Announcement of 2015 USATF Masters LDR Individual Grand Prix

January 25 2015. Last week we had the excitement of thinking about the 2015 Club Grand Prix and how that would start in just a few weeks in Boulder, Colorado. I hope all of the western clubs and some of the midwestern and eastern clubs are making plans to be at Boulder to kick things off. It should be a great setting in Boulder which is known as a great running community. Because the Open races are also the selection events for the World Cross Country Championships in March in China, there will be a lot of excitement that will carry over to the masters events. And, of course, this year there are points to be had for every team that competes. Unlike past years there is no risk that a team will expend resources and effort to get to the event and go home empty-handed. Who knows, a fourth place here, a fifteenth place there, your team could wind up on the Club Grand Prix podium.

Now to the Individual Grand Prix (IGP). Unlike the club circuit, all USATF Masters LDR Championship events are races that may be run and count toward the IGP Championship. As usual the contender must run at least 2 events to be considered for an award; the scores at the best 5 events are added up to determine total IGP points. As with the Club GP, the IGP has a new scoring scheme to recognize that athletes who make the effort and incur an expense to run in these events should not go home empty-handed. In addition to the new medals at the Championships recognizing national and world class performances, every runner who competes will carry home at least 5 points towards the IGP championship. At the end of this article I reprise the winners of the 2014 IGP along with action or award photos where available.

Scoring: 1st-100 pts; 2nd-95 pts; 3rd-90 pts; 4th-85 pts; 5th-80 pts; 6th-75 pts; 7th-70 pts; 8th-65 pts; 9th-60 pts; 10th-55 pts; 11th-50 pts; 12th-45 pts; 13th-40 pts; 14th-35 pts; 15th-30 pts; 16th-25 pts; 17th-20 pts; 18th-15 pts; 19th-10 pts; 20th and beyond- 5 pts.

An observation: A runner who wins four events will be defeated in the IGP competition by a runner  who runs in 5 events and finishes 4th or higher in each one. Any top runner who also wants an IGP championship had better plan on running in at least 5 events. Even last year, every IGP winner except in the most advanced age groups, competed outside of their area at least once and most picked out 2 or more such events.Take a look at the events on the circuit below and pick your targets.

Awards. More runners will be recognized in the IGP competition. In the inaugural year, up to ten runners in each age division were recognized with a GP certificate; this year it will be up to 15.
IGP 1st place: USATF Masters IGP First Place plaque
IGP 2nd place: USATF Masters IGP 2nd place plaque
IGP 3rd place: USATF Masters IGP 3rd place plaque
IGP 4th through 15th: USATF Masters IGP certificate

Tie-breaks: Ties for podium positions (1st through 3rd) will be broken by applying the rules below; ties for 4th through 15 will not be broken and duplicate certificates will be awarded to all tying runners.
          Rules:
               1. Compare any head-to-head competition; the runner with the most head-to-head higher places between/among the tying runners will be awarded the higher place in the division.
               2. In case runners are still tied after rule 1 is applied,  the runner with the most 1st place finishes between/among tying runners will be awarded the higher place in the division.
               3. In case runners are still tied after rules 1 and 2 are applied, the tied runners will be awarded the same place and will receive duplicate plaques.

Events. The following events constitute the circuit for the USATF Masters LDR Individual Grand Prix Championship:

02/07/15    USA Cross Country Championships [Men 8K, Women 6K]     Boulder CO

02/22/15    USA Masters 8K Championships     Brea CA

04/26/15    USA Masters 10K Championships     Dedham MA
05/31/15    USA Masters Half Marathon Championships    San Diego CA*

08/21/15    USA Masters 1 Mile Championships     Flint MI

10/04/15    USA Masters 5K Championships     Syracuse NY
10/04/15    USA Masters Marathon Championships    Minneapolis/St. Paul MN

10/18/15    USA Masters 5K Cross Country Championships     Saratoga Springs NY

10/31/15    USA Masters 15K Championships     Tulsa OK

11/15/15    USA Masters 12K Championships     Alexandria VA

12/12/15    USATF National Club Cross Country Championships 

                                     [Men 10K, Women 6K]    San Francisco CA Golden Gate Park  

*Tentative Date-Contract not yet signed.

In case of discrepancies between what is posted here and on the USATF website, the USATF posting is definitive. Please see:
http://www.usatf.org/Resources-for---/Masters/LDR/Individual-Grand-Prix.aspx


2014 Individual Grand Prix Champions
WOMEN
W40: Melody Fairchild Colorado [Melbourne, Boulder, Brea, Dedham, Tulsa]

Melody Fairchild repeats as USATF 15K Masters Champion on October 25, 2014 [photo:Defining Moments (Oklahoma City, OK): David Prentice and Michael Mayberry]

W45: Terri Rejimbal Florida [Melbourne, Tulsa]

Terri Rejimbal claims the silver medal in the 2014 USATF 15K Masters Championships in Tulsa, OK [photo:Defining Moments (Oklahoma City, OK): David Prentice and Michael Mayberry]

W50: Doreen McCoubrie Pennsylvania [Dedham, Flint, Syracuse, Alexandria, Bethlehem]

Doreen McCoubrie, finishing strong to take 2nd place in the W50+ team scoring and help the Athena Track Club to victory in the W50+ Masters National Club Championship at Bethlehem, PA December 2014.

