The Olathe Chamber of Commerce Convention & Visitors Bureau, along with USATF Missouri Valley Association, beat out an impressive field of competitors to ensure that
Olathe
will be the site of the 2013 USATF Masters Outdoor Track & Field National Championship. This championship is USATF’s principal outdoor masters track & field event which will draw approximately 2,000 competitors to
Olathe
in June 2013.
These masters athletes, who range in age from 30 to 80, their families and track & field enthusiasts will be in
Olathe
for up to a week, spending money in
Olathe
hotels, restaurants, and businesses. The estimated economic impact, based on industry formulas, is expected to be $3.59 million.
Ashley Arnold, the Chamber’s vice president of the CVB, and Kenneth Ferguson, president of USATF Missouri Valley Association, traveled to
Virginia Beach
,
Va.
, to the Annual Meeting of USATF, the National Governing Body (NGB) for the United States Olympic Track & Field program, to make the bid presentation.
The presentation showcased
Olathe
, the
Kansas City
area and local amenities and attractions. In an unprecedented first round vote, the selection committee selected
Olathe
because of its central location, availability of volunteers, the competition facilities and, according to one voting member, “the bid team’s apparent commitment to the masters track and field program.”
“Holding a national track & field event of this caliber provides
Olathe
with a chance to show what it has to offer visitors, and it helps establish the community as a great location for sports competitions and events,” said
L. Franklin Taylor
, president of the Olathe Chamber of Commerce.
According to Kenneth Ferguson, “the fact that Milan Donley, meet director for the KU Relays, has agreed to serve as the meet director for this event, speaks to the broad-based support it took to bring this event to
Olathe
.”