competition includes 17 track and field events and attracts more than 800 athletes from around the country ranging in age from 30 into the 90s".[73] Fox TV News statement by Todd Christensen in 2004 “I’m impressed by the fact that it seems to me that you would think that at a certain age your competitiveness ends but it really doesn’t”.[74]

2011 Albuquerque article on Nolan Shaheed shares his story on how playing jazz (horn) and distance running improves his music and his running. Shaheed is a multi-time National Champion and Record Holder.[75]

Editions
Edition Location Date Ref
AAU
1975Hightstown, New JerseyMarch 2, 1975[76]
1976Medford, Massachusetts Tufts Univ.March 14, 1976[77]
1977New Haven, ConnecticutMarch 13, 1977[78]
1978East Stroudsburg, PennsylvaniaMarch 19, 1978[79]
1979 AAUAnn Arbor, MichiganMarch 17–18, 1979[80]
1980 & 1981 were transition years leaving the AAU
1980 AAUSyracuse, New YorkMarch 29, 1980[81][82]
1981 TFALiberty, MissouriFebruary 15, 1981[83]
1981 TACAnn Arbor, MichiganFebruary 28 – March 1, 1981[84]
TAC
1982Cambridge, MassachusettsMarch 27–28, 1982[85]
1983Bethlehem, PennsylvaniaMarch 26–27, 1983[86]
1984Princeton, New JerseyMarch 24–25, 1984[87]
1985Sterling, IllinoisMarch 30–31, 1985[88]
1986Baton Rouge, LouisianaFebruary 22–23, 1986[89]
1987Madison, WisconsinMarch 28–29, 1987[90]
1988Baton Rouge, LouisianaMarch 19–20, 1988[91]
1989Columbus, OhioMarch 31 – April 2, 1989[92]
1990Madison, WisconsinMarch 24–25, 1990[93]
1991Blaine, MinnesotaMarch 22–24, 1991[94]
1992Columbus, OhioApril 3–5, 1992[95]
USATF 1993 to Present
1993Bozeman, MontanaMarch 19–21, 1993[96]
1994Columbia, MissouriMarch 25–27, 1994[97]
1995Reno, NevadaFebruary 24–26, 1995[98]
1996Greensboro, North CarolinaMarch 29–31, 1996[99]
1997Boston, MAMarch 21–23, 1997[100]
1998Boston, MAMarch 27–29, 1998[101]
1999Boston, MAMarch 26–28, 1999[102]
2000Boston, MAMarch 24–26, 2000[103]
2001Boston, MAMarch 23–25, 2001[104]
2002Boston, MAMarch 22–24, 2002[105]
2003Boston, MAMarch 28–30, 2003[106]
2004Boston, MAMarch 26–28, 2004[107]
2005Nampa, IdahoMarch 11–13, 2005[108]
2006Boston, MAMarch 24–26, 2006[109]
2007Boston, MAMarch 23–25, 2007[110]
2008Boston, MAMarch 28–30, 2008[111]
2009Landover, MarylandMarch 20–22, 2009[112]
2010Boston, MAMarch 26–28, 2010[113]
2011Albuquerque, New MexicoMarch 4–6, 2011[114]
2012Bloomington, IndianaMarch 16–18, 2012[115]
2013Landover, MarylandMarch 22–24, 2013[116]
2014Boston, MAMarch 14–16, 2014[117]
2015Winston-Salem, North CarolinaMarch 20–22, 2015[118]
2016Albuquerque, New MexicoMarch 4–6, 2016[119]
2017Albuquerque, New MexicoFebruary 17–19, 2017[120]
2018Landover, MarylandMarch 16–18, 2018[121]
2019Winston-Salem, North CarolinaMarch 1–4, 2019[122]
2020Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic---[123]
2021Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic---[124]
2022Fort Washington Avenue Armory, New York City, NYMarch 18–20, 2022[125]
2023Norton Sports & Learning Center, Louisville, KYMarch 10–12, 2023[126]
  • Source for Meet Dates and Locations confirmed: *=[127]