W55: Carmen Ayala Troncoso Texas [Brea, Dedham, Bethlehem]

Carmen Ayala-Troncoso, giving her all for Team Rogue, 3rd and final runner in for the W40+Champs and winner of the W55 individual crown--at the USA Club Cross Country Championships in Bethlehem, PA. December 2014.

W60: Kathy Martin New York [Melbourne, Boulder, Dedham, Carmel, Alexandria, Bethlehem]

Kathy Martin strides to the finishing tape to take first place in her age group and to take the overall Age-grading first prize at the USA 5 km Masters Cross Country Championships at Carmel IN on Nov 8 2014 [photo: Andy Martin, Exclamation Services]

W65: Sabra Harvey Texas [Dedham, Flint, Syracuse]

Sabra Harvey, checkiing the time at the end of her record-breaking 5K win in Syracuse at the Festival of Races on October 04 2015, another national championship! [photo: Bob Brock]

W70: Ellen Nitz Michigan [Flint, Carmel, Alexandria, Bethlehem]

Ellen Nitz captures the W70-74 crown at the USA 5 km Cross Country Championships at Carmel IN on Nov 08 2014 [photo: Andy Martin, Exclamation Services]

W75: Madeleine Bost New Jersey [Syracuse, Carmel, Bethlehem]

Madeline Bost captures the W75 crown at the USA 5 km Cross Country Championships at Carmel IN on Nov 08 2014 [photo: Andy Martin, Exclamation Services]

W80: Edna Hyer New York [Dedham, Syracuse]

MEN
M40: Greg Mitchell Oregon [Melbourne, Boulder, Brea, Syracuse, Tulsa, Bethlehem]

Greg Mitchell, crossing the line to take first place for the Bowerman TC at the National Club Cross Country Championships on the Lehigh University XC course at Bethlehem, PA-Dec 2014.

M45: Chad Newton North Carolina [Dedham, Syracuse, Carmel, Bethlehem]

Chad Newton takes 11th place overall [1st in M45] for Atlanta at the National Club Cross Country Championships on the Lehigh University XC course at Bethlehem, PA-Dec 2014.

M50: Ruben Henderson Michigan [Melbourne, Flint, Syracuse, Carmel, Bethlehem]

Ruben Henderson [2374] in an all out sprint to the finish to help the Playmakers to victory at the National Club Cross Country Championships on the Lehigh University XC course at Bethlehem, PA-Dec 2014.

M55: Ken Youngers Georgia [Dedham, Syracuse, Tulsa, Carmel, Alexandria, Bethlehem]

Ken Youngers, capturing the M55 title and breaking the Age 58 Course Record at the Syracuse Festival of Races 5K National Championships [photo: Paul Carlin www.runningprof.com]

M60: Tom McCormack Tennessee [Dedham, Flint, Syracuse, Carmel, Alexandria]

Tom McCormack with a huge lead after the 1 km mark-at the USA Masters 5 km Cross Country Championships at Carmel IN on Nov 8 2014 [photo: Facebook]

M65: Lloyd Hansen Utah [Boulder, Brea, Syracuse, Tulsa, Carmel, Alexandria, Bethlehem]

Lloyd Hansen (center), winning the individual gold medal at the USA Masters 5 km Cross Country Championships at Carmel IN on Nov 8 2014 [photo: Facebook]

M70: Doug Goodhue Michigan [Brea, Dedham, Flint, Syracuse, Tulsa, Carmel, Alexandria]

Doug Goodhue, sprinting to the tape for another win! At the USA Masters 5 km Cross Country Championships at Carmel IN on Nov 8 2014 [photo: Facebook]

M75: John Elliott Maryland [Syracuse, Carmel]

M75 Medalists-  John Elliott (right). collecting his medal at the USA Masters 5 km Cross Country Championships at Carmel IN on Nov 8 2014 [photo: Facebook]

M80: Lawrence Cole MA, Mike Fenerty CO, John Harper CA, Richard Murphy PA, Donald Pratt FL, and  Alan Warren CA tied for the IGP win with 100 points each. Each ran one event in their home region but none traveled except Harper who actually got his 1st place at the Syracuse Festival of Races 5K championships . Technically none made the minimum requirement of two events but I believe USATF decided to award them certificates nonetheless.

M85: Willis Moses won the Syracuse Festival of Races 5K national championship and was the only one in this age group to win a national championship in 2014. So it gives him the IGP certificate as well. Hats off to Mr. Moses! We hope to celebrate his achievements again next year!

Mr. Willis Moses, receiving his championship award with Don Lein (right), enjoying a hearty laugh together, at the Syracuse Festival of Races 5K National Championship on October 04 2014 [photo: Paul Carlin, www.runningprof.com]

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE 2014 INDIVIDUAL GRAND PRIX WINNERS!  WELL DONE!