USATF Masters Outdoor Championships

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
USATF Masters Outdoor Championships
Logo for USATF Masters Outdoor Championships.jpg
SportMasters track and field
Founded1968; 53 years ago (1968)
CountryUnited States
Related
competitions		USATF Masters Indoor Championships
Official websiteusatfmasters.org
Men 70-74 100 meter dash at 2021 Championships in Ames, Iowa

The USATF Masters Outdoor Championships is an annual track and field competition which serves as the national 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 1968.[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 in 2020 to encourage post-collegiate athletes over 25 to continue competing.[2]

The 1968 meet was the first ever national championship for masters track and field. 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.[3]

History[]

Through the efforts of David Pain, masters track and field and its first Outdoor Track and Field Championship began in 1968.[4] The first competition was held July 19–21, 1968 in San Diego. The 1968 meet included competitions for men age 40 and older. The meet has continued annually since, with the exception of 2020 which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] The 1968 meet, and for several years after, included programs providing time schedules, and athletes names and ages.[6] 1968 represented the first time a major masters track and field competition was held. The meet was sponsored by the San Diego Recreation Department, San Diego Track and Field Association, and the Los Angeles Seniors Track Club.[7]

The 1971 meet (and future meets) added women as part of the competition.[8] The 2019 meet included a complete set of individual running (sprints, middle distance, and long distance), hurdles, steeplechase, race walk, jumps (high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump) and throwing events (shot put, discus, hammer, and javelin), as well as team relays.[9]

The USA National Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championship has included many prominent feats within the sport of masters track and field. At the 1968 meet, James Gorrell ran one of the fastest miles ever run by an athlete over age 40.[10] The 1969 meet included 535 participants.[11] At the 1970 meet, Richard Stolpe broke the 220 yard masters record in 23.3, Jack Razzetto the high jump record, and Sandy Patterson the hammer throw record.[12] More recently, distance runner Nolan Shaheed and sprinter Irene Obera have been multi-time masters national champions.

In August 1988 a major milestone was achieved when Philipa Raschker was the first female to pole vault at a major USA track and field championship for any age category. She vaulted 2.45 (8'-0 1/2") at age 40.[13][14]

The 1988 meet added a special event the “Legends Miles” (M40) that included Ron Bell (Britain), Byron Dyce (Jamaican Olympian), Harry Nolan, John Dixon (New Zealand), Ken Sparks, Al Swenson, Web Loudat, Steve Ferraz, and Ron Jensen. Bell setting a new M40 World Record while winning in 4:12.58.[15][16]

Frank Struna has had much success at the competition, winning eight national championships (six triple jump and two long jump), and setting a then current M55 indoor triple jump record.[17]

The 2009 meet included several masters records by Leland McPhie (M95), (W45), (W60), (W70) and (W70).[18]

At the July 2010 meet Ralph Maxwell was the first American age 90 plus to complete the sprint hurdle race. Ralph was rewarded with a gold medal and a masters M90 world record in a time of 21.47.[19][20]

The 2014 meet included three separate M90 plus masters relay records. Each record included a foursome all age 90 and older. Sr (97), Orville Rogers (96), (92), (91), and (91) shared the workload, medals, and records.[21]

USATF offered funds to top ranked American masters athletes to support travel to the competition in 2019.[22]

A full history of past results of the competition is held by Mastershistory.org,[23] while a full list of organizer bids for the event is held at the USATF website.[24]

Participants[]

Olympians[]

Numerous Olympians have competed at the USA Masters Outdoor Championships. In 1968 Bruce MacDonald won two gold medals.[25] Johnny Kelley, winner at the Boston Marathon, was also the winner of the M50+ division Marathon race,[26] Bud Held won the javelin in 218’-2”,[27] and Fortune Gordien won in his discus throw category.[28] Gordien and George Rhoden (a Jamaican Olympian) won gold at the 1969 meet.[29] Bud Held broke the masters world record in the javelin with 229’-3” throw at the 1970 meet.[30] The July 1970 meet also included Arthur Barnard, Boo Morcom, Bob Richards, and Steve Seymour as competitors.[31]

