New World Masters Track & Field Champions Head for Baldwin Wallace College, Berea, OH Thurs.-Sun. July 28-31, USA National Masters Championships; Over 1000 World & Nation's Best Athletes 35-97 To Prove Lifetime Fitness Possible

WORLD CHAMPIONS ENTERED INCLUDE JAZZ GREAT NOLAN SHAHEED (PLAYED LEAD TRUMPET FOR COUNT BASIE, STEVIE WONDER, ARETHA FRANKLIN, DIANA ROSS, MARVIN GAYE); SUB-7 WORLD RECORD STEEPLECHASER LISA RYAN; ALL-TIME GREAT DISTANCE RUNNER KATHY MARTIN; WORLD RECORD HOLDER 90+ DECATHLON CHAMPION RALPH MAXWELL; JOHNNYE VALIEN WITH HER 5 WORLD W85 GOLDS AND USATF'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK; 97-YEAR OLD LELAND MCPHIE (MEET'S OLDEST, 3 WORLD GOLDS);  AND NEW CLEVELAND AREA WORLD CHAMPION SPRINTERS STEVE ROBBINS (BEST SELLING AUTHOR) AND KHALID MULAZIM;

EVENTS 8AM-5 PM DAILY; USA MASTERS TRACK LAUNCHES NATIONAL DRUG TESTING PROGRAM AT THE MEET; USATF PRESIDENT AND OLYMPIANS STEPHANIE HIGHTOWER AND B-W'S HARRISON DILLARD TO WATCH MEET

BEREA, Ohio, July 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thirty-seven newly crowned world masters track and field champions who won gold at the world championships in concluded in Sacramento last week will be among over 1000 of the nation's best athletes 35-97 years old competing at Baldwin College in Berea, Ohio, near Cleveland, at the USA National Masters Track & Field Championships, this Thursday through Sunday, July 28-31.  The athletes will display speed, strength and endurance demonstrating lifetime fitness for all ages in events ranging from 100 to 10,000 meters, while field events will include the full range of jumps and throws.

Events will be from 8AM-5PM daily at the George Finney Stadium. The media is invited for coverage and interviews, and the public is invited to watch the meet onsite at no cost. The track surface is one of only four of its kind in the world and should encourage numerous world records.  The same surface was used at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  

World champions entered include jazz great Nolan Shaheed of Pasadena, CA, who played lead trumpet for Count Basie, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and Marvin Gaye; the fastest masters woman ever, Lisa Ryan (41) of Albuquerque, NM sub-7 minutes in the 2000 meter steeplechase; and all-time great masters woman distance runner Kathy Martin of Northport, NY, 55, a past Bengay runner of the year and their TV advertising star for lifetime fitness.  Other top stars include M90 World Record Decathlete Ralph Maxwell of Alto, TX; and Johnnye Valien, W85 from Los Angeles, who was named USATF's overall Athlete of the Week after she won five events including WR in pole vault at the World Championships. The World Masters Championships were held July 6-17 in Sacramento, CA, the first time on U.S. soil in 16 years.

Oldest competitor entered: San Diego's Leland McPhie, 97, who just won gold at Sacramento worlds in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump.

Two Cleveland-area sprinters who just won gold at the world championships are among locals expected to star at the meet this week: best selling textbook author Steve Robbins, 68, of Cleveland Heights who won the M65100 and 200 at worlds, and Khulad Mulazim, 45, from Lyndhurst, who won gold in the M45 200 and 400.  A detailed chart of all world champions entered and list of Cleveland area star athletes is attached below.

VIP'S IN STANDS: Current USATF President and 1987 Pan Am Games 100 Meter Hurdles Silver Medalist, Stephanie Hightower, undefeated in sprint and hurdles races at Ohio State University, will attend the meet.  Harrison Dillard, who attended Baldwin Wallace, won four Olympic gold medals (1948 -- 100 meters and 4X100 relay, 1952 -- 110 meter hurdles and 4x100 relay) and two NCAA titles, will also attend the meet.  

U.S. MASTERS LAUNCH DRUG TESTING -- The USATF Masters Track & Field Committee launches a national drug testing program for USA masters track and field at the Ohio national championship meet. Testing will be conducted by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

The detailed daily schedule and athlete entry list is available at  http://www.usatf.org/events/2011/USAMastersOutdoorTFChampionships/.

For media interviews of athletes or organizers or more information, contact Bob Weiner, National Masters Media Chair, trackside or by cell 202-329-1700 or 202-306-1200 or email [email protected] .  Media with credentials will be accommodated.

CLEVELAND AREA ATHLETES ENTERED INCLUDE (information from organizer Jeff Gerson):

• Khalid Mulazim, M45, Lyndhurst, OH, won 200 & 400 at Masters World Championships last week, also anchored World Record 4X400 relay at this year's Penn Relays; entered in 100, 200, 400, 4x100, 4x400
• Steve Robbins, M68, Cleveland Heights, won 100 & 200 at world championship, entered in Berea in 100, 200, 4x400, for Over the Hill Track Club
• John Means, M91, Richmond Heights, OH -- holds M90 American record in 400m, will run 100, 200, 400, 4x100.  Is running 4x400 relay for Over the Hill with 2 sons and grandson -- three generations on relay team!
• Paul Williams, M76, Richmond Heights, 100, 200, 4x100
• John Catalano, M51, Mayfield Heights, 100, 200, 4x100, 4x400
• Nino Monaco, M60, Mayfield Heights, 400, 800, 1500, 5000, 4x100, 4x400
• Sue Isabella, W37, Highland Heights, 2000m steeplechase, 4x100, 4x400
• Cathi Gerson, W61, Lyndhurst, 2000 Steeplechase
• Jeff Gerson, M64, Lyndhurst, 400, 1500, Javelin, Hammjker, Weight Throw, 4x100, 4x400, 4x800
• JoAnne Siegel, W52, Cleveland Heights, 1500, 5000
• Lenny Weiss, M64, 400, 1500, Javelin, Hammer, Weight Throw, 4x100, 4x400, 4x800

**CHART OF 37 NEW WORLD CHAMPIONS ENTERED**

16 women, 21 men -- click on either link for full chart:

www.weinerpublic.com/20110722.doc or www.weinerpublic.com/20110722.docx

Chart shows USA Master Athletes who are new World Champions at the WMA World Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, CA July 6-17, 2011 competing at the USATF National Masters Outdoor Championships in Beria, Ohio July 27-30, 2011.

(Chart by Mary Trotto, USATF Masters Active Athletes Chair)  

Contact: Bob Weiner, USATF National Masters Media Chair 202-329-1700 or 202-306-1200 [email protected] or Khurram Abbas 301-283-0821

SOURCE USATF Masters Media Committee and Robert Weiner Associates