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FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2004 Contact Bob Weiner, USATF National Masters Track Media Chair, 301-283-0821 or 202-329-1700 or Sasha
Varghese; or Mark Cleary, USATF
Masters Invitationals Director 949-589-0242 2004 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
TO INCLUDE MASTERS 800 METERS WOMEN’S AND MEN’S EXHIBITION 4:10 & 4:25 PM SAT.
JULY 17 ALEX G. SPANOS SPORTS COMPLEX, SACRAMENTO, CA The
nation’s best 800 meter men’s and women’s masters runners will take part in the
U.S. Olympic Trials, Saturday, July 17, in exhibition events organized and
negotiated by Masters Track & Field Chair George Mathews and Masters
Invitationals Director Mark Cleary, with the support of USOC and USATF. The women’s masters 800 M will be at
4:10 PM and the men’s at 4:25, Pacific Time, at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex
Mondo Track, on the California State University campus, Sacramento. Invited
male competitors are expected to include Tony
Young, 42, from Redmond, WA, the current U.S. outdoor mile record
holder at 4:07.25, and possessor of the best time in the 800 meter this year at
1:54.79; John Hinton, 42, Chapel
Hill, NC, champion of the World outdoor 1500 meter in 2003, 1:55.56 this year
for the 800; Jeff Lindsay, 45, Tulsa, OK, 3rd fastest in the
nation in 2003 in the 800 meter at 1:58.31, and frequent podium finisher at the
National Championships; Kevin Paulk, 43, from Portland, OR, US
40-44 outdoor mile and 800 meter champion in 2003; Sal Allah, 44, NJ, 2003 World
Champion at 800 meter 1:58.84 and 400 meter, and the only man in the field to
have beaten Tony Young head to head in the 800; Wes Ashford, 42, of Alta
Loma, CA, ranked 3rd in the nation in the 1500 last year; David Lucas,
44, San Jose, CA, ranked 7th in the nation in 2003 for the 800 at
1:59.4; Nolan
Shaheed, 54, Pasadena, CA, current M-50 World record holder in the
outdoor 800 with a time of 1:58.6, the outdoor mile at 4:25.01, and the indoor
mile at 4:26.07. Expected
female competitors are Rose Monday, San Antonio, Texas, 2001 800
meter World Masters Champion, Masters Athlete of the Year W40-45 1999-2001; Catherine
Stone-Borkowski, 42, New York, winner of both the 800 and mile at
this year’s Indoor Nationals and previously a national body-building champion; Claudette
Groenendaal, Santa Monica, California, open two-time National 800
champion 1985 and 86; Ceci St. Geme, 1982 NCAA Champion of the
3000, USATF 5000 meter National Champion in 1994; Mary Thane, 40, Montana, 2003
Outdoor 800 meter Champion, fastest American time of 2:18.26 for the W40 group;
Lorraine
Jasper, PA, 42, ranked third last year with 2:24.56; Terri Cassel,
42, Tulsa, OK, 2nd at 2003 Nationals in both 800 and 1500; Kim Kimber,
41, Sacramento, CA, who has posted 2:24.72 this season; and Karen
Jeffers, 41, Sacramento, CA, with a 2:26.30.
The Masters Program of the USATF will gain exposure at the Olympic trials while exhibiting an exciting showcase of talent. Media coverage and athlete interviews are invited. (Source: Robert Weiner Public Affairs and USATF National Masters Media Subcommittee 301-283-0821 or 202-329-1700) |