Pan-American Masters Games 2024

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The Orienteering events are complete!  See the Results & Photos here!

NEOOC enjoyed hosting a great event and thanks to all the athletes and volunteers who came to make it a success.  Please take a look at our Upcoming Events page for Orienteering events around Cleveland and the entire NE Ohio area.  All are welcome, please come and join us.

Last update: July 15, 2024

  • Update:  Results link added on Mon, July 15
  • Update: Social Gathering – Happy Days Lodge – Monday, July 15, noon – 2pm
  • Updates from July 9: Start time assignments
  • Updates from July 8: For Richfield Model Course: map download and description.
  • Updates from July 7: Final course information, course notes, and update to start times – all events start at 10:00am.)

Greater Cleveland Sports Commission announced the 2024 Pan-American Masters Games (PAMG) will be held on July 12-21, 2024 in Northeast Ohio.

NEOOC is thrilled to host the orienteering portion of the games in our local woods and college campuses!

This multi-sport event for athletes is expected to be the largest international gathering in Northeast Ohio’s history bringing over 7,500 athletes from more than 50 countries along with thousands of spectators, family and friends.

Official Pan-Am Website

https://clevelandmasters2024.com/

Official Results

Posting delayed in observance of professional courtesy to our terrific host organizations, The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and the International Masters Games Association. Please see results on the PAMG site here or see the NEOOC results page at 7:00pm. We hope you understand. Thanks.

Host Club

Northeastern Ohio Orienteering Club (NEOOC)

  • Event Co-Directors: Howard Montgomery and Phill Wadsworth

OUSA

This event is sanctioned as an restricted OUSA National Ranking Event (NRE).  Registration is open to ages 35+ and all courses are advanced level.

Dates & Times

Orienteering: 07/13 – 07/16, 2024

  • Saturday – July 13 – Sprint – Kent State Campus
  • Monday – July 15 – Middle – Boston Run
  • Tuesday – July 16 – Long – Kendall Lake

Age Categories

  • Men’s: 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+, 55+, 60+, 65+, 70+, 75+, 80+, 85+, 90+, 95+
  • Women’s: 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+, 55+, 60+, 65+, 70+, 75+, 80+, 85+, 90+, 95+

Sprint Event – Kent State University

Short & fast, with technical map reading, buildings, and structures!
bit.ly/neooc_ksu

ClassCourse...Map ScaleContoursDistanceClimbControlsWinning Time
(Estimated)
M35, M40, M45Red1:40002.5m2.6 km15m1412 - 17 min
M50, M55, M60Green_X1:40002.5m2.4 km15m1615 - 20 min
F35, F40, F45, F50Green_Y1:40002.5m2.2 km15m1415 - 20 min
F55, F60, F65, M65, M70, M75Brown_X1:30002.5m1.8 km10m915 - 20 min
F70, F75, F80, F85, F90, F95, M80, M85, M90, M95Brown_Y1:30002.5m1.7 km10m1015 - 20 min

Course Notes: The sprint event is hosted by Kent State University, an NCAA Division I school in the Mid-American conference. Parking and check-in is at the student recreation center (Ted Boyd Drive). It is a short 200m walk from there to the start area.

There have been changes to a number of sidewalks and buildings on campus and the map has been updated in spring/summer 2024.

Kent State is a semi-open campus with many trees and wooded areas. Most trees are individually mapped as distinct trees, but some areas where the trees form a more dense and continuous canopy are depicted as open woods (white).

The campus is relatively flat with only a few small hills. Contour lines are mapped at 2.5m.

There are many small gardens throughout the campus – many are marked out of bounds on the map (olive green) and participants will be subject to disqualification for cutting through these marked areas. Some are too small to be designated as out of bounds, but please use discretion and avoid treading through small gardens.

Finally, although vehicle traffic is expected to be minimal please use caution when crossing roads or parking lots. Campus roads will be open to traffic during the event.

Parking: Beverly J Warren Student Rec Center 1550 Ted Boyd Dr, Kent, OH 44242

Middle Distance – Boston Run

Middle distance, more technical map reading.
bit.ly/neooc_bostonrun

ClassCourse...Map ScaleContoursDistanceClimbControlsWinning Time
(Estimated)
M35, M40, M45Red1:75005m4.4 km185m1935 - 45 min
M50, M55, M60Green_X1:75005m3.9 km175m1725 - 35 min
F35, F40, F45, F50Green_Y1:75005m3.5 km135m1525 - 35 min
F55, F60, F65, M65, M70, M75Brown_X1:75005m3.1 km115m1125 - 35 min
F70, F75, F80, F85, F90, F95, M80, M85, M90, M95Brown_Y1:75005m2.7 km75m1325 - 35 min

Course Notes: See CVNP Course Notes Section below

Parking: All Competitors: Ledges Trailhead, Lat/Long: (41.2235,-81.5101)

Note: there is a 1 km trail walk north from the parking to check-in at Happy Days Lodge. The trail is well maintained but may not be suitable for spectators or volunteers with mobility issues.

