Posted: September 24, 2005

Masters Athletics: GeezerJock Magazine Announces Finalists for the Inaugural GeezerJock of the Year Award, Sponsored By Michelob ULTRA

Thirty Nominees Vie for Honor Recognizing the World's Best Masters Athlete

CHICAGO, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- In its fall issue, GeezerJock, the first Masters sports and fitness magazine to cover competitive athletics for people 40-and-over, will unveil the 30 finalists vying for the GeezerJock of the Year award, sponsored by Michelob ULTRA. The award recognizes supreme achievement in Masters athletics, which is defined as organized athletics for men and women over 40 years of age.

The 30 finalists from across the United States and Canada include several grandmothers, including one who discovered late in life that she has what it takes to be a cycling champion and another who is a weight lifter at age 70. Other finalists include a 62-year-old Los Angeles County lifeguard who is a remarkable distance swimmer; a 70-year-old ultra-distance runner who completed a 100-mile race in Vermont; a 73-year-old marathoner who has broken the magical three-hour barrier, and a 54-year-old sprinter and former Olympian.

In addition to honoring the best overall Masters athlete, the GeezerJock of the Year award program will also recognize 10 age-group winners -- a male and female in each of five age categories: 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80- plus.

"GeezerJock is dedicated to capturing the stories of athletes over 40 participating in competitive sports around the globe," said Bill Ferguson, GeezerJock's vice president of sales. "The GeezerJock of the Year award spotlights the most accomplished of these athletes -- those who inspire all of us over the age of 40 who care about fitness and competition."

The public can vote for the most deserving athletes at the GeezerJock Web site, http://www.geezerjock.com , from October 1 through October 31, 2005. Voting is not limited to the 30 nominees -- write-in candidates are accepted.

Visitors can nominate themselves or someone they know. The winners will be announced in the December issue.

The GeezerJock of the Year finalists are:

MEN 40-49	WOMEN 40-49
James Chinn, San Marcos, Calif.	Oneithea Lewis, Bayside, N.Y.
Kevin Flynn, Rochester, N.Y.	Bonnie Macrae-Kilb, Calgary, Alb.
Sam Renshaw, Kingsley, Mich.	Lisa Schlenker, Lake Oswego, Ore.
MEN 50-59	WOMEN 50-59
Bill Collins, Houston, Texas	Mary Bennett, Lawrenceville, N.J.
Mac Martin, State College, Pa.	Harriet Hall, Anchorage, Alaska
Bruce Meade, Bradenton, Fla.	Linda Musante, Tampa, Fla.
MEN 60-69	WOMEN 60-69
Don Ardell, St. Petersburg, Fla.	Carolyn Boak, The Woodlands, Texas
Larry Raffaelli, Oxnard, Calif.	Jacqueline Tennant, Gaithersburg, Va.
Robert Smith, Vancouver, B.C.	Haze Thompson, Tres Pinos, Calif.
MEN 70-79	WOMEN 70-79
Frank Bartholow, Mansfield, Ohio	Marietta Boswell, Damascus, Md.
Ojars Stikis, Englewood, N.J.	Irene Camp, Tucson, Ariz.
Ed Whitlock, Milton, Ont.	Elsie Dahl, Montpelier, Vt.
MEN 80-PLUS	WOMEN 80-PLUS
Trent Lane, Baker, La.	Glafyra Ennis, Florence, Mass.
Frank Piemme, Lompoc, Calif.	Lois Nochman, Huntington Woods, Mich.
Milt Silverstein, Fredericksburg, Va.	Johnnye Valien, Los Angeles, Calif.

Other stories in the fall issue of GeezerJock that hits the last week in September include:

-- A listing of the 10 best areas for Masters athletes to live in the United States. The communities were selected based on their offering conducive training climates for the region's predominant sport, exceptional training and athletic facilities, and athletics-friendly general atmospheres. The GeezerJock editorial team also considered residents' general quality of life, examining factors such as the prevalence of cultural events, the economic climate and the location's access to large cities. The 10 best are:

        - Asheville, N.C.     - Portland, Maine
        - Bellingham, Wash.   - SunRiver St. George, Utah
        - Bend, Ore.          - Sun City West, Ariz.
        - Boulder, Colo.      - Sun City Huntley, Ill.
        - Madison, Wis.       - The Villages, Fla.

-- A profile on legendary Masters athletes who have helped age-group sports grow into the powerful movement it is today. More than 7.2 million Americans over 40 compete in athletic events, according to GeezerJock.

-- Coverage of the rugby championships at the 6th World Masters Games in Edmonton, Alberta in July 2005, where 21,000 athletes from 82 countries competed in 27 different sports.

Throughout 2005, GeezerJock is offering free subscriptions to the magazine, available by registering at http://www.geezerjock.com . Once the offer expires, a year's subscription will cost $15.95.

For more information or photos of the GeezerJock of the Year finalists, contact Gayle Glickman or Aline Wessel at Healy Communications, Inc. at 312/440-3900; gglickman@healyco.com; awessel@healyco.com.

About GeezerJock Magazine
GeezerJock is the first Masters sports and fitness magazine to cover competitive athletics for people 40 and over and to inspire everyone in that age group to stay fit and compete in sports at any level. Today, more than 7.2 million Americans 40 years of age and over compete in athletic events. GeezerJock also offers training tips in the areas of nutrition, vitamins and supplements, gear and sports medicine. For more information, visit http://www.geezerjock.com .

SOURCE GeezerJock Magazine
Web Site: www.geezerjock.com.