Masters Annual Reports - West Region, 2005

Mark Cleary
18 Charca
Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca 92688
(949) 589-0242
runnermark AT cox.net

1. West Region Championship.

The Masters West Region Track & Field Championships were held July 23^rd and 24^th 2005 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. This site proved once again to be a draw with 280 athletes entered in the meet. The Nationals in Hawaii and the World Championships in Spain, which were held within 30 days of our event, most certainly affected our numbers, which were down 55 athletes from last year. Last year was an Olympic year and we used this Olympic training site for the first time and had a record 335 athletes. The good news is that even though the numbers were down a bit they were still much higher than the average 225 which has been our average for this meet for years. We had plenty of excellent officials although in the Javelin the presiding officials only measured the longest throw of each competitor, which actually cost one athlete a record. The SO Cal Track Club provided the meet volunteers again this year for the meet and the meet schedule stay within a half hour of the schedule and actually caught back up by mid meet the first day and the meet stayed on schedule the second day. We added a Wheel Chair Exhibition event for the first time this year that was well received. We did have one flaw in the meet, which was very disappointing. The wind gage that was provided by the timing company we used was working when the meet started on Sat. but was not working for the 100m later that day (everyone seemed to be quite comfortable with the wind being over the allowable for Sat.). The assumption was made that it was a battery problem. Batteries were brought for the next day and we tried to put them in. The screws in the wind gage housing were rusted and could not be removed. We had two times run that would have been records if they had been recorded with allowable wind. The wind was definitely blowing that day, but since winds change from one moment to the next it is difficult to say whether these times would have been wind aided or not.

2. Association Championships within the Region

Nevada Association did not put on a Masters Track & Field Championship.

Central California did not put on a Masters Track & Field Championship.

New Mexico did have a very small Masters Championship.

Arizona did have a successful Masters Track & Field Association Championship.

Hawaii did have a Masters Track & Field Association Championships.

Pacific Association had an outstanding Association Championships (I was there)

Joy Upshaw- Margerum as first year meet director deserves a lot of credit.

San Diego Imperial had a very successful Association Championship. (I was there)

Southern California had a Masters Association Championship that was marred by

the inadequate number of officials and a meet schedule that got over two hours

behind schedule. (I was there)

3. Region Goals

My top goal for this year was to strengthen my relationship with my local Association office. I did that by becoming the Masters Vice President in the Southern California association. Another goal that was reached this year was to gain some Association support for the Masters West Region Track & Field Championships. Five hundred dollars was Contributed to the meet this year. This allowed us to have an announcer for the two day championship. We established a 3 race Cross Country series in the Southern California Association That will be looking to host Regional and National Cross Country Championships in the very near future. We will have a Masters Track & Field Grand Prix with 5,000 in prize money which Which will be held in summer of 2006. The goal will continue to be gaining more meets in the Region and higher participation levels in the meets and in the sport. Also encouraging more grow through local clubs at the grass roots level. One major goal for 2006 is presenting a bid for the Southern California Association to host the 2009 Masters National Outdoor Track and Field Championship at Azusa Pacific University.