TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS2017 USATF Masters 5 km Championships

Hosted by the Syracuse Festival of RacesSyracuse, NY, Sunday, October 1, 2017

Runners competing in the 2017 USATF Masters 5 km Championships at the Syracuse Festival of Races in Syracuse, NY on Sunday, October 1, 2017 should be aware of the following points of emphasis. Competitors who fail to comply with these and other applicable USATF Rules of Competition risk possible disqualification. These instructions will be reviewed at the Technical Meeting open to all Masters Championship athletes, coaches and officials. The Technical Meeting will be held on Saturday, September 30, at 8:00 p.m. at the host hotel, the Maplewood Suites Extended Stay. These instructions will also be available at packet pick-up. Advance questions should be directed to Referee Bill Quinlisk, at billqxc@verizon.net.

1. Eligibility. All Master LDR Championship athletes must be U.S. citizens or resident aliens. They must be 2017 members of USATF in good standing. USATF memberships may be purchased online, through your local Association Office, or by calling the USATF National Office at 317-713-4665. Athletes will not be permitted to compete unless they have a 2017 USATF membership and completed the entry process. Only Master athletes who are citizens of the United States and eligible to represent the United States in international competition are eligible for USATF medals and prize money. 

2. Race Registration.All online registration must be through the USATF event management system at: http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2017/USATF-Masters-5-km-Championships/Entry-Info.aspx Online registration closes at 11:59:59 ET on September 28, 2017.

Entry Fees and Deadlines

Date   Received IndividualOn or before 6/30/17 at 11:59 p.m. ET $2507/01/17 through 9/15/17 at 11:59 p.m. ET $2809/16/17 through 9/28/17 at 11:59 p.m. ET when online entries close $32

09/30/17 through 8:00 p.m. ET - onsite only $40

Onsite registration is available at packet pick-up on September 30th only until 8pm. Day-of-race registration is not permitted.

3. Host Hotel. The Maplewood Suites Extended Stay, 400 7th North Street, Liverpool, NY 13088, will serve as the host hotel for the 2017 USATF Masters 5 km Championships. The hotel is located approximately 8 miles (14 minutes) from the starting line of the race course.

4. Shuttle Service. Syracuse Festival of Races (SFoR) volunteers will be happy to provide complimentary ground transportation between the airport and the headquarter hotel, and between the race headquarters hotel and the race site for any out-of-town athletes who contact the SFoR in advance with their itinerary and request assistance with ground transportation. Interested athletes should e-mail TuttleGreg@hotmail.com with requests for assistance with ground transportation while in Syracuse for the Syracuse Festival of Races.

5. Athlete Hospitality. As usual, our race headquarters hotel will feature a Masters Championship athlete hospitality room hosted by the event and staffed by volunteers from Friday afternoon, September 30, through 10 a.m. on Sunday, October 1. Complimentary snacks and beverages will be available in the hospitality room. Driving directions from the race headquarters hotel to the race site, information on Saturday course tours, and other race information will also be available in the hospitality rooms. Please contact Athlete Hospitality Coordinator Greg Tuttle at TuttleGreg@hotmail.com if you have any concerns or special needs.

6. Packet Pick-up. Bib number and shirt pick-up will be available for all participants on Saturday, September 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Dick’s Sporting Goods on Erie Blvd. East in DeWitt, NY (13214), and for USATF Masters 5 km Championship participants only from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the hospitality room at the Maplewood Suites Extended Stay. Packets may also be picked up at the race site on Sunday morning, October 1, beginning at 7:30 a.m. THERE WILL BE NO Day-of-race registration.

