NOW WITH ALL-TIME RECORD ENTRIES INCLUDING JOAN BENOIT AND HENRY RONO, USA Masters Indoor Track Championships March 20-22 at PGSLC with Olympians and World Champions, Hosted by Potomac Valley Track Club;

ALL TIME GREAT JOAN BENOIT AND OLYMPIAN JOHN TUTTLE’S 3000 METER RACES 12:30 PM FRIDAY

Open to EVERYONE 30 & Over,
Theme of Lifetime Fitness

Entries Include All-time greats Joan Benoit Samuelson and Henry Rono, Two–time Sullivan Finalist Phil Raschker, 1984 Olympian John Tuttle, 1988 Canadian Olympian Renee Belanger, and Nolan Shaheed—world champion runner and jazz musician-lead trumpet for Count Basie and Stevie Wonder—will play National Anthem

Local Stars: 5X Olympic Trials Qualifier Alisa Harvey, 20-World & National Titles Winner Larry Colbert, 1976 Olympian Jim Barrineau; Oldest competitor 95

(Landover, MD) – Now with an all-time record entry number since its inception in 1974, the country’s top masters track athletes compete in the 2009 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships, to be held at Prince George's Sports and Learning Center in Landover MD, Friday-Sunday, March 20-22, 2009. ENTRIES CLOSE MARCH 5 and regular competitors will join Olympians and world record holders.

Approximately 1000 – a record for national masters indoors (old record 849) — will compete in the meet including Joan Benoit Samuelson, 51 of Freeport, ME, the 1984 Gold Medalist in the first Olympic Women’s Marathon at the Los Angeles Olympics, who is targeting the American and world 50+ records in an opening day event final Friday 12:30 PM, the 3000 meters. The M50 3000 features another 1984 Olympian, John Tuttle of Atlanta.

Kenyan running legend Henry Rono will run the mile Saturday at 12:30 PM and 800 meters Sunday. In an unprecedented sweep, Rono broke four open world records in 81 days in 1978 – the 10,000, 5000, 3000, and 3000 steeplechase – and continued breaking open records through 1981. Now 57, he remains committed to high quality running as a master and coaches in Albuquerque, NM.

Two-time Sullivan Award Finalist Philippa Raschker, 62, of Marietta, Georgia is in several running and field events. Twice in the last five years (including 2008), Raschker made the short list of the top five for America’s top amateur athlete of any age (with swimmer Michael Phelps, skater Apolo Ohno, basketball star Lebron James, and football quarterback Tim Tebow.) Raschker won TEN gold medals at the last (2007) outdoor World Masters Championships in Italy and was voted the outstanding competitor. She also won the 2008 USATF Outstanding Masters Athlete award.

In the mile and 800, Rono will compete with Nolan Shaheed, 59 of Pasadena, CA, a USATF Masters Athlete of the year and multi-world champion, who also happens to also be a renowned trumpeter/jazz musician. Shaheed was musical director for Marvin Gaye and played lead trumpet with Count Basie, Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Phil Collins, and Anita Baker. He has also performed and toured with Eddie Harris, the Duke Ellington orchestra, and the Lionel Hampton orchestra. Shaheed will play the National Anthem after his mile race Saturday.

The 60 Meters with all ages begins 9AM Saturday with the much enjoyed M 90+ at 10:30 AM.

The MD-DC-VA area is home to an unusually large number of masters athletes. Among local national stars in the meet are five-time Olympic trials qualifier (800 meters) Alisa Harvey, 43, of Manassas, VA; 1976 Olympian Jim Barrineau, 53, of Burke, VA, in the high jump; lifetime 20-world and national sprint titles holder Larry Colbert, 71, of Bowie, MD, Coach of the Glenarden Track Club; U.S. high jump record holder Bruce McBarnette, 51, of Sterling, VA; and many-time masters age group athlete of the year, James Stookey, 79, of Dickerson, MD in the 60m, 60h, LJ, and TJ.

Other top entrants include three Canadians: 1988 Olympian Renee Belanger, 46, (800 Meters), Earl Fee, who has set records in every age group he enters and said he will assault the world 800 meter record in his new M80 division; and Jovette Jolicoeur, 49, Canadian Masters shot put champion, in the shot, pentathlon, and weight throw.

