M45 Nick Berra claims another Drake Relays masters 800 title
Nick Berra flies on the track and through the air. He’s a FedEx pilot (and Penn entrant?)
World Masters Games 2017 offering a free trip to New Zealand
The World Masters Games will be in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2017 — a year after WMA worlds in relatively nearby Perth, Australia. That isn’t news. This is: “Here’s your chance to win a trip to Auckland to compete in the Games, with return flights and your Games entry on us. To celebrate two years to go, World Masters Games 2017 is offering one lucky competitor the trip of a lifetime, plus the opportunity to experience the in-flight excellence of Air New Zealand. Our winner will receive return flights from anywhere on the Air New Zealand network … to Auckland plus one single sport entry to the 2017 Games.” So here’s the entry form. Good luck, mate!
India insanity! 3 federations vie for masters tracksters at 3 nationals
The soap opera of Indian masters track just got soapier. I wrote an Indian masters athlete the other day to see how things were going in the saga of competing federations (one is WMA-affiliated, the other not). I’ve written about how pay-to-play is in effect. But the note I got Wednesday blew my white-cotton socks off. My source writes: “The situation of India’s masters track has worsened!! We had two federations to date, now we have 3! The first (Masters Athletic Federation of India — MAFI — is led by Mr. David Premnath), the second (India Masters Athletics — IMA — is led by Mr. Gerald D’souza and now the new kid on the block, a federation led by Mr. Pandey from Gujarat (whose site I can’t find). Two ‘nationals’ have already taken place at Rohtak (March 2015) and Dharamshala (April 2015) and the third one is 25th April at Goa!” Oh my!
I’ve noted this story before, but it bears repeating. India needs to clean house!
Relay ARs easy pickings at Penn if teams are formed properly
WMA and USATF both list relay records in 5-year increments (with America adding a “Club Relay” wrinkle), but some records are missing from the American record list. Since Penn is this weekend, teams should be aware of the “vacant” records, especially the 4-by-400. For men, no U.S. records are listed in 45-49, 55-59, 65-69 and 85-89. For women, no U.S. records are listed for 45-49, 55-59, 65-69 and everything over 75. Of course, this doesn’t mean such teams have never been fielded. Proof is in the WMA lists, which include Americans holding world records in M45 and M55. So why aren’t they American records as well? Beats me. Also check out these WMA records:
German WR of 2002 replaced American WR of 2008 in 4-by-400. Say what?
SoCal Track Club boasts ‘Rocket’ Easter Grant, 32, from Alabama
Easter Grant wears SoCal colors.
RuggleS’peedSled fun for start practice, but bulky for solo trainers
Joe Ruggles Jr., my Southern California Striders teammate, pronounces his name RUG-less. I pronounce his latest invention pretty neat. I used it for the first time Sunday at Cuyamaca College, where you can park within feet of the track. That’s helpful in the case of Joe’s product — the RuggleS’peedsled. Even if disassembled and packed in a big bag, it’s a load to carry. It’s light but bulky. And throw in blocks, a weight for the sled and your other gear, including spike shoes, and you have a lot to tote. But once set up, it’s a great resistance exercise for block starts. I took about 10 at Cuyamaca. Each time, I’d back into the blocks and feel slack in the straps and harness that attach me to the weighted sled — which travels over standard-issue blocks. Joe is an aerospace engineer who developed products for his own auto racing hobby. His sled retails for $199.95, about the price of a good pair of blocks. Older ones are far cheaper. But if you’re serious about starts, and building those muscles, it’s worth the expense.
Kathy Bergen crushes W75 world record in 100 at Mt. SAC Relays
Kathy clocked 15.31 seconds.
Charrie Dickerson, the 100 winner, congratulates Kathy. Chris Stone photos
Sri Lanka group has some ‘splaining to do as bogus WMA affiliate
Whoops! I just got a whole national governing body in trouble. Remember my post ripping Sri Lanka for mandating a masters national appearance to be eligible for Lyon worlds? Folks at WMA read it, too. And they were pissed! (Not at me, though.) WMA noticed the logo of a rival body, holding its own masters nationals. According to a story published Saturday in the Nation newspaper, “President Stan Perkins and General Secretary Winston Thomas of World Masters Athletics (WMA) [have] clearly stated that Sri Lanka Masters Athletics (SLMA) is not recognized by the WMA and Asian Masters Athletics (AMA) [and] as such they cannot function as a governing body for masters athletes.” Turns out another body is the true WMA affiliate (which produced the video below). The SLMA, we learn, is a rogue operation.
Indian masters nationals under way with 2,000-plus in Himalayas
The lower Himalayan city of Dharamsala is hosting India’s 36th annual masters nationals now through Sunday. Haven’t the faintest idea where results are. More than 2,000 are entered (in a country of 1.25 billion), according to this news report. The national affiliate is called MAFI, and its website is worthless. In any case, we learn the oldest entrant is Ramachandra Reddy, 93, from Telangana. “The winners will participate in the World Masters Athletics Championship to be held in France from August 4 to 16,” the story says, confirming earlier reports that losers can go jump in a nearby mile-high lake if they want to enter Lyon worlds. I’ve written MAFI(A) boss David Premnath. David apparently is pictured at head table during 2013 elections video (8 views on YouTube!) At one point, David (?) says: “You people are not listening.” And he invites them to leave. What’s up with these folks? Here’s another video showing David saluting 2013 world medalists.
Bob Weiner weighs in on Hightower quitting as USATF board chair
Bob Weiner (left) during Masters Executive Committee meeting at Olathe nationals in 2013.