7. The Race Course. The Syracuse Festival of Races 5K course is out-and-back. The course begins and ends on the south side of Syracuse University’s Manley Field House, which is located on the corner of E. Colvin St. and Comstock Ave. Runners should stay on the roadway. The course is largely flat, and the measured shortest possible route is clearly marked with a dotted orange line for the benefit of our many performance-minded participants. Although the race-time temperature is typically near 50 degrees, water is available both on the way out (approx. 1,500m) and on the way back (approx. 3,500m). The course is closed to vehicular traffic. Marked splits include all kilometers, the one-mile mark, the two-mile mark, and the halfway mark. Split times are called at all of these locations, and transponder-timed results will include each participant's halfway-split time as well as his or her gun finishing time. Net times for all finishers will be made available but are used for record purposes only. The starting line is on E. Colvin Street, near the third utility pole east of Chapple Way (the Coyne Stadium entrance to Manley South Parking from E. Colvin St.). Runners head east from the starting line to Buckingham Avenue. Runners turn left onto Buckingham and cover the one long block between E. Colvin and Meadowbrook Drive. They bend right onto Meadowbrook Drive and follow Meadowbrook Drive (eastbound) to its intersection with Euclid Avenue. The Euclid Avenue intersection is the turnaround, with runners making a 180-degree turn to their left and proceeding back toward Manley on the westbound side of Meadowbrook. At this point in the race, Meadowbrook Drive is a divided street, with opposite directions separated by the Meadowbrook culvert. Runners bend left from Meadowbrook Drive onto Buckingham Avenue; turn right from Buckingham Ave. onto E. Colvin St.; and then bend right into the Manley south parking at the Skytop Rd. traffic signal and follow the Manley bus lane (parallel to Colvin St.) straight ahead (about 300m) to the finish line. To access your own internet map directions use the address 1330 East Colvin St., Syracuse, NY, 13210 for the start line. The Syracuse Festival of Races 5K course map is available at: http://www.festivalofraces.com/course.html The SFoR 5K course was most recently re-certified and verified by USATF Regional Certifier and IAAF-certified measurer, Jim Gilmer, in 2012.The USATF certification number for the course is: NY12118JG

8. Course Tours. Course tours will be provided by Festival volunteers on Saturday morning and afternoon. Sign-up for course tours will be available in the athlete hospitality room at the Maplewood Suites Extended Stay.

9. Cutting the Course. Any competitor who has been found by the Referee and /or Jury of Appeal to have gained an unfair advantage by intentionally shortening the route of the race (“cutting the course”) shall be immediately disqualified. In addition to the timing mat at the half way point on the course, race officials will be located at various points along the course to verify that each finisher has completed the entire 5 kilometer course as marked.Illegal Assistance. Anyone found to have received illegal assistance is subject to disqualification.  “Illegal assistance” is the conveying of advice, information or direct help to an athlete by any means, including a technical device. It also includes pacing by persons not participating in the event, by competitors lapped or about to be lapped, or by any kind of technical device. Spouses or significant others must be aware of this restriction. The use of wireless devices (I-pods, etc.) is not permitted. Competitors may carry or wear articles of personal equipment such as wrist chronometers and heart-rate monitors. Verbal or other communication, without the use of any technical device, from an individual not on the course shall not be considered assistance. The course is the road. Pacesetting, by a person entered in an event as an officially designated pacesetter, is permissible. There are no designated pacesetters for Masters LDR Championship events. It is assumed that all runners are competing fairly and to the best of their ability.

10. Competition Numbers and Timing Tag. Competition bib numbers must be pinned on the front of the outermost layer of clothing that you will be wearing in the race and must be worn as issued. They should not be folded or modified in any way. The timing antenna or “B” tag is a part of the bib number and is disposable after the race. All Masters entered in the USATF Masters 5 km Championships must also wear an age/gender “back” number pinned to the back of the outermost layer of clothing that they are wearing in the race. Please use four pins to affix the “back” number in such a manner that it will not flip up and will remain visible to any runner behind you. Any competitor failing to wear a competition bib number on the front and a visible age/gender “back” number will be subject to disqualification. If you misplace your “back” number, extras will be available at the blue and white striped Masters Championship Hospitality Tent near the finish line and at the start line.

