Christel Donley of Colorado turns 80 on Jan. 20, but I can’t wait to share this newspaper story. What can you say about Christel? She’s a world champ, WR-setter and Hall of Famer (from way back in 1997). She also commutes as a meet director to Pasadena every year for the Senior Games there and helps masters track in innumerable ways. Her career began as Christel Miller (married to star decathlete Gary Miller). She still holds seven indoor and outdoor American records in hurdles and multi-events. In his New Year’s Day profile, Paul Klee ended with “In 2015, 80 is the new 20. Grandma wears track cleats.” Maybe not cleats, but yes to 20. “She does what she enjoys,” said her son, Nils Miller. “And she’ll do it as long as she can.” Carry on, Christel! You’re the best!
Christel hurdled opposite fellow legend Jack Greenwood as 1986 AOY.
Last summer, world champ Anselm LeBourne of New Jersey shattered the listed M55 world record in the 800, clocking 2:01.63. The mark was made at an unsanctioned meet, though. So no record. But Sunday at the USATF New Jersey open and masters indoor meet, Anselm ran with some M35s to clock a 1500 in 4:19.80 — demolishing the listed M55 WR of 4:21.94 by Frenchman Pierre Faucheur and the listed AR of 4:24.99 by William Krohn in 2013. One presumes he’ll get this one ratified. On the Age-Graded Tables, his 4:19 is equivalent to an open (20-30) time of 3:38.1. He’s been setting records for decades. Anselm was inducted into the Masters Hall of Fame last month.
Anselm posted these results on Facebook. He’s not really in M35 age group.
His world records have been surpassed (mainly by Guido Müeller) and his name has been absent from world meet results for decades. But be certain of this: Jack Greenwood was the greatest masters hurdler of his or any generation. His death Friday was first reported in a Wikipedia entry and confirmed by his son Riley via email Sunday. “Health complications” were listed as cause. He was 88. Voted into the Masters Hall of Famein 1997 (along with David Pain), Jack was part of the historic 1972 USMITT Tour to Europe, where Pain seeded masters mania for all time. Jack dominated the long and short hurdles from M45 through M70, winning four world titles at the debut 1975 WAVA World Championships in Toronto. (He won at 100 and 200 as well.)
Jack (left) won many races during the 1972 USMITT tour of Europe.
KU’s Ernie Shelby was No. 1 in the world in the late 1950s.
This outta be amazing! Masters sprinter Doug Smith, who starred at Occidental back in the day, has announced plans for a Feb. 7 “reunion” luncheon, inviting athletes, coaches and sportswriters of the “Golden Age of Track.” That includes the likes of UCLA’s Jim Bush and Olympians/elites of the 1950s through 1970s, including Ernie Shelby. (See info sheet and luncheon form.) “We would love to have you attend,” Doug writes, “and you may want to bring your camera. . .. any Olympians, ex-world record holders and world-ranked athletes from the ’40s, ’50s, ’60s, etc., have received these attachments, alerting them to this reunion luncheon.” Doug is being aided by ex-USC track assistant and historian Larry Knuth and retired Trojan track director Ron Allice. Here’s your chance to rub shoulders with your heroes of yore.
W40 runner Latashia Key of Indiana quietly showed up at the USATF Anaheim meeting but went BOOM! with a short but passionate speech on why she should be chosen active-athletes rep on the USATF Masters T&F Executive Committee. Blew us away — us being the couple dozen otherwise unattached delegates eligible to vote. W65 Mary Trotto had been active-athletes rep (having succeeded now-W75 Becky Sisley). But even Mary would concede Latashia had star power. After the convention, I queried LK. She graciously replied. My takeaways: She wants to bring masters into the 21st century via social media. And: “Create a Welcome Package email/blast for First Timers who are planning to compete at a Masters National Championships & WMA championships and those new to International travel.” Please join me in welcoming the lovely and talented Latashia Key — and giving her feedback.
If you click on Status of Entriesfor 2015 indoor masters nationals, you see age groups and events — but not a single name. “No registrations,” says every page. It’s not for lack of interest. It’s for lack of an entry form. With 10 weeks before the first event, Winston-Salem offers no way to register. The “Entry form” link on usatf.org goes to the page shown below. I wrote the outdoor meet director at last year’s nearby nationals, and Monday he replied: “I’m forwarding your question to Bonny Bernat and meet management.” Masters Mole 2344J writes: “Oddly enough, for a meet of this importance there seems no way at this date to become a participant (no method of entering through USATF). The larger question is whether the facility is ready for such a big masters event.” Moreover, the “major meets” sectionof usatfmasters.org, has no link to the meet. What’s the holdup, guys?
Here’s what you get when trying to enter indoor nats (minus my red note).
Less than a week after she set up the Lyon-goers Facebook group, Sue McDonald has close to 60 members. Many are introducing themselves with fascinating career stories. Sue (with a tip from moi) also launched a Twitter hashtag for use in discussing the meet (and finding like-minded tweeters). “So whenever you post something like a picture on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, use the #lyontrack15 hashtag so we can all encourage and cheer people on!” Sue wrote. BTW, you don’t have to enter worlds to talk about it.
Here’s how the hashtag is used. Just insert #lyontrack15 in any reference.
Avery Bryant was a Southern California Striders teammate of mine. I remember him as a stooped but ever-smiling gent who seemed to be friends with everyone. In any race, you could hear cheers for him around the track. His racing days ended years ago, but his memory will live among his buddies. Avery died Dec. 18 at Torrance Memorial Hospital, according to death notices published only this week. He was 90 and a 2006 inductee of the USATF Masters Hall of Fame. A middle-distancer who raced in masters meets as early as 1971, he specialized in the steeple and set several records, including an M75 2K AR of 10:40.02, since surpassed. But the record books still bear his name — as a member of an M70 WR 4×800 relay team. He, Jim Selby and two others ran 11:09.87 at 1998 Orono nationals. He appears many times in mastershistory.org. But his guestbook on Legacy.com shows dozens of former athletes hailing their old coach. Services are Friday, according to friends who have written me.
WMA Prez Stan Perkins has finally broken the ice on how to enter the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing — as a masters exhibition entrant. In a new post, Stan writes: “The events selected are a Womens’ 50 plus 400 metres, to be run at 17.35pm and a Mens’ 50 plus 800 metres to take place at 17.45pm. It has been proposed that each event be a straight final with not less than eight athletes in the Women’s 400 metres and up to ten athletes for the mens’ race. Invitations to participate in the Masters events will be extended to those athletes who during 2014 and 2015 have run the 400 metres (Women) in 1:05 or better and the 800 metres (Men) in 2:06 or better.”
Ken Bernard was a fairly modest athlete. At age 46 in July 1972, he took part in the first national masters pentathlon championships at San Diego’s Balboa Stadium. He took 15th out of 20. But to masters track, he was a giant. He helped Pete Mundle keep the first masters records and was meet director of the fifth USA masters nationals (also in his home of San Diego). He was the first national masters chair, holding that AAU title for four years until replaced by Bob Fine in late 1974. On Tuesday, word was shared of his death at about 88: “Very sad news to report this week,” wrote Paul Greer of the San Diego Track Club. “Longtime USATF San Diego Association President [Ken Bernard] passed away during the holiday season and Ken … was a great ambassador to our sport and served as USATF San Diego Association president for over 40 years.” Ken spoke at length at David Pain’s 90th birthday party in August 2012. Remarks start 2 minutes in:
Ken has followed track as an athlete, writer and web-master since the late 1960s, and saw most sessions of track and field at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He also attended the 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Trials, the last three as a blogger and Patch correspondent. [More...]
