Archive for August, 2010
Saluting Charles Ross, who survived 16 events — and three wars
M85 multi-eventer Charles Ross of the Atlanta TC competed in 16 events at Sacramento. Yes, 16 (winning seven golds, six silvers and two bronze.) Perhaps the most decorated athlete at nationals, he’s in the Hall of Fame. But not ours. Charles fought in three wars, and is among the oldest members of the Army Ranger […]
August 8, 2010
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Aussie hot on the heels of Rich Burns and his M55 mile WR
Rich Burns is a runner who comes around once in a generation. Or maybe not. When Rich ran his 4:36.94 mile in June, he crushed a 33-year-old world record for M55. Good for another 33 years? Try six months. On July 31, about six weeks after Rich did a number on the WR, Sydney’s Keith […]
August 7, 2010
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How many of you played in pain at Sacramento nationals?
Al Oerter, the famed masters thrower, famously said of another meet: “These are the Olympics. You die for them.” A brief story in an Oregon paper reminds me of the sacrifices we make as well: “Former Western Oregon athlete Alison Wood of Aumsville captured first place in the women’s high jump in the 35-39 age […]
August 6, 2010
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Warmup routine posted by globe-trotting miler David O’Meara
Personal trainer and author David O’Meara of Sarasota, the mega-mile guy, is back again this summer with another challenge to himself. He’s running around the world — one mile at a time. His site reports: “David has now begun his 2010 Feat of Speed, ‘Around the World in Less Than 30 Minutes’ where he is […]
August 5, 2010
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Top 2009 masters honored at Sacramento athletes banquet
Rita Hanscom went to Monte Carlo to collect her IAAF Masters Athlete of the Year Award, but she wasn’t yet done. Saturday night at masters nationals, she formally (and finally) received her USATF Masters Athlete of the Year plaque from Mary Trotto, wearing a Hawaiian cowboy hat. Mary succeeded Dave Clingan as Masters Awards Committee […]
August 4, 2010
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Merlene Ottey talks smack against masters, M50 sprinters
The only woman on Earth who can do this, of course. In a hilarious chat with a British reporter, Merlene Ottey is quoted as saying: “There’s no point in me running in masters events unless it’s against the men. And I mean the 40-year-old men, not the 50s.” Ouch! She also said: “But I’d like […]
August 3, 2010
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New, improved Forum requires password re-set; our apologies
Sharp-eyed visitors may notice changes in my message board, called the Forums. Folks who need corrective lenses (like me) also may note the requirement that users re-set their passwords. Instructions are posted here. It’s a nuisance, I know, but the tradeoff is a better message board, with cool new features (that I haven’t explored yet). […]
August 3, 2010
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Keep a secret? Some hurdles at Sacramento were half-inch short
On the first day of masters nationals, I learned something funny and sad: Some (or many?) of the 27-inch hurdles in Sacramento were a half-inch short. Running referee Murray Sanford of Georgia reportedly made the discovery. They were fixed the next day — but only after a few pentathletes in the upper age groups ran […]
August 3, 2010
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Jumpers — scores of them — leap into our latest photo gallery
Kathy Bergen’s W70 world record (below) was a highlight of masters nationals (and with her AR in the 200 should have made her USATF Athlete of the Week). But she was far from being the only jumping star at Sacramento. See our new gallery, devoted to folks who go high and long. Wife Chris did […]
August 2, 2010
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Italian masters long jumper caught up in Paralympic doping case
According to Italian news reports, masters long jump champion Roberto La Barbera, born in February 1967, failed a drug test at a recent meet. But he’s not your typical M40 jumper. He’s a blade jumper, a la Oscar Pistorius, the “blade runner.” Roberto sprints down the runway with a prosthetic leg. On Thursday, the Italian […]
August 1, 2010
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