100-Year-Old Leland McPhie Ready To Set World & National Marks At USA Masters Track Indoor Championship In Boston March 14-16; Over 900 Others Including World's Best Athletes 35 To 100 Including 47 World Champions And Boston Area Stars

BOSTON, March 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leland McPhie of San Diego, a former San Diego sheriff captain who turns 100 March 10, is ready to set world and national marks at the USA Masters Track Indoor Championship in Boston March 14-1, joining over 900 others including the world's best athletes 35-100. The meet, open to the public and free of charge, is at the Reggie Lewis Track, 1350 Tremont Street. Events are Friday 9AM-4:40 PM, Saturday 8:30 AM-6:40 PM, and Sunday 8:30 AM-3PM. Track events will include sprints and distances from 60 meters to 3000 meters, and field events will include the full range of jumps and throws. Media is invited for coverage and athlete interviews.

Over 140 USA national masters competitors will go soon after the March 14-16 Boston meet, to the World Masters Indoor Championships in Budapest, Hungary March 24-30. The world athletes will use the Boston national masters as a test. At least 47 reigning indoor or outdoor world champions will be competing in Boston at nationals as well as Hungary at the world championship.

The Boston meet will show that age is no boundary to fitness and skill, as well as a means of achieving lifetime fitness and health.

McPhie will be the first 100 year old to compete in the indoor high jump and will establish the world mark (media note: 12:15 PM Saturday). He will also compete in the shot put, weight throw, and superweight throw.

Detailed meet schedule may be found at: http://www.usatf.org/ Events---Calendar/2014/USA-Masters-Indoor-Track---Field-Championships.aspx .

Boston and Budapest competitors who will be defending their World Indoor Title include (list by Mary Trotto, MTF Active Athletes Chair):

FOR THE WOMEN:

FOR THE MEN:

Other potential stars at Boston and Budapest should include:

Nolan Shaheed, M64, Pasadena CA, jazz great and 800M and 1500M world record holder, who played lead trumpet for Count Basie, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and Marvin Gaye and recently played studio trumpet on the Emmy's, the Voice, and other top programs.

Charlie Allie, Pittsburg, PA, selected as the World's Outstanding Masters Athlete in 2013 after winning five gold medals at last year's World Masters Track Championships in Brazil: the individual 100, 200, 400, and two relays.

Bruce McBarnette, M55, Sterling, VA, nine-time world champion, high jump

Oscar Peyton, M60, Accokeek , MD, multiple 100-200 world champion, in the 60-200

Middle distance star runner Lorraine Jasper, 55, Birchrunville, PA;

Kathy Martin, F64, multiple world and American record holder and a Bengay outstanding athlete winner, 800, 1500, mile, 3000 meters, and more;

Irene Obera, F80 100-200-400 sprinter (birthday 12/7/33), multiple world champion and track Hall of Famer whom two-time Sullivan award finalist Phil Raschker says "is a beautiful sprinter whom we only see every few years," from San Bernadino, CA

Sid Howard, M75, Plainfield, NJ, multiple age record holder in the 800 and 1500, famed for his enthusiasm for the mission of masters track;

Emil Pawlik, M75, Jackson, MS, record holder in the pentathlon and heptathlon

*** BOSTON AREA STARS ENTERED:
(Suggestions by Mike Travers, Meet Director)

Roger Pierce, M69, of Essex, MA, 60-200-400 sprints, who holds many national and world masters titles, a member of the USATF Masters Hall of fame.

Diane Pomeroy F45 Essex, MA 200, 400, 800M, Bronze medalist at 2013 Brazil worlds

Sarah Lawson, F50 Wayland MA multiple medalist at 2013 World Outdoor Championships

Craig Fram M55 Derry NH, Mile, 300M, M 45 American record holder 3000M

Antonio Palazzo M85 Providence, RI Weight and SW, American record holder SW

The meet is returning to Boston after four years. It is the 14 th time the national indoor masters championship has been held in Boston, the most of any city in the US. The 900+ entrants are the most ever in Boston and third highest ever for the event.

MEDIA: For questions or onsite athlete track interviews, contact Bob Weiner, National Masters Media Chair, cell 202-306-1200 or [email protected] . Media should wear press organization credential and may obtain meet credential onsite from Bob.

Contact: Bob Weiner, USA Track & Field Masters Media Chair 301-283-0821, cell 202-306-1200 [email protected]

SOURCE USATF Masters Media Committee and Robert Weiner Associates