Track and Field Masters on the way

ORONO – A thousand athletes, age 30 to 94, will arrive at the University of Maine for the 2007 USA Track and Field Masters Championships Thursday to Sunday, Aug. 2-5.

Athletes travel from almost every state and several countries to compete, said Rolland Ranson, assistant head track and field coach at UM and director for this year’s outdoor masters events.

The event is testimony to the adage “you’re never too old,” said Ranson. “This is recognized and respected as one of the greatest championships in the world” and good publicity for the university, Ranson said, noting that this year’s masters event logo includes a familiar UM symbol, the black bear. Internet exposure and event publicity efforts “just throws that UMaine black bear out there all over the world.”

“We have people aged 93, 94 and 95, plus 30-year-olds,” said Ranson, a member of the board of directors for the Maine Association of USA Track and Field. “These are athletes who are continuing their competition, or starting. They travel throughout the country. They’ll compete three or four times during the year.”

Two of several Maine competitors are 75-year-old Bill Donnell, a Downeast sawmill operator from Sedgwick, who excels in the hammer throw, and UM philosophy professor and runner Doug Allen, a Yale track star in the early 1960s, Ranson said.

One thousand men and women are registered for track and field events in 14 age groups of five-year categories. With family and friends on hand, Ranson expects the championships to bring some 3,000 people and “a huge economic impact” to the area.

Events begin at 7:30 a.m. and continue all day Thursday through Sunday. Admission is free.

Ranson will get officiating help from throughout the state and beyond. They will use the Brewer High School computerized photo-finish timing system, which Ranson considers the best in the world.

Helping with the logistics are athletic trainer Amy Adamo; Alfond Arena maintenance supervisor Eric Stoup; assistant athletic director Will Biberstein; Bruce Stinson, director for conference services; the UM Sports Medicine Department; area massage therapists; teachers Dave Jeffrey and Glendon Rand; EMTs and an ambulance from Cutler Health Center and athletics accounting supervisor Jenise Soucy.

Claude Junkins, director of engineering support services, and forestry professor Tom Brann will direct the on-campus computer and wireless operations to put event results online quickly.

“One of the reasons we keep winning bids is our excellent outdoor facilities and grounds crew, medical and conference services,” Ranson added.

More information about the event is available at www.usatf.org/events/2007/USAMastersOutdoorTFChampionships/ or by calling Ranson at 581-1077.