Contact: Bob Weiner or Danielle Crawford
301-283-0821, cell 202-329-1700

 Laurie DeWitt/The Gazette
     (Boston, MA) - Four-time Boston and four-time New York Marathon Champion Bill Rodgers, perhaps the prime inspiration of the current running movement, and Joan Benoit Samuelson, the first Olympic Women's Marathon Champion (1984) and still American record holder, join hurdles champion/ex-NFL-Chicago Bears star Willie Gault, world sprint record holder Larry Colbert, and many other world's best ever track and field athletes competing at the U.S.A. Track & Field Masters Indoor Championships in Boston Friday-Sunday, March 28-30.

     "Nearly 1000 athletes from 30's to 100's from across the USA will compete in the meet," said Steve Vaitones, Meet Director and managing director of the USA Track & Field-New England, hosting the meet. "This meet and National Masters running sends a message of competitive fitness for an entire lifetime. Incidentally, the track is recognized as lightning-fast and top quality, conducive to world and national records."

    Gault, former NFL-Chicago Bears wide receiver, and former world championship hurdler and relay world record holder, now 42, will compete in the 60-meter dash (Finals Saturday 10:30 AM) and hurdles (Finals 5 PM Saturday) and the 200-meter dash (Finals Noon Sunday).

    USA Track and Field Masters chose Colbert, 66, a Glenarden, Maryland high school teacher and coach, the Outstanding Male Athlete for 2002.  He holds the 65+ world record in the 200 and 400 meters and will compete in the 60-meter dash (Saturday 10:30 AM), 200 (Noon Sunday), and 400 (Finals Saturday 2PM).

    Other stars competing include hurdle record holder Barbara Jordan, 67, from South Burlington, VT; 10-time Irish Decathlon champ Val McGann, 75; NFL star Billy "White Shoes" Johnson of Atlanta, 51, in the 60-dash and long jump; Catherine Stone-Borkowski, a rising star in the W400; and Roger Pierce of Essex, MA, reigning world 55+ 400-meter champion.

    Typical of high-powered competitions will be the M50 400 Meters, where two world champions and world record holders, Billy Collins and Ed Gonera, face off.  60-year old Steve Robbins, Ph.D., of Seattle, WA, a renowned organizational psychologist and world champion 60+ sprinter, will seek records in the 60 and 200.

    Male registered competitors range in age to Dudley Healey, 88, in the 800, mile, and 3000, and Bob Matteson, 87, who has two pending world records in the 85+ 400 meters; females include Betty Jarvis, 87, in the weight throw and shot put.

    *** NOTE: Media are invited for coverage and athlete interviews.  For more information or interviews, please call Bob Weiner at 301-283-0821 or cell 202-329-1700, or locate Bob trackside.  Media credentials are required.  More schedule information, participant list, and meet specifics are available on web at: http://www.usatfne.org/masters/boston2003/