Curt Morgan on Eric Negley: ‘Vaulters have it so much easier’
Curt Morgan writes: “Pole vaulting, frankly, scares the hell out of me. I don’t want to be making my beginner mistakes eight or 10 feet off the ground. But M50 Eric Negley of Atlanta has an altogether different take on this event. ‘For most events, you run yourself silly, and your coach can tell you “Go back and run some more.” Vaulters have it so much easier, according to Eric. “You run 100 meters and then you get to lie down” (on the soft landing pit cushions). The wear and tear did get to Eric recently: He had had three vertebrae fused using six screws and a piece of his hip bone. “It took me eight weeks to recover, using a hard collar that I could remove only for showers and eating,” Eric said. “Lost most of my pectoral muscle mass as I was prohibited from lifting more than 20 pounds above my shoulders during the eight-week healing period. As soon as I took the hard collar off it was off to the gym to continue with the next phase of the recovery process.”
Eric Negley gives a vaulting tip to granddaughters Braelynn and Kinslee.
Curtis Morgan to debut as storyteller of N.C. masters nationals
Curt rocks a unicycle at home.
Strong reception for Toland M45 record in ultraweight pentathlon
“I thought I felt earthquakes this weekend.” That was one of dozens of reactions Sunday on Facebook to Patrick Toland’s report that he’d set an American record in the ultraweight pentathlon at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Results weren’t immediately posted, but an image of scores shows M45 Patrick with a total of 4441 points, a massive improvement over the listed AR (there is no WR) of 3980 by David Bickel in 2012. It was Day 2 of the USA Masters Throws Championships. Not sure if other records were set. And Patrick’s luck held out when he won at poker at Foxwoods Resort later in the day. Patrick’s throws included implements up to 300 pounds, I gather from this outline of the event. See Pat and others throwing last year:
3 American records set at USA masters throws pentathlon
Who’s the best all-round U.S. masters thrower? That’s not a question for the Hot Stove League. The title is decided this weekend in Worcester, Massachusetts, at the USA Masters Throws Championships. Saturday was the throws pentathlon at College of the Holy Cross, and Sunday is the ultraweight pentathlon. They’re also contesting a superweight championships for grunts and giggles. So who’s the Top Dog? For men, the highest score went to M60 John Goldhammer, whose 4836 points dislodged the listed American record of 4727 by Tom Gage in 2003. (The WR is 4955.) For women, the top-scorer was Oneithea “Neni” Lewis, with 4256 points in W50. But American records were claimed by W65 Mary Hartzler, whose 4218 beat the listed record of 3970 by Erika Messner, and W70 Cindy Wyatt, whose 4028 crushed the 3892 by Carol Young. The oldest entrants were 83-year-olds Apostolos Xanthopoulos and Gloria Krug. Women’s results are here, and men’s results are here. Congrats to all.
On Facebook, Gary Dixon posted this shot of the M55 field at throws pentathlon. Hope they kept the rings dry on a rainy day.
M65 vaulter Steve Morris (Olympian’s bro) recalls Muscle Beach
Delightful yarn by track fan John Zant in the Santa Barbara paper. It shares story of world champion (2011 Sacramento) Steve Morris and his efforts to cheer his brother Larry by quizzing him about the famous Santa Monica Muscle Beach of the 1940s and ’50s. We learn, BTW: “Steve followed in the path of his second-oldest brother, Ron Morris, and took up pole vaulting. Ron won the state high school championship at Burroughs and was the silver medalist in the pole vault at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. Steve never quite achieved those heights in his youth, but he has never retired from the sport. Santa Barbara, where he started Steve Morris Defensive Driving School almost 40 years ago, is an ideal place to practice. Morris won the ages 60-64 pole vault at the 2011 World Masters Athletics Championships in Sacramento. Early this year, about to turn 65, he cleared 11 feet at a meet in Las Vegas.”
Steve (left) and Larry Morris have strong affection for defunct Muscle Beach.
Hall of Famer Tom Patsalis dies at 92; jumper set 26 world records
Tom danced with W65 walker Jolene Steigerwalt at 2009 Lahti worlds.
M90s stole thunder of Southwest Sprinters TC 4×4 world record
Antwon Dussett won the M35 deuce before helping set 4×400 world record.
Ed Winslow shared this shot of himself and teammates in the M35 WR. Not sure who is who, except for Antwon (at far right). Post IDs in the comments, please.
Call for sites: Who might host 2015 decathlon/heptathlon nats?
Jeff Watry and Bill Murray — decathletes and meet organizers — are taking over for the ill Rex Harvey in handling USATF combined-event meets (aka decathlon, heptathlon, indoor multis, etc.) Bill will handle the decathlon and Jeff will continue running the indoor heptathlon. Now they need your help: “We are looking for a site willing to host the decathlon/heptathlon near the end of June or the first weekend in July [2015],” Bill writes. “We could use other weekends, but we are trying not to conflict with NCAAs, USATF [masters nationals] in Jacksonville, Senior Olympics and WMAs in Lyon. This leaves us a very small window.” Would anyone in Masters Land be interested in hosting the dec/hep nationals? Write Bill at wkmrealest@aol.com or Jeff at jpwatry@hotmail.com if you can help identify interested venues.
Bill Murray checked and rechecked shuttle hurdle relay placements and heights at nationals. He filled in for Rex Harvey on the Games Committee.
Pete Magill’s magnum opus: ‘Build Your (Masters) Running Body’
Padilla graces cover — one of Pete’s pals.
6-foot jumpers after 50 are rare; how about 2 in a few minutes?
I remember looking up to 6-foot high jumpers when I was high school freshman. Soon I lost the awe and cleared 6-1 eventually (in hurdler spikes). But the amazement returns in masters track, especially for guys over 50. Matt McCubbins shares my appreciation for the species. He’s shared a link to a YouTube video he shot at North Carolina nationals of 53-year-old Greg Vidos and 56-year-old Bruce McBarnette clearing 1.84 meters, or 6-0 1/4. (with Bruce claiming an M55 American record). And great slo-mo, Matt!
