Who’s Who of masters milers set for Jim Ryun Festival of Miles
Jim in high school.
South African masters nationals had hot marks in April champs
The South African Masters Athletics outdoor championships were April 25-26 at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in in the northeast city of Rustenburg. And thanks to the wonders of age-grading, I can pick out the top marks at glance. (Anything over 90 percent is great.) See results here. Liz Ruickbie, 67, was impressive in the 5K and 10K, clocking 22:43.00 and 44:50.18, respectively. The listed W65 world age-group records are 20:13.23 and 41:40.27, both by Britain’s Angela Copson. And M80 Ron Cross ran the deuce in 32.56, which would make me sweat if in the next lane.
Great looking place for a masters meet. Safrica did the masters justice.
Here are real and age-graded equivalent marks in various events:
100: Ungerer, Toy W68 SWD 15.48 NWI 11.45 91.67%
100: Tlapu, Bobie M57 Athletics Gauten 12.47 NWI 10.77 90.94%
100: Cross, Ron M80 Western Province 15.31 NWI 10.56 92.75%
100: Schoeman, Adri W43 Athletics Gauten 11.94 NWI 11.40 92.04%
200: Schoeman, Adri W43 Athletics Gauten 24.46 NWI 23.08 92.48%
200: Tlapu, Bobie M57 Athletics Gauten 25.40 NWI 21.15 91.38%
200: Cross, Ron M80 Western Province 32.56 NWI 20.70 93.37%
5000: Ruickbie, Liz W67 CGA 22:43.00 15:50.02 91.02%
10,000: Ruickbie, Liz W67 CGA 44:50.18 31:35.24 95.03%
M40 110 Short Hurdles
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Name Age Team Seed Finals Wind Age-Grading
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1 Lombardo, Xavier M40 France 14.41 NWI 13.78 93.68%
2 Bownes, Shaun M43 Athletics Gauten 14.44 NWI 13.81 93.49%300H: Van Rooyen, Madelene W51 Athletics Gauten 50.17 58.06 90.15%
3K Steeple: Schoeman, At M57 Eastern Province 10:01.24 8:02.50 98.16%
High jump: Miekautsch, Hans M76 CGA 1.37m 2.29m 93.84%
M70 Larry Barnum fought through pain, illness to Budapest gold
World champ Larry at Budapest.
Leaning key to speed? Striders meet provides object lessons
Leaning back is apt for vault.
Jim Chinn gets going fast about 20 meters into the 200 at Striders meet.
Jamaica Invitational has masters 100 — into mighty headwind
USA isn’t the only country with masters exhibition events. Saturday in Kingston, the Jamaica International Invitational had a masters men’s 100. Ventseslav “Ventsi” Ivanov writes: “Very strong headwind. Unfortunately, the age of the sprinters is not seen, so it can not be estimated whether the results are good.” Hey, anyone who cracks 12.3 is a superstar in my book! Winner was Michaeal Stewart, whose 12.24 was into a 4 mps wind. That’s about 10 mph. Others were Chester Wiles (12.27) and Samuel Brevett (12.30). Anyone know these gents, or their ages?
Lyon seeks officials for 2015 worlds, will help with expenses
I doubt the IAAF will post a call for volunteers to officiate at the 2016 Rio Olympics. But World Masters Athletics is trolling for officials for 2015 Lyon worlds. According to the WMA website, would-be officials have until July 1, 2014, to apply. “This is only an expressions of interest form,” says the PDF application. “There is no [guarantee] that you will be selected.” But of course, mon ami. You probably have to have experience officiating at home. WMA’s info sheet also says: “Please note you will be required to fund your own travel to/from Lyon.” But the LOC will pay for travel to and from the airport and between venues and hotels. Organizers also pledge to pay for your lodging, meals, “duties” and uniform. Such a deal! Still, this opens up some interesting questions. Did the Lyon LOC not have enough officials lined up? Have earlier WMA meets advertised for officials? At least foreigners have a shot. Maybe some USATF-certified folks will answer the call. Here’s the USATF officials site.
Twilight Throwers rescues USA Masters Throws Championships
What if they had a USA [corrected from USATF] Masters Throws Championships but nobody offered to host it? Such a scenario loomed for 2014, when USATF Masters Throws Coordinator Jerry Bookin-Weiner announced at 2013 Lisle throws nationals that no bids were in hand for the annual meet. But according to Jim Burgoyne, a group stepped up to hold the 2014 edition August 2-3 — at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts. “The first step was to organize the Twilight Throwers as a formal club and organized as a not-for-profit organization,” Jim writes. “Working with Steve Vaitones and Mike Travers from the USATF New England Association, we were able to gain approval to move forward with a bid. … Final approval for our bid was received the week leading up to the 2014 Masters Indoor Nationals (where I helped as throws coordinator) and we have been working very hard to put on the same high-caliber meet that has been the norm for this event in the past.” The meet includes the multis.
No entries yet for masters exhibitions at USATF open nationals
Quarter-miler Robert Thomas reminds me that the deadline for entering the masters invitational events at USATF open nationals is June 15. And no wonder for the heads up. Nobody has entered. “The men’s event is the 400M hurdle with a qualifying time of 1:05.00. and the women’s event is the 100m dash with a qualifying time of 13.50,” Robert graciously writes. “This years championship will be held at Sacramento State University [with the masters exhibitions] Saturday, June 28th. Info can be found [here] on the USATF website under the 2014 USATF Masters Invitational Program.” Speaking of hurdlers, check out the latest masters trackster featured in Faces in the Crowd. Sports Illustrated ain’t what she used to be (as far as track coverage), but we’re still honored to be in the pages. Congrats to M45 star Derek Pye!
Derek joins at least seven other masters in SI’s Faces in the Crowd feature.
5K Jedi Master Pete Magill back with new running/training site
For Pete’s sake, buy his book.
Next great masters beer miler? First sub-5’er has viral video
At age 34, James Nielsen made history Sunday by becoming the first beer miler to go sub-5. So when he turns 35, I’m sure he’ll have the potential to becomes the greatest masters beer miler in history. I wrote about James’ feat on Times of San Diego. Back in 2007, I posted Dave Clingan’s hilarious essay on his M50 beer mile record attempt. (He clocked 7:58 and missed the WR by 12 seconds.) So a beer mile in 4:57 by James at 34 is incredible. Anyone else try this event? (Spoiler alert: World Masters Athletics and USATF have no listed records. The upside is ratification is easier.)
James Nielsen sat for an interview before his historic sub-5 beer mile.
