2006-07 Nationals To Indy

[gh]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 11, 2004



Indy to host 2006-’07 USA

Outdoor Championships



INDIANAPOLIS – USA Track & Field has awarded its 2006 and 2007 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships to Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Track & Field (USATF) announced on Tuesday. The events will be hosted by the Indiana Sports Corporation and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). The USA Junior Championships will be held concurrently each year.

The announcement was made by USATF CEO Craig Masback at the annual meeting of Indiana Sports Corporation.

The 2006 and 2007 USA Outdoor and Junior Championships will take place at the Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium on the campus of IUPUI in downtown Indianapolis. The stadium has been the site for past major events such as the 1988 Olympic Trials, the 1987 Pan American Games and previous USA Championships and NCAA Track & Field Championships.

The 2006 Championships are scheduled for June 22-25, and will serve as the selection event for the IAAF World Cup of Athletics in Los Angeles later that summer.

The 2007 Championships are slated for June 21-24 and will be the selection event for that summer’s IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Osaka, Japan. The events will bring in more than 1,600 athletes to Indianapolis.

“All of us at USA Track & Field look forward to working with the Indiana Sports Corporation and IUPUI in hosting what promises to be two great events in Indianapolis,” said USATF CEO Craig Masback. “The Michael A. Carroll Stadium is one of the finest track and field facilities in the world, and Indianapolis has a well-earned reputation for hosting great sporting events. I’m confident that the 2006 and 2007 USA Outdoor Championships will be among the finest ever.”

“On behalf of Indiana Sports Corporation, we are grateful to USA Track & Field for its confidence in us and we look forward to doing everything we can to stage outstanding national championships that provide the best possible experience for athletes, coaches, officials and spectators,” said Indiana Sports Corporation Chairman Earl Goode. “Because Indianapolis is home to USATF’s national headquarters, we can use that to our collective advantage in making these flawless and successful events. We would also like to recognize the leadership of IUPUI under Chancellor Charles Bantz and Indiana USA Track & Field Chairman Jim Teegardin for their assistance in putting forth this successful bid.”

The Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium has been the site of numerous major track and field events including the 1982 National Sports Festival, the1982 USA vs. Russia Dual Meet, the 1985-1986 NCAA Division I Championships, the 1987 Pan American Games, the 1988 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, the 1983 and 1997 USA Outdoor Championships, and the 2001 USATF National Club Track & Field Championships.

Many memorable performances have taken place at the Michael A. Carroll Stadium, but the facility is most remembered as the site of Florence Griffith Joyner’s remarkable women’s 100m world record of 10.49 seconds at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials. FloJo followed her 100m performance with a blistering 21.77 U.S. record in the semifinals of the 200 meters, which served as a prelude to her setting the world record twice at the Olympic Games in Seoul of 21.56, and then 21.34.



The great Carl Lewis also made headlines at the 1988 Olympic Trials in winning one of the greatest men’s long jump duels in history against fellow National Track & Field Hall of Famer Larry Myricks. Lewis cleared 28 feet four times and Myricks did it on three occasions during the tense battle that was made even more dramatic as a thunderstorm raged during the competition. Lewis eventually won the event with his leap of 8.76 meters/28 feet, 9 inches. Myricks was the runner-up with a best effort of 8.74m/28-8.25.



The following is a list of events that have taken place at the Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium.



1982 National Sports Festival IV

1982-2003 IHSAA Boys & Girls Track & Field Championships

1982 USA-USSR Duel Track & Field Meet

1982 Indiana High School State Soccer Championships

1983 USA/TAC National Championships

1983 National Invitational Collegiate Championships

1983 Special Olympics Track & Field Championships

1984 Indiana Intercollegiate Championships

1984 City-County Track & Field Championships

1984-1996, 1998-2000 CYO Boys’ and Girls’ Track & Field Championships

1984-1986 Wilma Rudolph Invitational Meet

1985-1986 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships

1985-1990, 1992-1996, City Track Championships

1998-2000

1987 Pan American Games X

1988 U.S. Olympic Trials/USA/TAC Mobil National Championships

1988 IU vs. Notre Dame Golden Boot Soccer

1988 U.S. Association for Blind Athletes National Championships

1989 Big Ten Track & Field Championships

1990-1991 National Invitational Championship

1991 Indiana Intercollegiate Track & Field Championships

1992-1993 Mazda Indy Games

1993-1996 Indiana Black Expo Concert Series

1994 Midwest Meet of Champions

1995 USATF National Association Championships

1997 USA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships/World Selection

1997 United States Soccer U.S. Open Cup Championship

1999-2000 Komen Race for the Cure (20,000 participants)

