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published: Friday, September 05, 2008
Masters compete at National Training Center
TAYLOR VERNARSKY
Staff Writer
CLERMONT -- As Francisco Dominguez Reyes looked out on the track next to the National Training Center, he considered himself proud to be there as he watched hundreds of athletes prepared for the day.
The 53-year-old native of Mexico arrived Friday in Clermont on a bus to compete alongside his fellow countrymen and athletes representing about 25 other nations for the 28th North, Central American and Caribbean World Masters Track & Field Championships.
In the past, Dominguez has participated in athletic events in Guatemala and Italy in the span of seven years. Since arriving for the first time in the U.S., he's competed in the event's 8k Run Cross Country and the Half Marathon at Lake Louisa State Park while winning a bronze medal after competing in the 5,000-meter run on the training center's track.
"It's been very good," he said in broken English.
As sanctioned by USA Track & Field, the event kicked off Thursday and wrapped up Sunday afternoon.
Like the 2008 Summer Olympic Games which concluded Aug. 24, about 645 athletes from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and other countries located within North America, Central America and the Caribbean made Clermont their temporary home away from home. The four-day event also featured athletes from countries outside of the boundaries to act as guest competitors.
"There's a pretty good variety of people here (at the event)," said Andrew Vince, the training center's track and field coordinator and championship director.
Even as the athletes competed against one another, their fellow countrymen showed up to show their support and proudly wave their nations' flag. Not even Mother Nature could spoil the excitement and thrill of international competition.
If anything, it just made the event coordinators work harder to fit in all the scheduled activities, which included the 100-meter dash, the shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, weight throw, hammer throw, triple jump and 200-meter dash.
On the final day of competition, athletes battled against each in the weight pentathlon on the training center's field and assorted runs, dashes and relays on the track.
Brian Keaveney, president of the North, Central America and Caribbean region of the World Masters Association, made sure all of the athletes were in their proper places during the four days.
"It's a big honor for this community to play hosts for this competition," he said.
The training center partnered with the Central Florida Sports Commission to bid on the event last year. It marked the first time the training center has hosted an international track and field championship, while having already hosted international cross-country competitions.
"Over the past several days, countless athletes competed against each other," Keaveney said. "They ranged from former Olympic athletes to your very own neighbor."
World Masters Events are made up of "master" athletes from the ages of 35 and up, while athletes from age 30 to 34 compete as "sub-masters."
They compete in five-year brackets and can have competitors to age 90 competing. Medals and ribbons were awarded for first, second and third places in each five-year age category for men and women.
The "sub-masters" competed for medals but not for records. Instead, the event opened them up for future competitions as "masters."
In order to participate, U.S. athletes must have a 2008 USA Track & Field membership.
Ivan Black, 59, came to South Lake from New York to represent the U.S. in the championship games. He previously competed in competitions in Guatemala and Puerto Rico and already plans to attend the upcoming events in Mexico and Trinidad.
"More than just the opportunity to compete against your fellow countrymen and other nations, it creates a camaraderie with the fellow athletes," Black said. "It gives you the opportunity to see old friends you may have competed against years ago."
Having competed in local, regional and national athletic competitions since he was 15, Black has built himself a friendly reputation amongst the Spanish-speaking competitors for being able to interpret and respond in their native language.
But being in Clermont for the World Masters Track & Field Championships gives the event an international flavor as the U.S. is already diverse in cultures and ethnicities as opposed to other countries.
Black spent the past couple of days competing in the long jump, high jump and triple jump while continuing to improve his skills for future games.
"I like the competition," he said. "I like to win."
