The 5pm Post – Become a Racing President for the Nationals

From an email:

Washington Nationals Hold Auditions for 2011 GEICO Racing Presidents

WHAT: Beginning this week, the Washington Nationals will give fans the opportunity to run in the footsteps of giants as a GEICO Racing President. The team is now accepting applications and will hold auditions during the Presidents Day weekend to fill the shoes of Abe, George, Tom and Teddy for the 2011 baseball season.

To be eligible, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

– Measure between 5’7” and 6’6” in height
– Ability to run from center field to home plate in 40 seconds (approx. 200 yards)
– Ability to wear a costume weighing approx. 45 lbs for several hours
– Available for at least 35 Nationals home games

Racing hopefuls will have until Friday, February 11 to submit their cover letter, resume and photo to [email protected]. Once these materials are received, applicants will be contacted and required to answer six mascot-related questions.

Select candidates will then be invited to Nationals Park on Saturday, February 19, 2011, where they will be required to perform a freestyle dance, run a 40-yard dash and run two Presidents Races from center field to the home dugout. They will also be interviewed by the Game Operations panel.

This tryout is by invitation only and is not open to the public. Tryouts will take place regardless of weather conditions. For more information, visit nationals.com/racingpresidents.

Developed in 2006, the four GEICO Racing Presidents (Abe, George, Tom and Teddy) are 12-foot oversized mascots who race during the fourth inning of every Nationals home game. The popular figures can be seen promoting the team and its community efforts at Nationals Park, the District and around the Washington region. In 2010, all four Racing Presidents visited the White House for the annual Easter Egg Roll and Fourth of July celebrations and made guest appearances in The Washington Ballet production of Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker at the historic Warner Theatre.

WHEN: Saturday, February 19, 2011
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Nationals Park – 1500 South Capitol Street, SE Washington, DC 20003