by Larry Eder
A view from the stands of the MONDO track in Albuquerque, New Mexico, courtesy of Brian Brase/USATF.
USATF has announced that the US Indoor Championships, which have been held in the Reggie Lewis Center from 2003-2009, will move in 2010 to Albuquerque, New Mexico and its new Mondo 200 meter, banked indoor track. Albuquerque has not held an indoor championships since 1966. Thanks to the quick work of Jill Geer & Brian Brase of USATF, we actually have some photos to show you! More on the way in the next post!
Seeing the backstretch, in perspective, Albuquerque, New Mexico…courtesy of USATF
USA Indoor Championships head to Albuquerque
INDIANAPOLIS – Doug Logan, CEO, USA Track & Field announced today at a press conference in Albuquerque, N.M., that the 2010, 2011 and 2012 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, the final event of the Indoor Visa Championship Series, will be held in Albuquerque, N.M..
Dates for the Championships will be February 27-28, 2010, February 26-28, 2011 and February 25-26, 2012. The Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau, along with the New Mexico Sports Authority, the University of New Mexico and USATF New Mexico,is the official host for the three championship meets.
“All of us at USA Track & Field are excited that Albuquerque will play host to our USA Indoor Track & Field Championships the next three years,” said USATF CEO Doug Logan. “We look forward to working with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, along with their partners and sponsors, in hosting what promises to be three great events in Albuquerque. We expect the 2010, 2011 and 2012 USA Indoor Championships to be among the finest ever.”
In addition to competing for a total prize purse of $117,000 each year, U.S. athletes will have the opportunity to qualify for Team USA events, including the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha, Quatar and 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.
The USA Indoor Championships had been in Boston at the Reggie Lewis Center from 2003-2009 and were last in Albuquerque in 1966 when the meet fell under the guise of the AAU. And in 1968, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the marathon and race-walking events were held on the streets of Alamosa, located at 7,544 feet above sea level, comparable to the elevation of 1968 Olympic host Mexico City.
“Albuquerque is thrilled to host the Indoor Championships beginning in 2010. We look forward to working with USATF and our local partners to put on three years of outstanding events and showcase our area to the track and field community from across the country,” said Dale Lockett, President/CEO of the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau.
A view of one of turn one and the throw area…..
Albuquerque’s portable indoor track features a red and white Mondo surface that is state-of-the-art with 6-36″ 200-meter lanes on the 60-degree banked oval, 8- 42″ 60-meter straightaway lanes running the entire length of the infield which are also the surface for the high jump. This includes two jumping runways and pits, areas for shot put, weight throw, pole vault, and high jump events. The track is stored in a warehouse when not in use.
A good view of the rest of the Mondo track……
Special thanks to Vicki Oddi, Jill Geer and Brian Brase, USATF.
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