For Immediate Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 10, 2014
Contact: Bob Weiner, USA Track & Field Masters Media Chair 301-283-0821, cell 202-306-1200, weinerpublic@comcast.net

100-YEAR OLD LELAND McPHIE READY TO SET WORLD & NATIONAL MARKS AT USA MASTERS TRACK INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP IN BOSTON MARCH 14-16; OVER 900 OTHERS INCLUDING WORLD’S BEST ATHLETES 35 TO 100 WITH 47 WORLD CHAMPIONS AND BOSTON AREA STARS; 3-TIME USA OLYMPIAN/1984 FLAGBEARER ED BURKE TO COMPETE, STILL SETTING RECORDS

REGGIE LEWIS TRACK, 1350 TREMONT STREET
EVENTS FRI. 9:00 AM-4:40 PM, SAT. 8:30 AM-6:40 PM, SUN. 8:30 AM-3:00 PM
140 GOING TO WORLD MASTERS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BUDAPEST MARCH 24-30
TO USE BOSTON USA MASTERS AS TEST;
BOSTON WILL SHOW AGE NO BOUNDARY TO FITNESS AND SKILL

(Boston, MA) – Leland McPhie of San Diego, a former San Diego sheriff captain who turns 100 March 10, is ready to set world and national marks at the USA Masters Track Indoor Championship in Boston March 14-16. He joins a record 920 other competitors including the world’s best athletes 35-100, among them many Boston area stars. The meet, open to the public and free of charge, is at the Reggie Lewis Track, 1350 Tremont Street. Events are Friday 9:00 AM-4:40 PM, Saturday 8:30 AM-6:40 PM, and Sunday 8:30 AM-3:00 PM. Track events will include sprints and distances from 60 meters to 3000 meters, and field events will include the full range of jumps and throws. Media is invited for coverage and athlete interviews.

Over 140 USA national masters competitors will go soon after the March 14-16 Boston meet to the World Masters Indoor Championships in Budapest, Hungary March 24-30. The world athletes will use the Boston national masters as a test. At least 47 reigning indoor or outdoor world champions will be competing in Boston at nationals as well as Hungary at the world championship.

The Boston meet will show that age is no boundary to fitness and skill, as well as a means of achieving lifetime fitness and health.

On Friday, in both the 70-74 Men’s Weight Throw and Superweight, Ed Burke (three-time Olympian, Hammer 1964 /U.S. Flagbearer 1984 – a great story), will compete, still setting records. The schedule lists 10:15AM as the beginning of Burke’s flights but because of safety on the track given his record distances, is being changed to approx. 6 PM. Check as closer.

McPhie will be the first 100 year old to compete in the indoor high jump and will establish the world mark (12:15 PM Saturday). He will also compete in the shot put, weight throw, and superweight throw.

Detailed meet schedule may be found at: http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2014/USA-Masters-Indoor-Track---Field-Championships.aspx .

Boston and Budapest competitors who will be defending their World Indoor Title include (list by Mary Trotto, MTF Active Athletes Chair):

FOR THE WOMEN:
Name	Age	World Title from 2012	Hometown
Jeanne Daprano	75	800m, 1500m (and first woman over 75 to break 7 minutes in mile)	Fayetteville GA
Lorraine Jasper	50	1500m	Birchrunville PA
Coreen Steinbach	60	3000m	Pompey NY
Charmaine Roberts	40	400m	Beltsville MD
FOR THE MEN:
Bill Collins	60	60, 200, 400m	Houston TX
Antwon Dussett	35	60, 200, 400m	Peoria IL

Other potential stars at Boston and Budapest should include:

Nolan Shaheed, M64, Pasadena CA, jazz great and 800M and 1500M world record holder, who played lead trumpet for Count Basie, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and Marvin Gaye and recently played studio trumpet on the Emmys, the Voice, and other top programs

Charlie Allie, Pittsburgh PA, selected as the World’s Outstanding Masters Athlete in 2013 after winning five gold medals at last year’s World Masters Track Championships in Brazil: the individual 100, 200, 400, and two relays.

Bruce McBarnette, M55, Sterling VA, nine-time world champion, high jump

Oscar Peyton, M60, Accokeek MD, multiple 100-200 world champion, in the 60-200

Lorraine Jasper, F55, Birchrunville PA

Kathy Martin, F64, multiple world and American record holder and a Bengay outstanding athlete winner, 800, 1500, mile, 3000 meters, and more

Irene Obera, F80, 100-200-400 sprinter (birthday 12/7/33), multiple world champion and track Hall of Famer who two-time Sullivan award finalist Phil Raschker says “is a beautiful sprinter we only see every few years,” from San Bernardino CA

Emil Pawlik, M75, Jackson MS, record holder in the pentathlon and heptathlon

*** BOSTON AREA STARS ENTERED: ***

Roger Pierce, M69, Essex MA, 60-200-400 sprints, who holds many national and world masters titles, a member of the USATF Masters Hall of fame.

Diane Pomeroy, F45, Essex MA, 200, 400, 800M, Bronze medalist at 2013 Brazil worlds

Sarah Lawson, F50, Wayland MA, multiple medalist at 2013 World Outdoor Championships

Craig Fram, M55, Derry NH, mile, 3000M, M45 American record holder 3000M

Antonio Palazzo, M85, Providence RI, Weight and SW, American record holder SW

Elizabeth Palmer, F50, Waltham MA, a silver medalist in both the 100 dash and 80 hurdles at the 2011 world outdoor masters (Sacramento); she is also the current American indoor record holder for F50 in the 80 hurdles

The meet is returning to Boston after four years. It is the 14th time the national indoor masters championship has been held in Boston, the most of any city in the US. The 920 entrants are the most ever in Boston and third highest ever for the event.

MEDIA: For questions or onsite athlete track interviews, contact Bob Weiner, National Masters Media Chair, cell 202-306-1200 or weinerpublic@comcast.net. Media should wear press organization credential and may obtain meet credential onsite from Bob.

Source: USATF Masters Media Committee and Robert Weiner Associates