Payton Jordan (1964 and 1968 Olympic Coach) won 100 and 200 meters at the 1989 meet.[32]

Jim Burnett competed at the 1980 Masters Outdoor Championship was an alternate leg on the 1968 Olympics relay team. [33]

The 1994 Outdoor meet included Tom Gage, Phil Mulkey, Deby LaPlante Sweezey, and Fred Sowerby (an Antigua and Barbuda Olympian).[34]

1996, Kate Schmidt (age 42) won the javelin at the Masters National Outdoor Track and Field Championship, Spokane, WA. [35]

Jo Ann Terry Grissom won the shot put at the 2003 meet.[36]

The 2009 Meet included Ed Burke, Dick Cochran, Trish Porter, and Karl Smith (Jamaica Olympian).[37][38]

Ed Burke, Kip Janvrin, Sunder Nix, Jason Rouser and Chris Williams (Jamaican Olympian) competed at the 2013 meet.[39][40]

Chaunté Lowe won the high jump at the July 2015 USA Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championship.[41]

Walter Dix won the 100 meter dash at the 2017 meet in 10.28.[42] Michelle Rohl and Jim Barrineau competed at the 2019 Ames, Iowa meet.[43]

Others[]

Competitors and received the male and female masters international athlete of the year awards from the IAAF in 2013 and 2009, respectively.[44][45]

Several former National Football League (NFL) football players have competed at this meet. NFL pro bowler Billy "White Shoes" Johnson and star sprinter, ran at the 2004 meet.[46] Others include Todd Christensen (2006), Henry Ellard (2014–2016),[47] Willie Gault (2003), Fred Jackson (2019),[48] and James Lofton (2001).[49]

Several notable individuals from politics have been involved with the Masters National Outdoor Track and Field Championship. Senator and ex-Stanford trackman Alan Cranston competed in the 100 yard dash at the 1969 meet.[50][51] Massachusetts RRCA State Representative competed at the 2012 meet.[52][53] In September 1970, , winner of the 1970 discus throw and javelin throw events, was given the honor to present former President Richard Nixon a special medal for the President's support of Masters Track and Field competition.[54]

Chancellor of the University of California, Irvine, Daniel Aldrich, competed in several National Championships, with him remarking in the Los Angeles Times "My whole attitude about life and my general personal and physical characteristics are affected by my sports activities...but I’m certainly the best discus-throwing administrator in the country".[55] A predecessor in his former position as Chancellor of University of California, Santa Barbara, Vernon Cheadle held several age records in the shot put.[56]

Judge John Dobroth won the high jump at the 2010 meet.[57][58]

Centenarians that have competed at this meet include Orville Rogers (age 100 in 2018) and Julia "Hurricane" Hawkins (age 101 in 2017).[59][60]

Masters world champion and world record holder, Nolan Shaheed is a world class trumpet player. Shaheed has played with Count Basie, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin. For Shaheed the running and music has benefited each other.[61]

Media coverage[]

The Championships are webcast on usatf.tv, with several cameras around the venue and an announcer providing athlete introductions and live commentary.

The competition has often received national coverage focused on the oldest participants. 2018 medal winner, Orville Rogers (age 100) and his family were interviewed by The Washington Post, Fox News, ESPN, and CBS during the 2018 season.[62] The Washington Post also reported on the 2017 event, where at age 101 Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins became the oldest female to compete at the Masters National Outdoor Championship, setting a masters W100 meet record.[63]

Organizers of open class events have responded positively to the event, such as in 2009 Bob Weiner (USATF Masters Media Chair) stating "the event ran smoothly [and] was a spectacularly executed meet".[64]

The Honolulu Advertiser provided coverage of Harold Chapson's performance, who having had polio at age 5 became the 1976 Masters National Champion.[65][66]

Ames Tribune included an action picture of hurdlers Rita Hanscom, Kay Glynn (local resident), and Jo Phelps at the 2019 Championship.[67]

Runner Space reported that the 2021 Championship included 27 Masters American Records and five Masters World Records.[68]

