UMaine Hosting 2007 USA Masters Track and Field Championships
Contact: Rolland Ranson, (207) 581-1077 / (207) 866-5889; George Manlove, (207) 581-3756
ORONO, Maine — A thousand athletes, aged 30 to 94, and their families, friends and supporters, soon will arrive at the University of Maine, Orono, for the 2007 USA Track and Field Masters Championships Aug. 2-5.
Athletes travel from almost every state in the nation, including Hawaii, Alaska and California to compete, according to Rolland Ranson, assistant head track and field coach at UMaine and director for this year’s outdoor masters events. Other countries represented by athletes are Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Puerto Rico.
The event also is testimony to the adage “you’re never too old,” says Ranson.
“This is recognized and respected as one of the greatest championships in the world” and good publicity for the university, Ranson says, noting that this year’s masters event logo includes a familiar UMaine symbol, the black bear. Internet exposure and event publicity efforts “just throws that UMaine black bear out there all over the world,” he says.
Being selected to host the USA Track and Field Masters Championships is competitive, with many states vying for the privilege. UMaine hosted the event in 1998 and in 2002 because of its excellent facilities, including housing for athletes, according to Ranson. Many of the competitors and family members will stay in area hotels and inns, but more than 300 will stay in Hancock, Oak and Balentine dormitories.
“We have people aged 93, 94 and 95, plus 30-year-olds,” says Ranson, a member of the board of directors for the Maine Association of USA Track & Field. “These are athletes who are continuing their competition, or starting. They travel throughout the country. They’ll compete three or four times during the year.”
Two of several Maine competitors are 75-year-old Bill Donnell, a Downeast sawmill operator from Sedgwick, Maine, who excels in the hammer throw, and UMaine philosophy professor and runner Doug Allen, a Yale track star in the early 1960s, Ranson says. Other competitors include a 93-year-old sprinter, Frank Levine from Pennsylvania, a former 1976 Olympian high-jumper, James Barrineau from Virginia, and a 40-year-old sprinter, John Simpson from Texas who runs a 10.50-second 100-meter dash — faster than the UMaine track record of 10.58 seconds set in 1991 by former UMaine student Carl Smith.
“They’ll do a lot of running events, but they also do a lot of jumping events and they throw the javelin, discus, hammer, and the shot put. It’s phenomenal,” Ranson says. “They make it a point to stay active and compete throughout their lives.”
One thousand men and women are registered for more than 20 traditional track and field events. Participants compete in 14 age groups of five-year categories. With family and friends accompanying the athletes, Ranson expects the championships to bring about 3,000 people and “a huge economic impact” to the area.
This year’s championships should be particularly good, since competitors also are preparing for the track and field World Championships Riccione, Italy in September, “so a lot is at stake in our championships,” Ranson says. Events begin at 7:30 a.m. and continue all day Thursday through Sunday, Aug 2 — 5. Admission is free.
Ranson will get officiating help from throughout the state and beyond. They’ll also be using the Brewer High School computerized photo-finish timing system, which Ranson considers the best in the world.
Others helping with the logistics of the event include athletic trainer Amy Adamo, Alfond Arena maintenance supervisor Eric Stoup, assistant athletic director Will Biberstein, along with Bruce Stinson, director for conference services, the UMaine Sports Medicine Department, several local massage therapists and local teachers Dave Jeffrey and Glendon Rand., UMaine’s Cutler Health Center will have EMTs and an ambulance available, thanks to Dennis Russell and Dick Young at the center. Athletics accounting supervisor Jenise Soucy is helping with program financials and accounting. Claude Junkins, director of engineering support services, and forestry professor Tom Brann will direct the on campus computer and wireless operations to put event results online quickly.
“One of the reasons we keep winning bids is our excellent outdoor facilities and grounds crew, medical, conference services” Ranson adds. “We are capable and ready for all situations. That is another major reason that the USA Nationals love to come back to Maine.”
Further information about the event is available at the USA Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships is available at its website or by calling Ranson at (207) 581-1077.