Has Coach Rick Riddle got news for you! Two outstanding opportunities to compete at (or watch) at the national and international level are coming just a few months from now in Gainesville, Florida.
In this and the following two blog posts, Rick explains why we’re lucky to have these meets right in our back yard. The third post includes photos and a video taken by Kathleen Riddle that’ll really ramp up your interest. Leah Rewolinski The Villages TLC Word Nerd Hello Team, Two awesome opportunities are coming your way in 2025! First is the USA Track & Field Masters Indoor National Championships at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center in Gainesville on February 20-23, 2025. The registration deadline is still to be determined by USATF. In late March you have a great opportunity to compete in (or watch) the World Masters Indoor Championships, also at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center. This is the first time the World Masters Indoor Championships has been held in the USA. The meet will take place on March 23-30, 2025, with a registration deadline of January 23. In the blog posts that follow I will give you some insight on how to get registered and what you can expect. Kathleen and I have traveled to world indoor meets and USATF national indoor meets over the years. They’ve provided us with great memories. Photos taken by Kathleen at the 2014 World Masters Indoor Championships in Budapest appear at the end of these explanations. Here are the basics of the USATF (national) Masters Indoor Championships.
Here’s what to know about the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships.
Coach Rick Riddle Additional Useful Links Alachua County Sports & Events Center USA Track & Field -- Masters For the national championships: 2025 USATF Masters Indoor National Championships For the world championships: 2025 WMA Indoor Championships (USATF site) 2025 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships (WMA site) To discover more advantages of membership in USA Track & Field, just scroll down to the next blog post.
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Hello Team,
I have been running in USATF meets since I began track at age 50. These track meets are far better organized than the Senior Games you are already familiar with. The annual membership fee of $55 allows you to compete in their track meets across the USA as well as the WMA world championships. The introduction below is taken from the USATF Masters website. Coach Rick Riddle USATF Masters track and field and LDR [long-distance running] consist of local, regional, national, and international competition opportunities for adult athletes. In track and field, we have three categories of participants. Masters are 35 years of age and older (in LDR road racing, Masters start at 40). Sub-Masters age 25-34 are welcome at track and field local and national championships. (Note: you cannot compete internationally, such as at the World Masters Championships, until 35.) All levels of ability are welcomed and encouraged to participate. Very few meets require qualification standards; you do, however, need to be a USATF member. Masters track and field actively promotes fitness, friendship, volunteerism, athletic development, competition, and sportsmanship, and is inclusive. Join Us! Men and women compete separately in 5-year age groups starting at age 35: 35-39, 40-44, etc. There is also a Sub-Masters age group for athletes 25-34. Masters meets typically include all T&F events: sprints, distance running, hurdles, throws, jumps, racewalking, and relays. Sincerely, USA Track & Field And finally, scroll down for the last third post, which offers an exciting glimpse of what an actual World Championships is like. Leah Rewolinski Hello Team,
I have run in several indoor and outdoor world championships. These events are conducted in locations across the globe. They are very well organized and give you an opportunity to compete against athletes from around the world. If you attend one of these, you would be representing Team USA and wearing the Team USA uniform. There are no qualifications required. Kathleen and I have made many trips abroad for these meets. The meets themselves are colorful and memorable, primarily because of the many different languages and uniforms. World Masters Athletics is the governing body for masters world competitions. The introductory information below is copied from the World Masters Athletics website. And below that is an assortment of photos from our WMA Worlds Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Coach Rick Riddle WMA MISSION STATEMENT Promote premier athletic events for athletes thirty-five and over, of all abilities, and encourage their passion for active healthy competition, global camaraderie, and celebratory spirit. WMA ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS
Images from the WMA Indoor Worlds Budapest, Hungary 2014 Photos and video courtesy of Kathleen Riddle (scroll down past photos for link to video). |
your choiceIf you don't run, you rust. Leah rewolinskiThe Villages TLC Word Nerd & webmaster Archives
January 2025
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