Olympians, world champions on tap for 2008 USA Masters Outdoor Championships

INDIANAPOLIS - Six Olympians and 41 current world champions are among the 1,000 competitors expected to compete August 7-10 at the 2008 USA Track & Field Masters Outdoor ChampionshipsatSpokane Falls Community College, in Spokane, Wash.

Athletesages 30 to 95 will provide an extraordinary demonstration of speed, power, skill, and endurance, showing that age is no barrier to lifetime fitness and competition at the national masters track and field championships. The public and the media are invited.

Meet Director Marla Emde, Director of Events for the Spokane Regional Sports Commission, said, "We are very excited to host the 40^th Anniversary USA Masters Track and Field Championships. Spokane has a storied tradition of track and field and running events. With top competitors of all ages, this meet will be great for both watching and participating."

For full schedule and entry list, see: http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/USAMastersOutdoorTFChampionships/ ;

Schedule: http://www.masterstrack.com/news2008/spokanesked.pdf

Top entrants

Among the stars at the meet are Steve Robbins, a Seattle resident, who ran for the University of Arizona in the early 1960s and has won 11 world championships in the masters sprints. Entered in the 65-69 age group, earlier this year he ran an unthinkable 25.20 in the 200 meters for a world mark. Steve will be very hard to beat in the 100m and 200m.

Nolan Shaheed (Pasadena, Calif.) was the musical director for Marvin Gaye and played lead trumpet with the Count Basie Orchestra. On the track, he won the 1,500 and 5,000 last year's World Championships and was named USA Track & Field's Male Masters Athlete of the Year.

Carmen Ayala-Troncoso (Austin, Texas) represented the United States at the World Cross-Country Championships in both 1994 and 2000, and participated in the U.S Olympic Trials at age 41 (5,000 meters). She will make her national masters track debut in the outdoor championships in Spokane in the 800m and 1,500m events in the 45-49 age group. Ayala Troncoso is the American record holder for the 5,000 in both the 40-44 and 45-49 divisions.

Packed schedule

The meet runs Thurs. 7:30a.m.-3:30 p.m., Fri. 8-5:30 p.m., Sat. 7:30a.m.-3:30 p.m., and Sun. 8AM-1:45PM, with eventson a fast-paced schedule throughout the day. The College's address is: 3410 West Fort George Wright Drive, Spokane, WA 99224.

Spokane will be hosting the 40^th anniversary of the USA Masters national championship, first held in San Diego in 1968. David Pain, 86, the pioneer of masters track in North America and the organizer of the 1968 event, will be a special guest in Spokane. He and wife Linda will travel from San Diego and will be saluted at the Athletes Banquet at the Northern Quest Casino on Saturday, August 9. Also incorporated in the schedule is the opening ceremony with an Air Force fly-over (11 a.m. on Thursday) and also two races to determine the fastest kids in Spokane. The meet was previously held in Spokane in 1992 and 1996.

Olympians and current World Champions coming to Spokane include:

Olympians

W45 Patricia "Trish" Porter (1988 high jump) entered in high jump

W55 Lorna Forde (1972, 1976 for Barbados in 100, 400 and 4x4 relay) entered in 200, 400

M65 Ed Burke (1964, 1968 and 1984 in hammer throw) entered in hammer

M65 Gary Stenlund (1968 in javelin) entered in javelin

M70 Richard Cochran (1960 bronze in discus) entered in discus

M80 Franklin "Bud" Held (1952 in javelin) entered in pole vault, discus, hammer

2008 World Masters Indoor Championships Gold Medalists(Meet held in Marchin Clermont-Ferrand, France. Events listed are those in which the athletes will compete in Spokane):

M35 Don Drummond 100, 110H, 400H

W35 Lisa Daley 100, 200, 400

M40 Getulio "Tony" Echeandia 400, 400H

W40 Renee Henderson100, 200

M45 David Ashford 110H

M50 Val Barnwell 100, 200

M50 Marty Krulee 100, 200

M50 Bruce McBarnette high jump

W50 Rita Hanscom 100, 200, 80H, 300H, high jump, pole vault, long jump, javelin

M55 Jim Broun 100H, 400H, long jump

M55 Bill Collins 100, 200, 4 00

M55 Nolan Shaheed 800, 1500, 5K

W55 Kathy Martin 800, 1500, 5K, 10K, 2K steeplechase

M60 Charles Allie 100, 200, 400< /div>

M60 Stan Whitley 100, 200

M60 John Altendorf pole vault

M65 George Mathews hammer throw, shot put

W65 Marie-Louise Michelsohn 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 5K, 10K, 2K steeplechase

M70 Bob Lida 100, 200, 400

M70 Mack Stewart 200, 400, 800

W70 Jeanne Daprano 400, 800, 1500

W70 Christel Donley high jump, shot put, javelin

M75 Bob Fine 400, 5K walk, 10K walk

21World Masters 2007 Outdoor Championships Gold Medalists

(Meet held in September, 2007 in Riccione, Italy. Events listed are those in which the athletes will compete in Spokane):

M35 Chris Grant 100H, 400H

M40 Getulio "Tony" Echeandia 400, 400H

M40 Trevor Richards pole vault

W45 Joy Upshaw-Margerum LJ, 100, 200, 80H

M45 David Ashford 110H

M50 Ralph Fruguglietti discus

M50 Marty Krulee 100, 200

M55 Bill Collins 100, 200, 400

M55 Nolan Shaheed 800, 1500, 5K

M55 Thad Wilson 100H, 400H, long jump

M60 Larry Barnum200, 400, 800

M60 Stan Whitley 100, 200

M60 Charles Allie 100, 200, 400

M65 Emil Pawlik 100H, high jump, long jump, discus

M65 Bob Cahners shot put, discus, hammer throw

W65 Marie-Louise Michelsohn 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 5K, 10K, 2K steeplechase

W65 Nadine O'Connor high jump, pole vault, shot put, discus, javelin

M70 Bob Lida 100, 200, 400

W70 Christel Donley high jump, shot put, javelin

M80 Franklin "Bud" Held pole vault, discus, hammer throw

M80 Bill Melville 100, 200

Olympian and world champion lists prepared by Ken Stone, Media Committee member and editor, www.masterstrack.com

Media is invited for coverage and athlete interviews. For more information or interview requests, please call Bob Weiner, USATF Masters Media Chair, at 202-329-1700 (cell), 301-283-0821 (office), or locate Bob trackside; and Suzanne Boyce of Spokane Regional Sports Commission at 509-742-9396.