Momentous Meb! Great coverage of 38-year-old runner at Boston
Meb Keflezighi isn’t just a great runner. He’s a great guy. I know him from many San Diego events. But winning the Boston Marathon only weeks shy of turning 39 is beyond amazing. I couldn’t be happier for him. (And maybe now he’ll stop this fling with road running and return to the track!) It also was noted: “The 38-year old Olympic silver medalist is also the oldest man to win the event since 1930, when 40-year old Clarence deMar took first place.” In any case, here’s my roundup of reaction on Times of San Diego. I also did a Storify of the Twitter eruption after he became the first American since 1985 to win Boston.
Eugene Driver’s parachute act a masters tradition at Mt. SAC
Masters hammer at Mt. SAC (from left): Visitor Thor Gustafson and some of the entrants — Mike Venning, Dave Bickel, Larry Hart and John Ryer. Photo by Joy Upshaw
Eugene needs a drag chute to slow him down after sizzling 100 at Mt. SAC.
Willie Gault ‘wipes the dust off’ in winning Mt. SAC 100 in record
Former Super Bowl champ Willie Gault is no hot dog — despite his recent remarks about being faster than all but 8-10 current NFL speedsters. After winning the Mt. SAC masters 100 in an event record 11.28 seconds, he simply walked off to the west stands. I managed to flag him down for a short Q&A, which I posted as a video for Times of San Diego. He says he weighs 173 pounds, and I remarked he looks lighter than a few years back, when he set M50 world records in the 100 and 200. He said it was his first race in two years. If he could go sub-11 this year, that would be incredible.
Willie Gault leads the masters 100 field at Mt SAC Relays, beating former Japanese national champion Hiroaki Akabori. Photo by Chris Stone
Ashton Eaton’s 400-meter hurdles debut and Stone photos/video
Wife and I were thrilled to see masters sprints and 800s at Saturday’s Mt. SAC Relays — although I was late for taking pictures of the women’s 800. Chris and I took 1,500 pictures in all. Many were of Ashton Eaton (who turns M35 in 9 years) in his 400-meter hurdles debut (fourth in 50.01). So I focused on that project first for Times of San Diego, my weekday gig. W50 Joy Upshaw and M50 Willie Gault easily won the 100s — in 12.90 and 11.28, respectively. Willie told me it was his first race in two years. I have video interviews of both to post eventually, along with tons of photos. In the meantime, check out my story/video on Ashton’s virgin 400 hurdles.
Ashton took 10th barrier in his 400H debut at Mt. SAC Relays like a veteran.
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Mark Chapman dies at 71; Texas thrower was published poet
Mark Chapman
Injuries are but speed bumps to Larry LaGesse, Sue McCarthy
Sue 50? Someone check her ID.
Larry is like all masters, right? Training with a pit in the back yard, of course.
W80 Irene Obera says: ‘I’ve always felt young, no matter what’
Irene Obera is looking ahead to outdoor nationals, according to a wonderful profile in Bay Area newspapers published Wednesday. “I’ve never felt old,” she said at 80. “I’ve always felt young, no matter what. How am I supposed to feel? I feel great, that’s all I know.” Alan Kolling, a friend and training partner, said: “It’s a mark of excellence; she knows she has the talent and she never settles. I always set these ridiculously high goals for her and she surprises me by always meeting them, and then I have to come up with new ones.” I also love the closing quote: “I always say, I wasn’t put on this Earth to suffer. So, I’ve been living up to that motto.” Unless it’s suffering the last yards of a deuce or quarter-mile. She’ll put up with that.
Irene was profiled in Bay Area Newspaper Group papers, including The Argus of Fremont, Calif., where she lives (and where I lived in the early 1980s).
Nike buys USATF? At least masters can expect free uniforms
Selling our soles? Will Nike gear be mandatory? Will masters get PR help?
First Mother-In-Law apparently hung up her spikes after all
Marian keeps in shape chasing Malia and Sasha.
Free gym memberships for some under Silver Sneakers deal
Seattle’s Jessica Seyfert contacted me before 2010 Sacramento nationals, and I met her at the meet. Now she’s working for another outfit and wrote me again last week. Happy to oblige her on this promotion. Jessica writes: “As competitive athletes, most of us make our way to the local gym to train and crosstrain for our events. Between gym costs and event-traveling costs — the dollars start to add up fast. A friend of mine, whom I met a few years back, was working with a group, capturing stories of masters athletes. We started talking about SilverSneakers — essentially a free gym membership offered by some health plans to their 65+ population. Apparently 1 in 5 people age 65 and older are eligible to take advantage of this benefit. I admit: I thought this was a program of exercise classes for frail ‘old’ people, not us! However, it actually boils down to a free gym membership. Average monthly gym expenses can be anywhere from $20 -$100. That could equate to $1,200 a year. On the subject of saving money to do the activities we love, for those who are eligible, this should be music to your ears.”