Parking: Volunteers and Spectators Only: Boston Run Trailhead, Lat/Long: (41.2318,-81.5075)

Long Distance – Kendall Lake

Regular / longer distance, with lots of woods!
bit.ly/neooc_kendall

ClassCourse...Map ScaleContoursDistanceClimbControlsWinning Time
(Estimated)
M35, M40, M45Red1:100005m8.0 km330m1565 - 75 min
M50, M55, M60Green_X1:100005m6.3 km275m1455 - 65 min
F35, F40, F45, F50Green_Y1:100005m5.4 km230m1255 - 65 min
F55, F60, F65, M65, M70, M75Brown_X1:75005m4.3 km150m1245 - 55 min
F70, F75, F80, F85, F90, F95, M80, M85, M90, M95Brown_Y1:75005m3.1 km110m1045 - 55 min

Course Notes: See CVNP Course Notes Section below

Parking: Kendall Lake Trailhead, Lat/Long: (41.2175,-81.5250)

Overflow parking if necessary will be in the Octagon parking area, specifically at Pine Grove Trailhead, Lat/Long: (41.2260,-81.5138)  A 1 km hiking trail south leads from the Octagon parking to Kendall Lake.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Course Notes

(Boston Run and Kendall Lake)

Residents of Northeast Ohio are privileged to have a National Park so accessible to urban centers. Both Boston Run (Middle distance) and Kendall Lake (Long distance) feature popular hiking trails that wind through the parks.

Participant parking for Boston is at Ledges Trailhead, which is approximately 1km from the start area. At Kendall Lake, the call up area is very near the chalet and it’s a short trail walk to the start.

In July, vegetation at both parks will be dense in many areas but there are also areas of open runnable woods. Vegetation was updated on both maps in late Spring 2024. For our events in July, vegetation will be generally more green than shown on the maps.

Some detailed notes on the maps:

  • The difference between open runnable woods and areas of reduced visibility (light green) is subtle. Medium and darker shades of green are in general more distinct.
  • Rough open areas are passable, but in July areas overlaid with green hatching will be overgrown with tall grasses and weeds. Expect some areas to be waist or even chest high with some prickly sections.
  • There are many downed trees in various stages of decay throughout both parks. Very large fallen trees which present an obstacle on a potential route choice are mapped with the most suitable shade of green or hatching (ex. 407, 409, 410).
  • Most mapped boulders meet the 1 meter standard, but a few are smaller, especially those in the vicinity of larger ones.
  • Most rootstocks are mapped to a 2 meter standard but a few on the map are a tad smaller. Recent storms in early summer 2024 have knocked down a few more trees so there may be unmapped rootstocks, in particular near reentrants and gullies.
  • Knolls are to 1 meter standard – mostly these are rootstocks that have weathered away leaving a large dirt mound.
  • Recent rains have caused erosion in gullies and waterways, and a number of areas are relatively steep earth banks. These are marked with earth bank (104) / erosion gully (107) but there is one area at Kendall Lake where the gullies are vertical, undercut, and tall enough to be marked as impassable cliff (201)
  • Special item “X” signifies a park bench, sign, or distinctive man made object found in the woods.
  • Special notes for Boston Run (Middle) only:
    • All courses will pass through a relatively steep gully on the western portion of the map. Please use caution particularly on the descents.
    • The boundary for the Girl Scout camp on the NW side of the Boston Run map is unfenced and unmarked. This should not be a problem because that area affords no logical route choice.
    • A number of controls are 40 – 60 meters of each other but features are dissimilar. Please check control codes carefully to avoid punching a control on a different course!

Preview Maps

Below are links to free downloads of course maps most recently used for events at each venue. The NEOOC mapping team is working on new updates to all three maps:

Model Courses

Two model courses will be available to competitors and the general public:

  • Kent State: a short recreational / warm-up course will be set in the area surrounding the rec center. Course will be open Saturday 9:00am – 2:00pm. Maps and information at event check-in.
  • Richfield Heritage Preserve: Located about 10 miles west of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, an advanced-level practice course with control flags will be available Friday 7/12 – Tuesday 7/16, dawn to dusk.  Link for map Download. A limited supply of printed maps will be available on request at the Kent State and Boston Run event check-ins. These courses will be self serve with no Pan American Masters Games support staff on site.