Editions[]

Edition Location Date Ref
AAU
1968 San Diego, CA July 19–21, 1968 [69]
1969 San Diego, CA July 3–6, 1969 [70]
1970 San Diego, CA July 2–5, 1970 [71]
1971 San Diego, CA July 2–4, 1971 [72]
1972 San Diego, CA July 1–3, 1972 [73]
1973 San Diego, CA July 6–8, 1973 [74]
1974 Gresham, Oregon July 5–7, 1974 [75]
1975 White Plains, New York Aug 8–10, 1975 [76]
1976 Gresham, Oregon July 2–4, 1976 [77]
1977 Naperville, Illinois July 1–3, 1977 [78]
1978 Atlanta, GA July 7–9, 1978 [79]
1979 Gresham, Oregon July 6–8, 1979 [80]
1980 & 1981 were transition years leaving the AAU
1980 TFA Atlanta, GA June 14, 1980 [81]
1980 TAC Philadelphia, PA July 4–6, 1980 [82]
1981 TFA Atlanta, GA June 13–14, 1981 [83]
1981 TAC Los Gatos, California Aug 15–16, 1981 [84]
TAC
1982 Wichita, Kansas Aug 6–8, 1982 [85]
1983 Houston, TX Sept 16–18, 1983 [86]
1984 Eugene, Oregon Aug 17–19, 1984 [87]
1985 Indianapolis, IN Aug 23–25, 1985 [88]
1986 Uniondale, New York Jul 18–20, 1986 [89]
1987 Eugene, Oregon Aug 14–16, 1987 [90]
1988 Orlando, Florida Aug 4–7, 1988 [91]
1989 San Diego, CA July 20–23, 1989 [92]
1990 Indianapolis, IN Aug 2–5, 1990 [93]
1991 Naperville, Illinois July 4–7, 1991 [94]
1992 Spokane, Washington Aug 13–16, 1992 [95]
USATF 1993 to Present
1993 Provo, Utah Aug 11–14, 1993 [96]
1994 Eugene, Oregon Aug 11–14, 1994 [97]
1995 East Lansing, Michigan July 5–9, 1995 [98]
1996 Spokane, Washington Aug 15–18, 1996 [99]
1997 San Jose, California Aug 7–10, 1997 [100]
1998 Orono, Maine July 30 – Aug 2, 1998 [101]
1999 Orlando, Florida Aug 26–29, 1999 [102]
2000 Eugene, Oregon Aug 10-13, 2000 [103]
2001 Baton Rouge, Louisiana July 25–28, 2001 [104]
2002 Orono, Maine Aug 8–11, 2002 [105]
2003 Eugene, Oregon Aug 7–10, 2003 [106]
2004 Decatur, Illinois Aug 5–8, 2004 [107]
2005 Honolulu, HI Aug 4–7, 2005 [108]
2006 Charlotte, North Carolina Aug 3–6, 2006 [109]
2007 Orono, Maine Aug 2–5, 2007 [110]
2008 Spokane, Washington Aug 7–10, 2008 [111]
2009 Oshkosh, Wisconsin July 9–12, 2009 [112]
2010 Sacramento, California July 22–25, 2010 [113]
2011 Berea, Ohio July 28–31, 2011 [114]
2012 Lisle, Illinois Aug 2–5, 2012 [115]
2013 Olathe, Kansas July 11–14, 2013 [116]
2014 Winston-Salem, North Carolina July 17–20, 2014 [117]
2015 Jacksonville, Florida July 23–26, 2015 [118]
2016 Allendale, Michigan July 14–17, 2016 [119]
2017 Baton Rouge, Louisiana July 13–16, 2017 [120]
2018 Cheney, Washington July 26–29, 2018 [121]
2019 Ames, Iowa July 11–14, 2019 [122]
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic --- [123][124]
2021 Ames, Iowa July 22–25, 2021 [125]
2022 Lexington, Kentucky Tentative July 2022 [126]

See also[]

References[]

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Further reading[]

External links[]

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