Exciting Track & field championships coming soon to Gainesville

USA Gold! Rick Riddle in the M60-64 4x200 relay finals, 2014 WMA Worlds, Budapest, Hungary

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.

• You must be a USA Track & Field member to compete. The $55 annual membership fee allows you to race at all USATF-conducted meets around the country at which masters divisions are included.

• Age divisions are the same as you are accustomed to – however, USATF places you in the age group that corresponds precisely with your current age. For example, if you are 66 the day the meet begins, then you compete as a 66-year-old. This is different from the awkward age group rule the Senior Games uses.
• There’s no need to qualify for the USATF masters national championships or any other USATF meet. All members are welcome to compete.
• If you have never run or race-walked on an indoor track, you will find that it’s different but not overly challenging. I can help you with this, as I have plenty of experience.
• The track’s inside lane is 200 meters long. Officials will place you in the correct starting spot for your race. There is also a 60-meter straightaway inside the 200- meter oval.
• In my experience, USATF has never required an admission fee for spectators.

 
Here’s what to know about the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships.

• Your entry to a WMA meet is handled by USA Track & Field. This process isn’t tedious, but there are enough steps and other information required that I’m directing you to the USATF handbook via this link: Information for USATF Masters Athletes
• USA Track & Field provides a Team USA uniform for all U.S. athletes.
• There’s no admission charge for spectators, according to WMA.

 
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.