FOR RELEASE: July, 211 Contact: Bob Weiner, USA Masters Track Media Chair, or Khurram Abbas 31-283-821 or cells 22-36-12 and 22-329-1; weinerpublic@comcast.net SACRAMENTO S WORLD MASTERS TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS HAVE LARGEST-EVER USA TEAM JULY 6-1, 191 of 484 Athletes from 93 countries INCLUDES OLYMPIANS AL JOYNER and WILLIE BANKS, JAZZ GREAT NOLAN SHAHEED (played lead for Count Basie, Dizzie Gillespie, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder), SULLIVAN FINALIST PHIL RASCHKER (only masters athlete in history in finals with Michael Phelps, Lebron James, Apolo Ohno), ED BURKE, 3-time Olympian and 1984 Flagbearer Most events at Hornet Stadium, Sacramento State University, Sacramento, (Sacramento, ) The World Masters Athletics Championships to be held in - +Sacramento, July 6-1 the top worldwide competition for athletes 3+ in track and field have the largest USA team in history. The USA team may have something of a group competition with the rest of the world, since the USA Team has 191 athletes of the 484 total from 93 countries; Canada is second with 21, and Great Britain third with 19. USA stars and some persons of interest for media include Olympians Al Joyner, 1, Chula Vista, (1984 Olympic Gold medalist in triple jump, now coach at the Olympic Training Center, former triple gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo-Jo) s husband and coach, and triple gold medalist Jackie Joyner Kersee s brother; Willie Banks,, San Diego,, former world triple jump record holder and President of US Olympians; Jazz great and world champion runner Nolan Shaheed, M61, Pasadena,, who has played lead trumpet for Count Basie, Dizzie Gillespie, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye; Sullivan Finalist Philippa Raschker, 64, from Marietta, GA, the only masters athlete in history to be a finalist for the top overall US athlete with the likes of open stars Michael Phelps, Lebron James, and Apolo Ohno (and she s done it twice over the last decade because of her winning 1 and gold medals at recent world masters championships and setting over 1 masters world records); and Ed Burke, 3-time Olympian (hammer throw) and the U.S. 1984 Flagbearer. For interviews of US athletes or more information, contact USATF National Masters Media Chair Bob Weiner trackside or at cells 22-36-12 or 22-329-1 or weinerpublic@comcast.net. For information on the USA athletes at the meet including home towns and events, see http://www.weinerpublic.com/211wma.tt
For overall meet information and event schedules, and event-age athlete listings, see the Sacramento Sports Commission (meet host) and WMA site at http://www.wma211.com/en/home.htm The USA Has at least 22 current defending outdoor and indoor masters world champions participating in the meet (see chart below, thanks to USATF Masters Active Athletes Chair Mary Trotto). Many are multiple event winners who are epected to repeat. According to the Sacramento Sports Commission and meet media director Bob Burns, top Sacramento area entrants include: Liz Palmer (Folsom, ), who will be one of the favorites in the W sprints and hurdles; Kevin Morning (Roseville, ), a former world record holder in the M4 2 meters and double gold medalist at the 199 and 21 WMA Championships; John Mansoor (El Dorado Hills, ), the longtime race director of the California International Marathon who will compete in M distance events; and Rod Jett (Sacramento, ), a former Hiram Johnson High School and University of California hurdler who now coaches track at Jesuit High School. CHART BELOW OF THE USA S DEFENDING WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONS ENTERED IN SACRAMENTO prepared by Mary Trotto, Chair, USATF Masters Active Athletes Committee:
LIST OF USA ATHLETES WHO ARE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS FROM THE LAST WMA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN LAHTI, FINLAND 29 AND THEIR PERFORMANCES AT OUR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS SINCE 29 ALONG WITH THE WMA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS IN KAMLOOPS ( = THEY DID NOT COMPETE OR NA = NO 1 ST PLACE. THESE ARE ONLY 1 ST PLACE PERFORMANCES. Women followed by Men age Name and home town 3 Lisa Daley, White Plains, NY (note two age groups) 4 Lisa Daley, White Plains, NY (Current age group) 4 Lisa Valle, Albuquerque, NM 4 Charmaine Roberts, Beltsville, MD 4 Renee Hendersen, Mechanicsburg, NJ Martha Mendenall, Tacoma, WA Carol Finsrud, Lockhart, T Rita Hanscom San Diego, Indoor 211 2,4, 8m 2,4, 6mH 8, mile, 3m Kamloops WMA 21 Indoor 21 2,4m 6,2,4 m 4 6,2,4 m Outdoor 21 2,4,4 mh WMA Lahti, Finland 9 4m 4mH 2,4 2m 8,1m, 2SC 4m 2,,LJ 6, 2, 1,2M 1,2M 4M HJ HJ No 1 st Throws Pent. 2,6m H, Pent HJ, PV, LJ 8mH, 3mH, LJ 8mH, LJ, 3mH, Hept., PV, JT Linda Cohen, Northridge, TJ. Becky Sisley, Eugene, 8mH, PV, Oregon Hept. 8 Johnnye Valien, LA, LJ, WT PV, LJ HJ, PV, LJ, PV, LJ, TJ TJ, SP Males 4 Mike Godbout, 11mH Glenwood, IA 4 Robert Thomas, Indianapolis, IN Bruce McBarnette, Sterling, VA Anselm LeBourne, Maplewood, NJ Michael Brown, Jacksonville, FL 6 Glenn Sasser, Hampstead, NC Sid Howard, Plainfield, NJ 8 Gunnar Linde, Venice, 2m 2m 2m 4m HJ HJ HJ HJ HJ 8m 1m Jav. Jav. SP SP SP 8, 1m 8, mile 8m 1m 2mSC
The following USA athletes did not compete at the 29 World Championships in Lahti, but their performances for this past year are noteworthy. Placing 1 st in the following. 6 6 Name 211 Indoors Oneithea SP. WT, Lewis, SWT NY,NY Kathy Martin, Northport, NY Kay Glynn, Hastings,I A Phil Raschker, Marietta, GA Nadine O Connor, Del Mar, Carol Young, Marietta, GA Carol Young, Northridge,,, Kathy Bergen, LaCanada, Chrystel Donley, Flo Mailer, Shelburne, VT Audry Lary, Fredricks, 8, mile, 3m Compete d pl.2 nd 6mH, PV, LJ,TJ 6mH, LJ, Pent. SP, WT, SWT SP,WT,S WT Kamloops Indoor 21 Outdoor 21 Natl. SP, WT, SWT SP, HT, WT PENT. 8,1, 8,1, 8, 1, 3m 3m,1, 2,4,6 mh, PV,LJ, TJ, 6mH,HJ,PV, LJ,TJ, HEPT. 2mSC HJ,PV, DE 8 & 3mH, 4, PV,LJ,TJ 2, 8mH, HJ,LJ, SP. DT 6,2,4, WT, SWT HJ, 6m 6,2M, HJ, Pent., PV, 6mH, HJ, LJ, TJ SWT WT,SWT, PENT., 1,2, HJ, DT HJ, LJ, PENT HJ, SP, HEPT HJ,SP, JT, HEPT 6mH, PV, 8mH, LJ, TJ 2mH, PV. DT, HT 6.2,4, LJ.TJ Lahti finland
MD 9 Betty Jarvis, Alberdeen, NC SP,WT SP,WT, SWT WT, SWT, PENT 3 Alfee 6,2m, LJ 6m, LJ LJ Pettes 4 Nick Berra Enola PA Mike Wallar,Fed Way, WA 6,2,4 m 4m 6 Bill Collins 2, 6,2,4 6,2,4m 1, 4m HoustonT 4m m 6 Nolan 8,mile, 8, mile, 8, Shaheed, Pasadena 3m 3m 1m 6 Charlie 6,2, 1,2,4 Allie Pittsbg, PA 4m m 6 John PV PV Altendorf CorvallsOR 9 Leland McPhie, SD, TJ, SP, WT, SWT. 6M,HJ,LJ,T J, SP, WT, SWT 1M, HJ, LJ,TJ, SP, WT, SWT. Other notable names: Olympians Ed Burke is a world class thrower and Willie Banks a jumper see tet NOTE-- OLDEST known record holders entered in Sac to date: Leland McPhie and Betty Jarvis Charts prepared by Mary Trotto, Chair, USATF Masters Active Athletes Committee Media contacts: USA Team Athlete Media and interviews: Bob Weiner, USATF National Masters Media Chair -- trackside or 22-36-12 or 22-329-1 weinerpublic@comcast.net. Sacramento Sports Commission, overall meet, and media credentials: Bob Burns 916-82-841 Source: USATF National Masters Media Committee & Robert Weiner Associates