MTF Mid America Region Report
By Christel and Jerry Donley, Region Chairs
Region Associations:
Colorado, Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri Valley, Nebraska, Ozark
Starting with the attendance at the National convention in Orlando, 2016,only Craig Yotter from Minnesota, LaDonna Gooden of Missouri Valley and 3 members from the Colorado Association attended. This is nothing new, usually, only the same people from the same region attended.
Our regular connection and communications are with: Larry Staton,Missouri Valley (Shocker Track Club, Wichita) CraigYotter, Minnesota, who gave acomprehensive report of all the meets he organized, and Colorado.
Colorado Masters Track and Field Club is highly organized and extremely lucky to have great certified officials as well.
The Shockers Track Club is equally busy and at the time of this post, has one more meet coming, Sept 30th, in Wichita. We are trying to support them with a small amount of money from our Mid America budget.
Craig Yotter, Minnesota, reported a number of meets in that Association in 2017: January 7, February 5 and 25 and March 4 indoor; Outdoor included June 20 and 27, July 11 and 18 and August 1, using high school facilities. Its indoor championship was held March 12 at the University of Minnesota. Its outdoor championship was held June 12, 2017 at Hamline University. Craig was been consistent in posting Minnesota's schedule and results.
All meets,that we are aware of, include Youth and Open athletes. This has proven to be the only way to meet the financial obligations, and provide competition for current and future Masters.
Mid America held the Indoor meet at the Air Force Academy in Feb. 2017, and will have the same on Feb. 18, 2018 , hopefully no "military action" will take place, which would mean that the facility can cancel within hours.
Our Mid America Outdoor meet was a "nightmare" with a venue change on short notice; trying to find a new place that would accommodate a 2-day meet, was nearly impossible.Somehow, Jim Weed and our faithful club members made it possible. We found Pueblo.
Ken O'Neil and Ray Brown were instrumental to get us two venues; CSU Pueblo for throwing events, and Dutch Clark Stadium for all other events.Needless to say, the attendance was down, and the cost was not! It became a one-day meet , with officials working both the two venues. Yet, it was a team effort and those who attended were very complimentary!
Unfortunately, Jerry and I were on our way to California for a family funeral – and ended up in a major car crash.... BUT, we were grateful for all the people who stepped up, including officials coming a long way. Call it: "A Labor of Love" (for the sport).
Jerry and I attended an Indoor meet in Wichita and in Iowa, just a confirmation that meet directors (Larry Staton and Jim Walzcyk ) are very involved in that part of our region.We tried to contact Nebraska and the other Associations, they do not have a Masters Rep. per say, so, no we received no reponse.
We will still try and put on meets the best we can, and hope for a better attendance at the National Convention in Columbus, Ohio in December.
We had a visit from Vin Lananna at our last Colorado Assoc, meeting, which was very pleasant and informative.
Respectfully submitted:Jerry and Christel Donley
In addition: I am still the meet director(25 yrs) for the Pasadena Senior Games, and, though it is not in our region, we have a lot of Masters Athletes from not only the California region, but other states as well. Simply another chance for Masters Athletes to compete.