Jeff Hits Big Time

Wanderer Jeff Hayes is stepping up to the big leagues.  Jeff will be competing with the Philadelphia Athletic Charities team in the National Masters Cross Country Championship at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City on February 18.  The Philadelphia charities team is the crack cross country squad assembled by local distance iron man Chuck Shields.   

The 8-k course consists of four 2,000 meter loops around the Van Cortlandt Park fields.  "I would be thrilled to break 27 minutes,"  Jeff said.  "But weather and the condition of the course, snow, ice, mud, etc, will be  a major factor."

Jeff, 47,  will compete in the Masters 45-50 in the individual category, and in the 40-50 in the team category with the Philadelphia Athletic Charities team.  Not knowing how many teams will be entered from around the country, Jeff said it would be difficult to predict final placement for  himself and the team.  "But the competition will be really good."

Jeff stays in excellent shape throughout the year, but said he is training especially hard for this championship.  

This is the first time Jeff or the Philadelphia Athletic Charities team will be entering the national competition.  Fred Kenney, another Wanderer who is a member of the athletic charities team, is not planning on making the trip.

The masters competition is part of the national mens and womens cross country championships.  The competition will be broadcast on ESPN 2. For further information about the cross country championship go to www.usatf.org. On the left side of the home page there is a block that says "National Championsips". Click on the Championship meet for 2/18 and 2/19.

Good luck to Jeff, Chuck and the entire athletic charities team.

<- go to the last page  |  old news reports (pre 2008) »  |  current news »