by Terry Foody, Kentucky State Chair, USATF Masters
November 7, 2009
On December 12th, we will have a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in a national running event in our own backyard. The 2009 USA Track & Field National Club Cross Country Championships will be held at Masterson Station Park on December 12th.
The BLUEgrass Runners have voted to register as a club in USATF. This means that we will be able to form as many teams as we wish, and compete in this event. The distances will be 6k for women and 10k for men. Age categories will be Open and Masters.
Ages: For Open: females 14+, males 16+. Masters in 10-year age groups starting with 40 years.
Teams: Open Men and Women, Masters Men 40+ and 50+ will have eight team members (5 to place). All Masters Women, Masters Men 60+, Men 70+ will have five team members (3 to place).
Eligibility: Must be member of BLUEgrass Runners and USATF. ($30 online. Best to do after Nov. 1 to include 2010.)
Entry Fee: Early entry for event: $35 by 12/4/09.
Link for all information: http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/USATFClubXCChampionships/
This will be a big event with teams from all over the country. Friday night will include a technical session with all questions answered about the course. Saturday night there will be a post-race party downtown.
Maps of the course are included on the website. There will be loops on the prison/stream side of the park. Finish will be on the Lions Club property with a stadium crowd.
Local advantage: If you wish to see/run the course, please contact me at 277.5291 or mailto: terryfoody@juno.com. Rick Detty and I run there on Tuesday nights around 6pm all year. (Meet at pavilion down the road from dog park.) We may start at 5:30pm now that the time has changed. Call me if you want to go out another time.
Pre-national “Preview Race.” Frank Miklavcic, race director, has put together a very nice Preview Race (with pasta party) on November 21st! This will be a chance for you to run the course against some out of town competition.
So, let’s get our teams together for “Running through the Bluegrass” (race motto) over hills and dale. We’ll have a prominent club presence in this National Championship event!