11. Start Time. Each competitor is responsible for knowing the start time. The Men’s 5K will start at 8:50 a.m. and the MVP Health Care Women’s 5K will start at 9:50 a.m. All competitors are responsible for being at the starting line prior to the appointed time with their competition bib number and age/gender “back” number properly affixed. Each 5K race will include non-Championship as well as Championship competitors.

12. Clerking and Uniform Check. All members of complete scoring teams should report together to the clerks-of-course at the Masters Championship Hospitality Tent near the finish line beginning 30 minutes prior to the start of their race to verify compliance with the team uniform rule. This secure tent is reserved for Master Championship athletes and bags and sweats may be dropped at this location during the race. All runners will be checked for proper front bib and back numbers prior to the start. There will be a two-command start: “On your marks” followed by the firing of the starter’s pistol or approved starting device signaling the start of the race. False starts will not be recalled. Runners who false start are subject to disqualification. All awards are based on “gun time”. Net times may only be used for record purposes. Please provide appropriate information if net time is being used for other than record purposes

13. Team Uniforms. The jersey or singlet worn by the members of a complete scoring team (i.e., San Diego Track Club M50+ “A” team) in all Master LDR Championships shall be basically identical for each member in color and style, and must be clearly visible throughout the race, i.e., worn as the outer garment if other apparel items are worn underneath by one or more team members. Individuals not complying with this uniform rule may be disqualified from scoring for

their team. Uniforms of complete teams only will be checked together by the Clerk at the hospitality tent near the finish line beginning 30 minutes before the start of each race. Do not report to the start line unless your team has completed the uniform check. Complete “B” teams should see the Masters Race Liaison at packet pickup for stick-on letters to the affixed to the age/gender “back” number in lieu of completely different uniforms than their “A” team in the same gender team division.

14. The Start. All runners will be checked for proper front bib and back numbers prior to the start. There will be a two-command start: “On your marks” followed by the firing of the starter’s pistol or approved starting device signaling the start of the race. False starts will not be recalled. Runners who false start are subject to disqualification. All awards are based on “gun time”. Net times may only be used for record purposes. Runners in the Men’s 5K race will start promptly at 8:50 a.m., and runners in the MVP Health Care Women’s 5K race will start promptly at 9:50 a.m. The public address announcer will call all registered participants to the starting line approximately ten minutes prior to the start. In order to minimize the time between the completion of your warm-up activities and the start of your race, there will be very few ceremonial or official announcements at the starting line. All athletes should feel encouraged to continue warm-up activities (including stride-outs) up to two minutes prior to the starting time. Any wheelchair athletes entered will start well in advance of the runners. There will be a two-command start: “On your marks” followed by the firing of the starter’s pistol signaling the start of the race. Since all awards and placing are based on gun time, the faster master runners are encouraged to start at or near the front of the starting line. There are no assigned starting positions, and both the Men’s 5K field and the MVP Health Care Women’s 5K fields will have fewer than 500 participants (Championship and non-Championship participants combined).

15. No false start. False starts will not be recalled. Runners who false start are subject to disqualification.

16. Withdrawal for medical reasons. A competitor must retire from the race immediately if directed to do so by a duly authorized official of the race or by an appropriately identified member of the race medical staff.

17. Team Declarations. Please note that only five athletes are allowed to be on the final team declaration per team. If you have listed more than five athletes on your team’s online declaration form, only the first five listed shall comprise your club's declared scoring team unless you revise your declaration form. You have until midnight (ET) on Thursday, September 29, 2017 to revise your online team declaration. A hard copy revision to final team declarations may be submitted in-person at packet pick-up located in the athlete hospitality room at the Maplewood Suites Extended Stay no later than 5:00 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Team revision forms will be available on-site. Questions should be directed to the Referee. Please follow the instructions below to access the USATF online Club Management Area: Access to the USATF Club Management Area is available to the person listed as the main contact on your original yearly member club application form, as well as club coaches and club administrators as designated by the main club contact. To gain access to your club, e-mail your club's main contact with your name, individual membership number, and role within the club. Note: access to the Management Area is limited to those people who are current individual members of USATF. If you joined as a new individual member instead of renewing, please e-mail your club's main contact person to have your new membership number attached to your club profile. You can find your club contact information at: https://www.usatf.org/clubs/search/ * If your club does not appear on the list, it may be because the club hasn't renewed for the current year. Please contact your local Association for more information.

