Peter Taylor announces own grade at North Carolina nationals

Peter Taylor shares his masters nationals experience in his latest diary (see an earlier one) of a meet announcer. He writes: “I took almost no notes, but I do remember some things about the nationals in Winston-Salem, North Carolina’s fourth-largest city. I didn’t compete in any events, however, and thus I’m hoping that some athletes will supply their own recollections.” Near the end, Peter the Perfectionist says: “Overall I had a very poor meet, partly my fault. I was so bothered by the inadequate sound that I changed my announcing style, uncertain whether people could hear me adequately.” Yes, his voice didn’t carry as far as it should have. But those on the track and in the stands beneath him got full Taylor effect. And we are always grateful for introductions that go far beyond name and lane.

Peter Taylor an I pose for National Masters News publisher Amanda Scotti after I presented him Al Sheahen's monogrammed USA Masters windbreaker.

Peter Taylor and I pose for National Masters News publisher Amanda Scotti after I presented him Al Sheahen’s monogrammed USA Masters windbreaker.

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July 27, 2014 13 Comments

N.C. nationals meet director invites critiques — pro and con

Noel Ruebel, an experienced masters multi-eventer, learned at North Carolina nationals that being a meet director requires similar skills. Gotta be a multi-tasker. When he spoke at the Athletes Banquet last Saturday night (see video) at the site of 2015 indoor nationals, he told of how he leaned against doing the onerous job again. But by the end of the meet, he said he’d “absolutely” give it another go. In an open note to entrants, he shows his courage by inviting input. “Your comments, both negative and positive, will be included in [a meet management] notebook to make for better and better meets in the coming years,” he writes. Further proof of his courage? Watch him sing “Chantilly Lace” to open the karaoke portion of the banquet, which ran until about 10 p.m. (Actually, Noel is pretty dang good!)

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July 26, 2014 15 Comments

An M55 800 WR for Anselm LeBourne? What about earlier one?

Anselm signals No. 1 in photo posted to Facebook on Wednesday.

Now I’m really confused. In mid-June Anselm LeBourne posted to Facebook that he had run 2:01.63 for 800 at a New York Road Runners Speed Series meet. This week, he posted that he’d set a “new official world record in the men’s 800 meters for 55-59 years old at long island USATF track meet. Ran a time of 2:03.42, breaking old world record of 2:03.70,” Stan Immelman’s mark from 2001. The NYRR series is not USATF-sanctioned, according to the USATF calendar. But in a posted comment, Rob Lemke said: “Last night Anselm ran 2:03.42 at a USATF-LI Summer Series meet in Hauppauge, NY. He notified us beforehand of his attempt to better the listed world record and our meet director helped him obtain all the necessary paperwork. Congratulations, Anselm!” Too bad the 2:01 won’t fly.

July 25, 2014 7 Comments

Meiler by a mile: Flo is USATF Athlete of the Week for nationals

Flo the triple jumper.

It’s always hard to pick out the star of a meet as high-powered as nationals, but USATF on Wednesday made a solid selection in W80 Flo Meiler. Following tradition, the standout American at outdoor nats is Athlete of the Week. How did Flo-Go rate the honor? How’s this for starters: 8 gold medals, 6 silver medals, 1 world record (pentathlon), 4 American records (hammer throw, weight throw, discus, high jump). She’s now in the running for IAAF Best Masters honors at the end of the year. Here’s how USATF intern Tyler Stevenson began his report: “Eighty-year-old Masters athlete Florence Meiler has been named USATF’s Athlete of the Week after her impressive 14-event weekend as she had broke several records at USATF Masters Outdoor Championships at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.”

Flo the high jumper. (All photos here are by Rob Jerome.)

Flo the high jumper. (All photos here graciously provided by Rob Jerome.)

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July 24, 2014 9 Comments

M90 relay WRs were years in the making, changed members

Champion Goldy Sr. reaches for Orville Rogers in first handoff of historic first M90 4×100.

By now, the world knows about B-Day at North Carolina nationals, when five members of the Greatest Generation united to handle batons in the first-ever world records in the M90 outdoor relays — 4×100, 4×400 and 4×800. ESPN’s SportsCenter featured Sunday’s events (and video). (Look for me in white backward ballcap taking pictures at finish line of 4×100.) But there’s way more to know. Lydia Woods, retired professor at Morehouse College and a prolific competitor at nationals, shares … the rest of the story. In an essay called “History in the Making: 4×90,” she tells how the WR bids were years in the making. Original members had to be replaced. Gotta love the mission and its execution. Something like D-Day. I covered it like Ed Murrow, and posted dozens of photos.