Potomac Valley Track Club (PVTC), who won the bid for this year’s nationals, is directing the meet, with support from USA Track & Field's Potomac Valley Association (PVA).

Other stars already entered: Kathryn Martin, 57, of Northport NY, Bengay’s Outstanding Masters Athlete; USATF 2008 age group masters track & field athletes of the year Christel Donley, 74, of Colorado Springs, CO, and Oneithea Lewis, 48, of Oakland Gardens NY.

The meet’s international flavor also includes top competitors from Brazil, Great Britain, and Mexico.

With the theme of lifetime fitness, the meet is open to all athletes 30 and up. Oldest competitor entered: Leland McPhie, 95, of San Diego, in SEVEN events: 60M, high jump, long jump, shot, weight, super weight, and triple jump. Close behind is 94-year-old Frank Levine, 94, of Norristown, PA, in the 3000, mile, and 800. Oldest DC area competitor is Charles Boyle, 85 of Annapolis in the 3000 Meter racewalk.

PVTC President Craig Chasse is Meet Director. Peter Taylor is Meet Announcer. National Media Chair is Bob Weiner, who with Larry Colbert and Tom Jones conceived and led the successful bid. Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex is next to FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins. The host hotels are the Radisson and Holiday Inn Express in Largo MD.

The national championship meet was held in Boston 11 of the past 12 years.

For detailed information on entrants and schedule, USATF’s meet home page is: http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/USAMastersIndoorTFChampionships/ The PVTC site for still more meet detail is www.pvtc.org/09_nationals.html .

Individual event finals begin 10:30 AM Friday, 9AM Saturday, 9:30 AM Sunday. Events include:
• FRIDAY, March 20: Indoor Pentathlon (multi-event), 3000m Run, Weight Throw.
• SATURDAY, MARCH 21: 60m Dash, 60m Hurdles, 400m Dash, One Mile Run, 4x800m Relay, Long Jump, Shot Put, Pole Vault, High Jump (men), Weight Throw (women).
• SUNDAY, MARCH 22: High Jump (women), 200m Dash, 800m Run, 3000m Race Walk,
4x400m Relay, Triple Jump, Weight Throw (men), Superweight Throw.

MEDIA information, and for advance or onsite interviews of athletes or organizers, contact Bob Weiner 301-283-0821 or cell 202-329-1700,
email weinerpublic@comcast.net .

AT LEAST TEN OLYMPIANS Competing:

M50 Jim Barrineau (high jump), 11th in 1976 Montreal Olympic high jump for the USA

W55 Joan Benoit Samuelson (3000), gold medalist in 1984 Los Angeles Olympic marathon for the USA

W45 Renée Belanger (800), sixth in first-round heat at 1988 Seoul Olympic 800 meters for Canada

M45 Chris Faulknor (60, 200, long jump), fourth in 1988 Seoul Olympic 4x100 relay finals for Jamaica

M65 Tom Gage (shot put, weight throw and superweight throw), 12th in 1972 Munich Olympic hammer throw final for USA

M80 Franklin "Bud" Held (pole vault), ninth in 1952 Helsinki Olympic javelin for USA

M45 Howard Lindsay (60 hurdles), ran in heats of 200, 4x100 and 4x400 over time in 1984, 1988 and 1996 Olympics for Antigua and Barbuda

M45 Karl Smith (60 hurdles), fifth in semifinals of 400 hurdles, sixth in Heat 2 of 4x400 at 1984 Los Angeles Olympics for Jamaica

M50 John Tuttle (800, mile, 3000), didn't finish marathon in 1984 Los Angeles Olympics for USA

M70 Victor "Vic" Zwolak (3000), fourth in heat of 3000 steeplechase at 1964 Tokyo Olympics for USA

M50 Everad Samuels (60, 200) was an alternate on the Jamaican 4x100 team for the 1976 Montreal Olympics but did not compete.

M55 Henry Rono (800, mile) didn't compete in the 1976 and 1980 Olympics because of Kenya's boycotts of those Games.