18. Forming Teams. The formation of club teams must meet all of the parameters as noted in Regulations 4 and 6 in Section III of the USATF Governance Handbook and in the USATF Rules of Competition, specifically Rule 341.8. This will be strictly enforced. Please note that in Masters Long Distance Running “teams shall represent current member clubs of USATF, verified

through the national office. USATF Association, Regional, or National ‘all-star’ teams are not eligible to compete in Masters Long Distance Running Team competition. Team members shall be affiliated with the club they are representing on their USATF membership profile prior to entering the competition. Rule 341.8 indicates that only “one athlete per team (i.e., Club M50+ team) who is a non-resident member of an Association is eligible to compete for a team in that Association.”

19. Masters Team Scoring. Masters team scoring for all road racing Championships shall be as follows: All master teams, men and women, in all 10-year age divisions, three (3) individuals shall score with a maximum of five (5) individuals declared per team. All master road race team scores will be calculated by total time of the scoring team members. Masters men: 40+, 50+, 60+, 70+ and 80+. Masters Women: 40+, 50+, 60+, 70+ and 80+. Each age division shall be scored separately by total time of the fastest three finishers on the team. Each individual may only be listed on a single team roster. The event will score only complete teams. All runners on incomplete teams, runners on teams in other divisions and all unattached runners shall not be included in the team scoring for a division. USATF Rules indicate that when scoring by time:(a) If a team fails to finish with a complete scoring team (i.e., less than 3 finishers), then that team shall not be scored. However, the team members who do finish shall be counted as individuals in the race results and shall be eligible to win individual awards.(b)   Ties between two or more teams shall be resolved in favor of the team whose last scoring member finishes nearer to first place.

20. Results. Results will be posted in the post-race refreshments area as they become available. There is a one hour protest period once results have been posted.

21. Championship Awards Brunch. All USATF Masters 5 km Championships athletes and their guests are invited to attend our 2017 USATF Masters 5 km Championship awards presentation at the Maplewood Suites Extended Stay (400 7th North Street, Liverpool, NY 13088). There is no charge to attend the awards presentations. For those who would like to enjoy a meal prior to or during the award presentation, we’re once again providing the option of the Championship Awards Brunch, which will begin at 12:00 p.m. in the same room as the awards presentations. Championships award presentations are scheduled to begin at 12:25 p.m. The cost of the Championship Brunch is $16 per person for USATF masters athletes and their guests. Brunch tickets should be purchased in advance as part of the entry/registration process via the USATF Masters 5 km Championships web page at: http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2017/ U SA- Masters-5-km-Championships.aspx.

22. 2017 USATF Masters 5 km Championships Prize Money Breakdown. USATF Championship medals will be awarded to the top three places in each 5-year individual division for both master men and women (40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, etc.), the top 3 age-graded masters men and women, and the declared members of the top 3 masters teams in each of the following team divisions: 40+, 50+, 60+, 70+, and 80+. A total of $10,000 in Master’s Championship prize money is being offered.  Since this USA Masters Championship is being held concurrently with a larger non-championship event (i.e., the Syracuse Festival of Races Men’s 5K and MVP Health Care Women’s 5K), USA Masters 5 km Championship competitors are eligible for both non-Championship awards and Championship awards (most notably Dick’s Bonus Certificates for the top three in 29 age and gender groups. For additional information regarding SFoR non-Championship awards, please visit: www.FestivalofRaces.com.

