| February 2003 Newsletter |
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Updates
The 3rd indoor meet of our stellar season will be
Feb. 9 at Barton Hall, Cornell. Doors open for registration at 8 a.m.,
and will run until 9:15 a.m. This meet begins with a 5,000-meter race at
9 a.m.; all other events start at "approx." 9:30 a.m. The rest of the
events: 100, 1,500, 800 and a Valentine's Day 2 x 400 meter relay. Given
the huge numbers we've been processing, I'd say we'll have more than one
heat of the 5K. See the FLRC Web site for updates, and
perhaps another relay surprise. E-mail meet director Tim Ingall at TimIngall@hotmail.com to
volunteer. And, we could use more volunteers! Full details on Family Fun
Day at the Track, on March 9, are enclosed on a flyer.
For the second straight year, Margret Betz of Conklin has been named the USA Track & Field Long Distance Athlete of the Year for women ages 65-69. Margret set a pending F66 single-age AR at our Ithaca 5 & 10 10 miler in September. She holds numerous single-age American records distances from the 5K through 10-miles. Margret turned 66 in September 2002, and earned much of this year's honors as a 65 year old, setting at least 4 F65 records (5K, 10K, 5 miles and 15K).Margret, who runs for TCRC, often comes to our road races, and we appreciate her friendship.
Footnote: Kathy Martin of Northport, Hartshorne Mile alum and elite women's mile winner, won the USATF LDR F50-54 Award, and the USATF Cross Country Athlete of the Year Award. Kathy has the world record in the mile for women F50-54; and ARs in the 800 and 3,000. Come and see her run at Hartshorne!
National-class athletes like Margret Betz have to own the talent genes. But unless race directors certify their courses and then submit all results to USATF by deadline, then people like Margret would go unrecognized. Margret got credit where credit was due because the Triple Cities Runners Club, Syracuse Chargers, FLRC, HMRRC and the Boilermaker organizers -- to name just a few, made sure all their courses were distance-certified by USATF, and then all paperwork and results were submitted in a timely fashion to the correct source. USATF is very strict about measuring and paperwork submissions.
I'm enclosing a blurb I stole from the Syracuse Charger newsletter which explains national rankings, certification checkups, Web site resources and how to submit results (Attn all race directors!).
Rankings and records are not identical words. Setting records is not easy, but we have a few New York state athletes (Molly Huddle, Betz, Kathy Martin, Carolyn Smith Hanna, Patti Ford) who have done it. You have to best another mark on the books.
Rankings are not an easy thing to attain either, but standards are set within age groups, and you just have to aim high and hit the mark or be faster. Numerous local runners are capable of this feat.
I'm enclosing two sets of national RANKING standards in this issue. One is for age-group ROAD rankings set by USA Track & Field; the other is for TRACK All-American standards as published by National Masters News. Both have men's and women's categories, so don't be too excited guys, and think the women's standards are your standards.
Both make for fascinating reading. Clip 'n Save 'em. Aim high
everyone!
On Feb. 8, in Syracuse at a site not yet determined, you can have an opportunity to become USATF-certified as a long-distance running (LDR) official. You'll learn about the rules governing road and cross country races.
Registration fees are $20 pre-Feb. 1, or $30 late registration. Space is limited, so register soon.
Contact Dave Oja, 213 Scott Ave., Syracuse, NY 13224; e-mail: daveoja@a-znet.com; call Dave Oja at
(315) 446-6285 or visit the Web: www.syracusechargers.org.
(Go to www.usatf.org for details; Prize money)
The 25th annual Mountain Goat 10-Miler will move to
Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse this year. The race date is May
3. The course will slightly change due to the move, but the Reservoir and
the Thorden Park Water Tower will remain on the route. Go to the Web:
www.mountaingoatrun.com.
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