It's never too late to be a track star

Looking to revive a track and field career that's been dormant for a decade and a half? Or want to start one that never got off the ground?

The Carolinas Track & Field Club -- which has members in South and North Carolina and hosts and participates in local, regional and national meets -- is trying to recruit new members. It's open to all "masters" athletes; in this case, that means men and women ages 30 and older). No track and field experience is necessary.

Club members compete in five age groups (30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49 and 50+) in all the traditional track and field events, including sprints, hurdles, mid-distance, distance, jumps and throws. Skill levels range from beginners to athletes who are ranked nationally in their events. CTFC currently has about 100 members, including some in their 70s.

The Carolinas Track & Field Club is coached by Gordon Edwards, who founded it in 2001. Prior to that, he coached at Myers Park and Charlotte Christian and has been race director for a number of Charlotte road races. In 2006, he and the club hosted the four-day USATF National Masters Track & Field Championships, which saw 1,400 athletes from all over the U.S. converge on UNCC.

Club practices began for the fall on Sept. 8, and currently are held from 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays at the UNC-Charlotte track.

Interested? Get more info by clicking on this link, or attend a practice and talk to Coach Edwards and club members. If you decide to join, club dues are $20 per year -- and if an over-30 spouse wants to join, too, it's just $20 for both of you.