2017 USATF Masters 5 km ChampionshipsBreakdown of $10,000 Prize Structure

Top Age-Graded USATF Masters Finishers ($3,500)Top 5 Age-Graded Men Top 5 Age-Graded Women1st $500 1st $5002nd $400 2nd $4003rd $350 3rd $3504th $300 4th $3005th $200 5th $200

Top Overall USATF Masters Finishers ($1,500)Men Women

1st $300 1st $3002nd $250 2nd $2503rd $200 3rd $200

Individual USA Masters 5 km Titles in Each 5-Year Age Group ($2,000)Men Women

1st $100 1st $100

Top Two USA Masters 5 km Club Teams in Each Age Division ($3,000)Men Women

40+ 1st $250 2nd $125 40+ 1st $250 2nd $12550+ 1st $250 2nd $125 50+ 1st $250 2nd $12560+ 1st $250 2nd $125 60+ 1st $250 2nd $12570+ 1st $250 2nd $125 70+ 1st $250 2nd $12580+ 1st $250 2nd $125 80+ 1st $250 2nd $12590+ 1st $250 2nd $125 90+ 1st $250 2nd $125

Double-dipping, triple-dipping, and quadruple-dipping are, of course, permitted and expected.In addition to Championship prize money and USATF medals, the race will award $2,240 in Dick’s Sporting Goods Bonus Certificates ($50 for 1st; $20 for 2nd; $10 for 3rd) to the top three finishers in each of our age divisions.

To contact Dave Oja, Race Director:213 Scott Avenue · Syracuse, NY 13224 · 315-446-6285· DaveOja@FestivalofRaces.com

23. Drug Testing. Athletes who participate in this LDR Championship may be subject to drug testing in accordance with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Protocol for Olympic Movement Testing (USADA Protocol). USADA will be responsible for conducting comprehensive drug testing, as well as the adjudication of positive findings. Athletes with

positive drug test results will have their cases adjudicated according to the USADA Protocol and will be penalized, if appropriate, according to applicable IAAF or World Anti-Doping Agency rules. Such penalties may include, but not be limited to, a period of ineligibility from competition, as well as disqualification from past competitions and cancellation of awards and prizes previously awarded. Any substance taken by an athlete is at his/her own risk and may results in a positive sample. BEWARE: some nutritional supplements, prescription, cold medicines and over-the-counter medications contain prohibited substances. Information regarding specific drugs and substances may be obtained by calling the USADA Drug Reference Line at 1-800-233-0393, or by visiting www.usantidoping.org or www.888athlete.org. Note: If the 2017 USA Masters 5 km Championships is selected for drug testing, prize money checks will be mailed following our receipt of the drug testing results. The race has no control over when the results of the drug tests are released, and we cannot release the prize money until we have official results, as it can directly affect the distribution amounts. Whether or not we have been selected for drug testing will be announced at the Technical Meeting the day before the race.

24. Additional Notes: a) Citizens of the United States and resident aliens are eligible to compete in these

Championships.  However, only U.S. citizens may score or win Championship awards.b) Athletes must be 40 years or older on the day of competition.c) All athletes must be members of USATF in good standing. USATF memberships may be

purchased online, through your local Association Office, or at: http://www.usatf.org/Products---Services/Individual-Memberships.aspx

d) All clubs must be registered with USATF. If not, then please submit your club application to your local Association office.

e) Team affiliation: Athletes must be bona fide members of a USATF club in order to represent a club and score team points. All athletes entering as part of a club must be affiliated with that club as part of their USATF membership (an athlete's current affiliation can be viewed in his/her membership profile and as part of the online entry process). Athletes wishing to change affiliations can make such a request by sending an email to the USATF Membership Dept.

f) There are no performance standards to participate.g) Masters athletes shall be allowed to win awards in all race categories. (e.g., overall, age

group, team, age-graded, etc.)

Team eligibility questions and all rule questions should be directed to our 2017 USATF Masters 5 km Championship referee, Bill Quinlisk, at billqxc@verizon.net.