Welcome, and a word to the readers from publisher Paul Merca...

Publisher Paul Merca receives an award
from world record holder in the high jump
Javier Sotomayor of Cuba at last year's
world championships in Budapest.

Dear readers,

First of all, a warm welcome to those readers who are discovering this site for the first time in advance of the next sixteen days of competition in Paris.

Since I started paulmerca.blogspot.com in 2007 as an extension of my writing for the defunct Northwest Runner magazine, the mission has, and always will be, to make this site the go-to site for information on the state's collegiate (NCAA Division I and II), and professional track and field athletes.

This site has prided itself on providing independent coverage of the state's nine Division I and II programs, as well as the professional track and field athletes and clubs that train in the state of Washington, along with pros who have a connection with this state who are now training in other parts of the country.

In our existence, we've been one of the few websites and publications in the United States to maintain a regular presence at the IAAF (now rebranded as World Athletics) World Track & Field Championships, as well as the USATF, NCAA and Pac-12 (RIP) championship meets.

It's my intention to continue covering the four Washington Division II schools in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference; Eastern Washington in the Big Sky; Washington in the B1G (Big Ten), as well as Washington State, Gonzaga, and starting in the 2025 season, Seattle University in the West Coast Conference.

Even with the advertising that you see on this site, which is generated by Google based on your viewing habits, there are costs that I incur in order to provide the best independent coverage of this state's college and pro track and field athletes and teams.

I'm asking once again, to please consider making a contribution to the upkeep of the site through the yellow "Buy Me A Coffee" radio button at the bottom of this post that takes you to our site, where you can make a contribution.

You'll also see a blue coffee cup radio button on the right hand side that will take you to our Buy Me A Coffee site.

No matter the size of your contribution to our Buy Me A Coffee link, you're making an investment in the site's coverage of this state's NCAA Division I, II and professional track and field & cross country teams and athletes, which you won't find anywhere else.

As an incentive to you, as well as those of you discovering this site for the first time because of your interest in the Olympics and more specifically, the Olympic track and field competition, which begins August 1st, you will receive an exclusive viewers guide to the competition in Paris, which includes short biographical and statistical information on the seventeen men and women with ties to the state of Washington competing in Paris.

If you've liked our coverage and photos over the years, please consider contributing to our site.

Thank you in advance!

Paul Merca, publisher & editor

paulmerca.blogspot.com

NOTE: paulmerca.blogspot.com may receive a commission for any purchases made from links clicked. Please support this site and our sponsors by clicking on the links. You can also support the site by clicking the yellow "Buy Me A Coffee" link below.