INDIANAPOLIS - Bringing the largest contingent ever to the World Masters Athletics Championships, 1,915 members of Team USA will be on a medal hunt to excel on home soil while competing against 4,804 competitors from 93 countries.

This event is the top worldwide competition for athletes 35+ in track and field. Competition will run July 6-17 at Hornet Stadium on the campus of Sacramento State University.

U.S. stars to watch include:

• Olympian Al Joyner, 51, Chula Vista, Calif. -1980 Olympic Gold medalist in triple jump, current coach at the Olympic Training Center.
• Willie Banks, 55, San Diego, Calif. -former world triple jump record holder and member of USATF Board of Directors
• Jazz great and world champion runner Nolan Shaheed, 61, Pasadena, Calif. -played lead trumpet for Count basie, Dizzie Gillespie, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye
• Sullivan Finalist Philippa Raschker, 64, Marietta, Ga. -the only masters athlete in history to be a finalist for the Sullivan Award given to the overall top U.S. athlete. Has set more than 100 masters world records.
• Ed Burke, 3-time Olympian in the hammer throw and the U.S. Team’s Flag bearer at the 1984 Games.

Top Sacramento area entrants include:

• Liz Palmer (Folsom, CA) will be one of the favorites in the W50 sprints and hurdles;
• Kevin Morning (Roseville, CA), a former world record holder in the M45 200m and double gold medalist at the 1997 and 2001 WMA Championships
• John Mansoor (El Dorado Hills, CA), the longtime race director of the California International Marathon who will compete in M55 distance events
• Rod Jett (Sacramento, CA), a former Hiram Johnson High School and University of California hurdler who now coaches track at Jesuit High School.

Team USA has at least 22 defending outdoor and indoor masters world champions participating in the meet. Many are multiple event winners who are expected to repeat.

Also of note are the oldest known record holders entered in the meet: Leland McPhie and Betty Jarvis.

Media credentials can be requested from Bob Burns at (916) 802-5841.

For more information on the 2011 World Masters Athletics Championships, visit the event webpage.

Contact:
Bob Weiner
USATF National Masters Media Chair
(202) 306-1200
[email protected]