Men completing the 4×100 at nationals totaled 376 in age. Average leg: 35.6 seconds and 94 years old. Mission accomplished, gentlemen!

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July 23, 2014 4 Comments

WMA’s Rex Harvey details his ‘bump in the road’ — colon cancer

Rex (shown far left in 2008) is a stalwart of Games Committee, overseeing nationals.

Hall of Famer Rex Harvey was missing from North Carolina nationals, where he would have been a member of the green-shirted Games Committee. I knew why. Rex, our decathlon great and USATF/WMA go-to official, had been diagnosed with colon cancer. The good news is that he’s leveraging his incredible sense of humor. On Tuesday, he sent me email with “Bump in the road” in the subject line. He wrote: “So far, I have had no mental problems facing this. It is what it is and instead of wasting energy worrying about it, I would rather use that energy to deal with it. Possibly I am too dumb to worry.” He gave me permission to share a chronology that he prepared for a friend in Arizona.

Rex refills water jump at 2008 Spokane nationals. As a top official, he does what needs to be done, and will do the same with cancer.

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July 22, 2014 35 Comments

IAAF Council OKs masters exhibition events at 2015 Beijing worlds

Masters in the Bird’s Nest! How cool is that? Here’s how the IAAF reported a return of masters to outdoor worlds: “World Championships – Beijing, China – 22-30 August 2015. A recommendation by the Technical Delegates’ to organise Masters category exhibition events as part of IAAF World Championships was approved. Masters events (categories 50 years of age and over) will be held on one day – Saturday 29 August during the time frame of 17:00 – 18:00. Two events (one male and one female) during this time period – World Masters Athletics (WMA) to select events but not longer than 1500m and not more than 8 athletes per event.” The action came at a meeting of the IAAF Council on Sunday and Monday in Eugene, Oregon — site of the upcoming IAAF World Junior Championships. I hope to learn more details soon on the events and selection process. IAAF worlds take place a week after WMA worlds in Lyon. Unless travel expenses are covered, some athletes may have to choose one or the other.

Seven years after the Beijing Olympics, masters get to compete here.

July 21, 2014 4 Comments

Legendary masters 100 record falls (at last) to Kim Collins (9.96)

Ratification is another matter, but there’s little doubt that 38-year-old Kim Collins ran 100 meters in 9.96 seconds Sunday in London. That breaks the listed M35 world record of 9.97 by British Olympic champ Linford Christie in 1995. By contrast, Chris Ricketts won the M35 century at North Carolina nationals in 11.84 (into a 1 mps wind). Kim’s 9.96 is an all-time PR for him, BTW. So that will raise doping suspicions. But wow. Anyone running sub-10 at masters age deserves some credit.

July 21, 2014 One Comment

‘Treasure of masters track’ Carroll DeWeese shares gems in talk

Carroll at Lahti.

Some 300 people attended Saturday’s Athletes Banquet at North Carolina nationals, where 2013 awards were handed out. One went to longtime USATF and WMA official Carroll DeWeese, described as “the treasure of masters track and field” by Awards Committee chair Mary Trotto. Of course, Carroll is just happy to be anywhere, not just the recipient of the David Pain Distinguished Service Award. He’s in remission from cancer. But in 2013, he saved thousands of athletes from unneeded suffering when, as a safety officer at Porto Alegre worlds, he halted the meet amid a terrible storm. He also serves as treasurer of the USATF Masters Track & Field Committee and helps with record submissions. He applies his sharp mind to more than budgets and rules, however. Check out this video for his eloquent understanding of the value of our niche sport.

July 21, 2014 6 Comments

Party time follows record-setting day at North Carolina nationals

W60 shuttle hurdle relay AR team (from left) Brenda Matthews, Rita Hanscom, Linda Cohn and Linda Lowery.

The shuttle hurdle relay came of age Saturday. Three age-group records were set at North Carolina nationals on a day when the weather was near perfect for all events. Rain early in the day and later in the afternoon kept things cool mostly. World records were set in several events, aptly detailed by USATF intern Tyler Stevenson (giving me a chance to focus on my 200. I broke 30 at 60, so I’m delighted.) I also had the privilege of meeting the next generation of masters star, including the M35 Ricketts twins, Brian and Chris, who ran the shuttle hurdle relay. I attended the Athletes Banquet at the site of the 2015 indoor nationals in Winston-Salem. About 300 had a great time, entertained at one point by meet director Noel Ruebel, who did a karaoke version of “Chantilly Lace.” I have video. Stay tuned. And David Pain Distinguished Service Award winner Carroll DeWeese made gave a wonderful acceptance speech noting how masters track is a social movement as well as a sport. I will post that video soon as well.