1999 Indiana USATF Junior Olympic Regional Meet

2001 World Police & Fire Games

2001-2003 Citizens Gas Race for Heat

2001 USA Track & Field National Club Track & Field Championships

2002 Wild Onion 24-Hour Urban Adventure Race



For more information on USA Track & Field, visit www.usatf.org <http://www.usatf.org/> .

[Kurt Francis]

Re: 2006-07 Nationals To Indy

I've already notified USATF that they forgot to include that the IUPUI facility happened to have hosted the 1985 TAC Champs at which Willie Banks broke the TJ WR with his 58'11.5" jump. I know because I was at the other end of the stadium watching Joe Dial attempting an AR 19'2.25" and missed Banks jump! Roy Martin also tied his WJR of 20.13 earlier in the competition at that meet. Those were a great 3 days.

Kurt

[highjumpsteve]

Re: 2006-07 Nationals To Indy

OPEN HOUSE AT HJSTEVE"S HOUSE/FREE LIQUOR,FOOD

NOT !
LOL

[coaches clean]

Re: 2006-07 Nationals To Indy

Bout time.

I understand all the many reasons for having "big" meets on the left coast. But many of those same reasons are short sighted.

Near-sighted decision's short term value at the same time serve to continue the downward sprial of our sport under a national measure.

I know, I know, with the exception of pockets like Austin TX, Baton Rouge LA, Eugene OR, etc. that Cali fans are most knowledgeable and Bay Area in particular, will attend events. But if they are sooooo loyal, then they most certainly will travel to where ever the meet is held?

Its the reverse of the best solution to famine. Rather than relocate the starving from the desert, you need to take the food / meets to the people...

[asu]

Re: 2006-07 Nationals To Indy

>Willie Banks broke the TJ
>WR with his 58'11.5" jump.
I also missed it because my friends and I were watching the steeple from near the water jump.

[gh]

Re: 2006-07 Nationals To Indy

In the '80s, Indy was a fabulous place to stage the Nationals. That was when the city was aflush with thoughts of being the "amateur sports capital of the USA." Problem is, in came Colts, along came the Pacers and those lofty dreams apparently went out the window.

When we last went to Indy for USATF, in '97, the attendance was about as pathetic as I've seen at at Nationals. Right down there with such dogs as Houston '89 and Cerritos '90. There was a running joke about how it would have been cheaper and easier for meet management to put ID lanyards around the paying customers instead of people who were accredited, because the paying customers were vastly outnumbered.

I don't tell this story to poke fun at Indy. I really did enjoy the good days there and agree that the sport needs to have a major league presence in varying locales. I just hope the populace responds in kind.

[EPelle]

Re: 2006-07 Nationals To Indy

Permit the fans in the stands to take a swig, and bet on athletes. The swig part may not fly, but the athlete-betting is such an incredibly strong force at CA Arcadia and CA State Meets.

I was in the stands at Arcadia in 1988 when South Oak Cliff and Hawthorne had a heated 4x400m battle staged with the anchor legs left to sort out the victor and loser. Money floated over my head, under my chin, between my dinner and program and behind my back as "fans" layed it down and picked their winners. Hawthorne benefitted from a 45,xx split from Curtis Conway to win the event in an ever-so-close national-leading time. The four state meets and two Arcadia events I have been to - in front of sold-out crowds - have been a circus in the stands.

Then again, the beer and beverage idea may not be too far off, as I quoted on an earlier thread:

Here:s one for you: OFFER BEER, FANS WILL COME!

http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/story/7324584

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning are hoping to tap into larger crowds by offering unlimited free beer to season-ticket holders.

