It’s called the World Masters Athletics Outdoor Championships and it’s for older people. It features everything from 80-year-old pole vaulters to runners like 67-year-old Frank Condon.
“I better stay healthy, because I’m going to be around a while it looks like…it looks, there’s no guarantees.”
The Chico resident will represent the U.S. in both the 800-meter and 15-hundred meter runs. He says he’s always been physically active and sees no reason to quit now.
“I like to get on the starting line and run a race, I like the people I compete with…well most of them anyway.”
Bob Burns with the Sacramento Sports Commission admits…watching elderly athletes probably won’t draw massive crowds.
“As far as sizzle with the public, I don’t think it’s necessarily something that everybody’s going to say ‘wow, we want to go out and watch that.’ But as far as what it means to the community in terms of the economy this is right up there if not better than the Olympic trials.”
That’s because 5,000 athletes from around the world will be in town staying at hotels and eating at restaurants. Burns says it could boost the local economy as much as $24 million.
The championships will be held in July of next year.