See also

References
  1. Ashbury Park Press, NJ, February 16, 1975. Retrieved Jan 21, 2021
  2. Runners World. USATF Masters Adds a ‘Pre-Masters’ Age Group for 25- to 29-Year-Old Runners. Runner's World (2020-05-15). Retrieved 2021-01-16
  3. Welcome USATF Masters. USATF. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  4. "MastersTrack.com News: David Pain: The Columbus of Masters Track". Archived from the original on 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2009-12-06. Masterstrack profile David Pain
  5. Ashbury Park Press, NJ, February 16, 1975. Retrieved Jan 21, 2021
  6. Veteris magazine, England, May 1975, Page 22. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  7. Asbury Park Press, New Jersey, May 2, 1972. Retrieved Jan 21, 2021
  8. USATF. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  9. USATF. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  10. Asbury Park Press, New Jersey, March 3, 1975. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  11. Baltimore Sun, Maryland, March 3, 1975. Retrieved Jan 21, 2021
  12. San Fernando Valley Track Club Newsletters, May 1975. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  13. Boston Globe, Massachusetts, March 15, 1976. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  14. Atlanta Constitution, Georgia, March 29, 1986. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  15. National Masters News, May 1988. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  16. Track & Field News magazine, Women Records and Rankings, Feb. 1989. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  17. Lives About, Mike Rosenbaum, July 15, 2018. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  18. Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio, April 14, 1989. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  19. Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY, March 12, 1989. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  20. Capital Times, Madison, WI, March 26, 1990. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  21. Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA, March 20, 2005. Reference Jan 21, 2021
  22. Journal News, White Plains, NY, March 21, 2005. Retrieved Jan 21, 2021
  23. Springville Herald, Springville, UT, March 17, 2005. Retrieved Jan 21, 2021
  24. PVTC, Bob Weiner, USATF National Masters Media Chair, March 13, 2009. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  25. Masters History, USATF 2009 Meet Results. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  26. Masters History, 2019 Meet Results. Retrieved Jan 21, 2021
  27. Track & Field History. Retrieved Oct. 15, 2020
  28. USATF Bids. Retrieved Oct. 14, 2020
  29. Masters History, USATF National Masters Indoor Championships. Retrieved Jan 30, 2021
  30. USATF, Mar 21, 2022. Retrieved Mar 22, 2022
  31. Asbury Park Press, New Jersey, March 3, 1975. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  32. Boston Globe, Massachusetts, March 15, 1976. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  33. Pittsburgh Press, Pennsylvania, March 25, 1981. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  34. Asbury Park Press, New Jersey, March 10, 1984. Retrieved Jan 21, 2021
  35. NMN June 1984. Retrieved Jan 21, 2021
  36. National Masters News, April 1986. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  37. Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio, April 14, 1989. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  38. Capital Times, Madison, WI, March 26, 1990. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  39. Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, WI, March 25, 1990. Retrieved Jan 21, 2021
  40. Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH, March 29, 2003. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  41. Daily Record, Morristown, NJ, March 23, 2003. Retrieved Jan 21, 2012
  42. Daily Record, Morristown, NJ, March 23, 2003. Retrieved Jan 21, 2021
  43. Albuquerque Journal, New Mexico, March 3, 2011. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  44. National Masters News, May 1994, Page 40. Retrieved Sep 4, 2021
  45. March 13, 2009. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  46. Masters History, USATF 2009 Meet Results. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  47. USATF report, Mar 11, 2023. Retrieved Mar 11, 2023
  48. Meet Results. Retrieved Mar 11, 2023
  49. Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Honolulu, HI July 23, 2019. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  50. Times of San Diego, March 26, 2014. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  51. Boston Globe, Massachusetts, March 22, 2002. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  52. Daily Record, Morristown, NJ, March 23, 2003. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  53. Fox TV News, and Weiner Public News, March 27, 2004. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  54. Runner Space, Meet Results, March 23, 2015. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  55. Albuquerque Journal, February 18, 2017. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  56. CBS Sports, Mar 11, 2023. Retrieved Mar 11, 2023
  57. Boston Globe, Massachusetts, March 22, 2002. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  58. National Masters News, May 2002. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  59. Daily Record, Morristown, New Jersey, Mar 23, 2003. Retrieved Jan 26, 2021
  60. Times of San Diego, Mar 17, 2014. Retrieved Jan 30, 2021