But the sudsy sale may not reach its goal if safe-driving advocates have their way...>>

[highjumpsteve]

Re: 2006-07 Nationals To Indy

>In the '80s, Indy was a fabulous place to stage the Nationals. That was when
>the city was aflush with thoughts of being the "amateur sports capital of the
>USA." Problem is, in came Colts, along came the Pacers and those lofty dreams
>apparently went out the window.

When we last went to Indy for USATF, in '97,
>the attendance was about as pathetic as I've seen at at Nationals. Right down
>there with such dogs as Houston '89 and Cerritos '90. There was a running joke
>about how it would have been cheaper and easier for meet management to put ID
>lanyards around the paying customers instead of people who were accredited,
>because the paying customers were vastly outnumbered.

I don't tell this
>story to poke fun at Indy. I really did enjoy the good days there and agree
>that the sport needs to have a major league presence in varying locales. I just
>hope the populace responds in kind.

Well said above by Garry, both the positives and the negatives.... and being an Indy-ite I've been there for every single event held from 1982 onward.

Many mistakes by many different parties back in '97... then to really kill it, Michael Johnson pulled out.

Hopefully the '97 fiasco will be the catalyst for success in 2006 and again in 2007. I will be quite surprised if this is not the case.

See y'all here then.

[gm]

Re: 2006-07 Nationals To Indy

Well, having been at both, all I can say is that Indy '97 was a far piece better experience for me than those godawful Stanford affairs the past two years.

I'll be happy if there is never another Nationals in that place. You can keep your damned eucalyptus forests and $39 meals.

[trackstar]

Re: 2006-07 Nationals To Indy

>But if they are sooooo loyal, then they most certainly will travel to where
>ever the meet is held?

Lack of money will trump loyalty every time. I've never made it to USATF, and I would love to dearly, but I have two little mouths and a mortgate banker to feed. I made it to Bislett in Oslo last summer, and unless my or my wife's incomes rise dramatically in the near future (not likely for a journalist and teacher, respectively) or I hit the lotto, I think I'll be lucky to do it again this decade.

[dl]

Re: 2006-07 Nationals To Indy

There were plenty of things wrong with the last 2 nationals at Stanford, especially if you were up in the tornado path (press box), but both meets played to packed houses and were quite popular with the fans and local media.

$39! Man, you could've eaten very well (at least according to my plebian tastes) on 1/3 of that in Palo Alto.

[EPelle]

Re: 2006-07 Nationals To Indy

Or saved your money and taken an excursion trip on BART. Or a hot dog, coke and an ice cream at Pac Bell Park (ticket sold separately).

[mike renfro]

Re: 2006-07 Nationals To Indy

I went to Indy twice, '85 & '88. In '85 I made a motel reservation without looking at a map. I had asked the chain for a motel "near the track". Oh, they have ANOTHER track? I could take a bus to the meet, but they stopped running after and the taxis were a budget buster. Bank's 17.97 is the only PR which outstrips my wife's.

In '88, I had my first (and so far only) bad heat experience. On the first day, I essentially collapsed, staggered over to an aid station and was hosed down. I really underestimated the effects of humidity.

Both meets were very good and suprising to me, there were some good restaurants. I had expected midwest meat and potatoes. Wrongo. I guess there is a little chauvanist in us all.

PS. Why would anyone move to watch PV. You can see that from pretty much anywhere in a stadium. It is the horizontal jumps which are hard, and in that period, the US had spectacular horizontal jumpers.

[Jefferson Buffalo]

Re: 2006-07 Nationals To Indy

>>Bank's 17.97 is the only PR which outstrips my wife's.<<

Do we dare ask what that means?

[trackstar]

Re: 2006-07 Nationals To Indy

>In '88, I had my first (and so far only) bad heat
>experience. On the first day, I essentially collapsed, staggered over to an
>aid station and was hosed down. I really underestimated the effects of
>humidity.

Are you coming to Austin for the NCAAs? Drink early and often. And contrary to the stereotype of Texas as one big desert, it is very humid here. The dry desert part of the state is west of here.