58 REIGNING WORLD CHAMPIONS ENTERED:

26 2008 World Indoor Champions* (held in Clermont-Ferrand, France)

M35 Don Drummond (60, 60 hurdles, 200)

W35 Lisa Daley (60, 200, 400)

M40 David Jones (200, 400)

M40 Robert Thomas (200, 400)

W40 Renee Henderson (60, 200)

W40 Christine Reaser (200, 400, 800, mile, 3000)

W45 Joy Upshaw-Margerum (60, 60 hurdles, 200, long jump)

M50 Val Barnwell (60, 200)

M50 Bruce McBarnette (high jump)

M50 Greg Petrosian (long jump)

W50 Rita Hanscom (60, 60 hurdles, 200, high jump, pole vault, shot put)

M55 Bill Collins (60, 200, 400)

M55 Nolan Shaheed (800, mile)

W55 Kathryn Martin (800, mile, 3000)

M60 Charles Allie (60, 200, 400)

M60 Stan Whitley (60, 200)

M60 John Altendorf (pole vault)

W60 Phil Raschker (60, 60 hurdles, 200, 400, high jump, long jump, triple jump)

M65 Stephen Robbins (60, 200)

M65 George Mathews (shot put, weight throw, superweight throw)

W65 Marie-Louise Michelsohn (200, 400, 800, mile, 3000)

M70 Bob Lida (60, 200)

M70 Mack Stewart (200, 400, 800)

W70 Jeanne Daprano (200, 400, 800)

W70 Christel Donley (high jump, long jump, shot put)

W80 Johnnye Valien (60, high jump, long jump, triple jump, shot put, weight throw)

32 2008 World Outdoor Champions* (held in Riccione, Italy)

M35 Don Drummond (60, 60 hurdles, 200)

M45 Anselm LeBourne (800, mile)

W45 Joy Upshaw-Margerum (60, 60 hurdles, 200, long jump)

M50 Val Barnwell (60, 200)

M50 Jim Russ (60 hurdles, long jump, pole vault, shot put)

M55 Bill Collins (60, 200, 400)

M55 Nolan Shaheed (800, mile)

M55 Thad Wilson (60, 60 hurdles, 200, long jump, triple jump, pentathlon)

W55 Sharon Warren (60, 200)

M60 Charles Allie (60, 200, 400)

M60 Roger Pierce (60, 200, 400)

M60 Ralph Souppa (200, 400)

M60 Stan Whitley (60, 200)

W60 Hillen von Maltzahn (60, 400, long jump, pole vault)

W60 Phil Raschker (60, 60 hurdles, 200, 400, high jump, long jump, triple jump)

M65 Emil Pawlik (60, 60 hurdles, 200, high jump, long jump, pentathlon)

M65 Bob Cahners (shot put, weight throw, superweight throw)

W65 Marie-Louise Michelsohn (200, 400, 800, mile, 3000)

W65 Nadine O’Connor (60, 60 hurdles, high jump, pole vault, shot put)

M70 Larry Colbert (60, 200, 400)

M70 Robert Lida (60, 200)

M70 Robert Paulen (60 hurdles, high jump, long jump, triple jump, pentathlon)

W70 Jeanne Daprano (200, 400, 800)

W70 Christel Donley (high jump, long jump, shot put)

W70 Barbara Jordan (60, 60 hurdles, 200, long jump, triple jump)

W70 Mary Harada (800, mile, 3000)

M80 William Daprano (pole vault, shot put, pentathlon)

M80 Earl Fee (400, 800)

M80 Franklin “Bud” Held (pole vault)

M80 Melvin Larsen (60, 60 hurdles, 200)

W80 Susie Barnes (60)

W80 Johnnye Valien (60, high jump, long jump, triple jump, shot put, weight throw)

* -- includes relay gold medalists.

(Olympians and World Champions charts by Ken Stone)

NOW WITH ALL-TIME RECORD ENTRIES INCLUDING JOAN BENOIT AND HENRY RONO, USA Masters Indoor Track Championships March 20-22 at PGSLC with Olympians and World Champions, Hosted by Potomac Valley Track Club;

ALL TIME GREAT JOAN BENOIT AND OLYMPIAN JOHN TUTTLE’S 3000 METER RACES 12:30 PM FRIDAY

Open to EVERYONE 30 & Over, Theme of Lifetime Fitness

Local Stars: 5X Olympic Trials Qualifier Alisa Harvey, 20-World & National Titles Winner Larry Colbert, 1976 Olympian Jim Barrineau; Oldest competitor 95

Open to EVERYONE 30 & Over,
Theme of Lifetime Fitness