Additionally, permanent orienteering courses are available all season at Richfield Heritage Preserve for training and recreational use during normal park hours, dawn to dusk. Information and downloadable maps for the permanent courses can be found at:

https://neooc.com/richfield-heritage-preserve-anytime-permanent-courses/html

Parking: Richfield Heritage Preserve: 4374 Broadview Road, Richfield, Ohio, 44286. Proceed through the main gate and park at the end of a 1km drive.

Richfield Course Notes: Richfield Heritage Preserve (RHP) is not part of the National Park but is one of the favorite orienteering venues used by the Northeastern Ohio Orienteering Club.

This park is not an official PanAm Masters Games venue but is hosted by the Northeast Ohio Orienteering Club for training use from Friday 7/12 – Tuesday 7/16 (regular park hours).

The terrain and vegetation is similar to the two CVNP venues however the map is older and some point features like boulders, small erosion gullies, and ruins are smaller than the latest IOF standards.

There is one advanced level self-serve course marked with standard orienteering flags and also 2 beginner / intermediate permanent courses marked with ground poles. See link above.

RHP is a multi-use park, and during the time frame it’s available for orienteering, the park is also hosting other activities. Please be respectful of other park guests!

Event Schedule

Wednesday 7/10 Accreditation Center Opens

All competitors MUST pick up pre-race packets at the accreditation center downtown Cleveland before your first scheduled event. Downtown Cleveland is a 45-minute drive from the orienteering venues, so please make sure to account for this in your travel plans!

The accreditation center will remain open until the end of the Pan American Masters Games. See info page for official information including hours and location: https://clevelandmasters2024.com/

Friday 7/12 – Richfield Heritage Preserve Model Course Opens

Will remain open during park hours (dawn to dusk) until Tuesday 7/16 (see section above)

Saturday 7/13 – Kent State Sprint

Check-in: 8:30am – 10:30am

Model course opens: 9:00am – 2:00pm

First starts 10:00am

Courses close 2:00pm

Sunday 7/14 – No scheduled orienteering events

Enjoy the Model or Permanent Courses at the Richfield Heritage Preserve (see section above) or other Pan American Masters Games sports

Monday 7/15 – Boston Run Middle Distance

Check-in: 8:30am – 10:30am

First starts: 10:00am

Courses close 2:00pm

Social Gathering – Happy Days Lodge – Monday, July 15, noon – 2pm

Tuesday 7/16 – Kendall Lake Long Distance

Check-in: 8:30am – 10:30am

First starts: 10:00am

Courses close 3:00pm

Register

Registration is ONLY THROUGH the Pan-American Masters Games, here:

https://clevelandmasters2024.com/sports/orienteering/

See Who’s Registered – Start Times

Click here for registered Athletes and their Start Times from the Pan-American Masters Games:

PAMG – Orienteering Registrations and Start Times

Embargo Areas

Before the event,  the general areas of the National Park system in which the orienteering events are held and the entire campus of Kent State University are off-limits to competitors.

This includes Kendall Lake area, the Boston Run area, and the KSU campus:

bit.ly/neooc_embargo

Mixed Punching / SportIdent

SportIdent electronic punching will be used. SportIdent Air (SIAC) cards OR traditional SI cards may be used on all courses.

Safety

All competitors must carry a whistle, per orienteering standards.

Awards

Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals will be awarded to the first, second, and third-place finishers for individuals in each age category.

If there are insufficient entries in an age category, categories may be combined in order to conduct a viable competition.

The awarding of medals will not be affected, that is, individuals will still be awarded medals in the age category in which they originally entered.

Lodging

Find your hotel, motel, or something else on the Pan American Masters Game website.

Explore Ohio

Explore more of Ohio while you’re here: Visitor Info

Volunteer

With up to 200 athletes attending 3 orienteering events, we need volunteers to deliver a world class experience!

Volunteer needs include event set-up, registration, start gate team, course marshals, control collection, refreshments, and more.

FIRST, please email to the NEOOC Event Coordinators at volunteer@neooc.com the following: Full name, Phone number, Event date(s) for which you want to volunteer, and Event job(s) for which you are interested

SECOND, please register as an official PAMG volunteer by going to clevelandmasters2024.com > get involved > volunteer > VOLUNTEER NOW…

On the Volunteer Registration page, click Register Now and then select General Volunteers on the next page.  On the Activity Selector page, add access code: NEOOC24, then click ‘Unlock’.

Scroll down to ORIENTEERING. Use “+” to expand to the 3 orienteering events listed plus the Course Marshals category. Choose the events for which you plan to volunteer for.

Follow the prompts to create your account and sign the waiver. You should receive a confirmation email almost immediately.

Contact & Help

Use this link for questions: Contact

Governing Bodies

 

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