  61. Boston Globe, Massachusetts, March 23, 2014. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  62. Slate, March 17, 2018. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  63. Greensboro News & Record, March 25, 2018. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  64. Zaccardi, Nick (2019-03-19). Sprinters age 100, 102 break records at USATF Masters Indoors (video). NBC Sports. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  65. Patruny, Morgan (2018-03-20). Two Centenarians Steal the Show at USATF Masters Indoor Championships. Runner's World. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  66. Huebsch, Tim (2018-03-19). This clip of centenarians throwing down never gets old. Running Magazine. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  67. Eight World Records, 29 American Records at USATF Masters Indoor Championships this week in Winston-Salem. Colorado Runner Magazine (2015-03-22). Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  68. Asbury Park Press, New Jersey, April 10, 1977. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  69. Baltimore Sun, Maryland, Apr 7, 1985. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  70. Capital Times, Madison, WI, March 26, 1990. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  71. Wisconsin State Journal, Kris Kort, Madison, WI, March 25, 1990. Retrieved Jan 21, 2021
  72. Asbury Park Press, New Jersey, March 10, 1984. Retrieved Jan 21, 2021
  73. Boston Globe, Massachusetts, March 22, 1998. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  74. Fox TV News, and Weiner Public News, March 27, 2004. Retrieved Jan 20, 2021
  75. Albuquerque Journal, New Mexico, March 3, 2011. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  76. Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, March 3, 1975. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  77. Boston Globe, Boston, MA, March 15, 1976. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  78. Burlington Free Press, Burlington, VT, March 16, 1977. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  79. Track & Field History, 1978 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  80. National Masters News, June 1979. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  81. National Masters News, May 1980. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  82. National Masters News, Jan 1980, Page 9. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  83. National Masters News, April 1981. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  84. National Masters News, April 1981. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  85. National Masters News, June 1982. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  86. National Masters News, May 1983. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  87. National Masters News, June 1984. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  88. National Masters News, May 1985. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  89. National Masters News, April 1986. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  90. National Masters News, May 1987. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  91. National Masters News, May 1988. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  92. National Masters News, May 1989. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  93. National Masters News, May 1990. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  94. National Masters News, May 1991. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  95. National Masters News, May 1992. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  96. National Masters News, May 1993. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  97. National Masters News, May 1994. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  98. National Masters News, April 1995. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  99. National Masters News, May 1996. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  100. National Masters News, May 1997. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  101. National Masters New, April 1998. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  102. National Masters News, May 1999. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  103. Track & Field History, 2000 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  104. Track & Field History, 2001 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  105. Track & Field History, 2002 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  106. Track & Field History, 2003 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  107. Track & Field History, 2004 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  108. Track & Field History, 2005 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  109. Track & Field History, 2006 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  110. USATF Track & Field History, 2007 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  111. USATF Track & Field History, 2008 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  112. USATF Track & Field History, 2009 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  113. USATF Track & Field History, 2010 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  114. USATF Track & Field History, 2011 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  115. USATF Track & Field History, 2012 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  116. USATF Track & Field History, 2013 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  117. USATF Track & Field History, 2014 Meet Results. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  118. Ashbury Park Press, Ashbury Park, NJ, March 27, 2015. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  119. Finished Timing, 2016. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  120. Finished Timing, 2017. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  121. Finished Timing, 2018. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  122. Finished Timing, 2019. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2020
  123. USATF. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  124. USATF. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021
  125. Armory Track, May 11, 2022. Retrieved Aug 3, 2022
  126. USATF meet web page. Retrieved Feb 16, 2023
  127. Track & Field History. Retrieved Jan 23, 2021

Further reading

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.