USATF - NEW ENGLAND

Grand Prix Selection Meeting
November 2,1998

SITE: Brandeis University, Gosman Athletic Center, Waltham, Massachusetts.

ATTENDEES: List on file in USATF Office.

7:15 PM: Opening remarks by President Dan Hart. Dan welcomed everyone, noting that there was a good selection of races from which to choose the races for the 1999 series. He congratulated the winners of the 1998 Grand Prix Series and IronRunners, and complimented the series as a whole. In addition, Dan informed the members that the new Executive Board has met once and encouraged them to use the Board members and the Office as a source of information, ideas, and assistance as needed.

The new LDR Chair, Ken Robichaud introduced himself and apologized for his absence from the last Grand Prix event, the Cape Cod Marathon. He announced that a quorum of voting member clubs had been established for the purpose of tonights voting and explained the voting procedure.

Masters LDR Chair, Rob O'Hara, presided and presented the following motion for a vote: The addition of one "wild card" race (at any of the required distances or a race at a non-traditional distance) to the existing Grand Prix agenda. If a duplicate distance, the additional race would be scored as a Grand Prix event but would not be a championship at that distance.

Dave Kazanjian, Whirlaway Racing Team, spoke in favor of the motion: encourage more bids creating a larger pool of races to choose from. Peter Stasz, Springfield Harriers, Vice President, spoke against: dilute the series and difficulty getting team members to run "non-championship event".

Motion failed to carry: 30 Against/26 In favor.

As there was no new business, the bids were presented and the following races, in order of presentation, were selected for the 1999 Grand Prix Series:

MANDATORY DISTANCES:

  1. MARATHON
    Cape Cod Marathon, Falmouth, MA, Sunday, October 31, 1999
    Courtney Bird, Race Director
  2. 8K/5 MILE
    Ro Jacks Run, Attleboro, MA, Sunday, October 3,1999
    Steve Hagopian, Race Director

    Also presenting bids:
    Carver Classic, Carver MA, 7/31/99
    St. Anne's Lakes, Hampstead, NH, 7/31/99
  3. 10K
    Market Square Day, Portsmouth, NH, Saturday, June 12, 1999
    Kent LaPage, Race Director

    Also presenting bids:
    Bridge of Flowers, Shelburne Falls, MA, 8/14/99
    Hi Tech 10K, Waltham, MA, 9/12/99
    Peoples Beach to Beacon, Cape Elizabeth, ME, 8/7/99
  4. 5K
    Brewery Exchange, Lowell, Sunday, September 12,1999
    Mark Coddaire, Race Director

    Also presenting bids:
    Race for the Cure, Boston, MA, 9/12/99
    Eliot Festival, Eliot, ME, 9/25/99

NON-MANDATORY DISTANCES:

  1. 10 MILES
    DH Jones Town & Country, Amherst, Sunday, February, 28, 1999
    Dave Martula, Race Director

    Also presenting bids:
    Old Fashioned 10, Sharon, MA, 2/21/99
  2. HALF MARATHON
    Law Enforcement, Melrose, MA, Sunday, March 14,1999
    Tony Pallotta, Race Director

    Also presenting bids:
    Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, @, 2/28/99
  3. 12K
    Bedford Rotary, Bedford, NH, Saturday, May 22,1999
    Bill Gere, Race Director

    Also presenting bids:
    Around Cape Ann 25K, Gloucester, MA, 9/6/99
    Boston Tune Up 15K, Whitinsville, MA, 4/10/99

Rob O'Hara thanked everyone for their assistance in deciding the new scoring system implemented this year for the Grand Prix and encouraged future suggestions.

Peter Stasz noted, for future discussion, that in order to assure the quality of the IronRunner jackets teams may consider contributing to the overall cost.

Ken Robichaud requested comments regarding the overall voting process. Dave Dunham encouraged feedback from and about the bidding races.

Dan Hart thanked everyone for participating, requested National Convention delegates to convene after the meeting, and adjourned the meeting at 10:08 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Betsy Harsbarger,
Secretary


USA Track & Field - New England
usatfne@ix.netcom.com
P.O. Box 1905
Brookline, MA 02446-1905
United States


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This page was last updated November 28, 1998.
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