The James Joyce Ramble 10K on April 28 in Dedham MA was chosen by the USA Masters Committee to serve as the USA Masters 10K Championships for 2013. This is a great addition to the spring schedule, as we have a gap in the New England Grand Prix series.
The details of the championship component of the race, including entry procedure, can be found at the national championship website
www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2013/USA-Masters-10-km-Championships.aspx
Here are the Championship basics:
- Eligibility
The championship is open to all USATF members age 40 and over who are US citizens. Only US citizens may earn championship awards and score for teams.
- Entry
Championship entry must be done through the USATF online entry site linked from both the championship and race webpages.
Paper entries are available on request.
Anyone already entered the Ramble will be moved to the championship race if they are USATF members.
While there is Ramble race entry on race day, there is NO CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION entry on race day.
- Competition -
There is both individual and team competition - Individuals in 5 year groups from age 40, and Teams in 10 year groups from 40+ with the division determined by the youngest runner (for example, 2 70+ and 1 40+ is a 40+ team)
- Team Competition
Clubs must explicitly declare teams of 3 to 5 scorers in each division they enter.
New England teams will be happy to hear that unlike our USATF-NE Grand Prix races, only the top 3 members of any given team of 3 to 5 declared runners count in all age divisions of USA Masters road race scoring. We hope this will encourage local clubs to put forth their very fastest Masters runners and thus the race will see an even greater and more hotly contested Masters team battle.
Clubs may declare any number of teams - A, B, C, etc. Team coordinators will need to declare their final teams no later than the night before the race, and we will send out more instructions to clubs. (Have all runners enter as A team to start).
- The Race
To emphasize the Masters Championship, all masters entered in the Championship division will start in a wave 3 minutes ahead of the general race. All masters must wear color-coded back numbers for identification of their competition division.
Complete technical instructions and rules are linked from both the USA Championship and Ramble race websites.
- Awards
There is $10,000 in prize money, evenly divided among ages
- Team money goes to the top 2 places in all 10 year divisions 40+ through 80+
- The overall top 3 masters finishers earn money
- The individual winner in each 5 year age group from 40+ to 90+ earns $100
- The top 15 places of overall age-graded scorers, combined male and female, will earn prize money.
Age grading "levels the field" in comparing performances across age and gender; other USA Masters races have generally gone 10 deep in age grading.
- Three (3) places of USA Championship medals are awarded in each age division
Though awarded late in the process, we're certain it will be quite competitive given that it will be taking place in New England.
If the event goes well all around, the race may be awarded the Championship for up to three more years.
We hope your club will be part of the festivities and support the championship.
If you have specific questions, send them along to us.
Again, all details can be found at
www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2013/USA-Masters-10-km-Championships.aspx
and
www.ramble.org
We hope you'll join us on April 28 in Dedham and support the Championship.
Joe Navas, USATF New England Masters LDR Chair, jnavas@usatfne.org
Steve Vaitones, USATF New England Managing Director, office@usatfne.org
