Super Bowl vet, sprinter Phil McConkey lauds wounded warriors

Phil was pictured in NY Times in 2012.

M55 sprinter Phil McConkey, our own Super Bowl champion, has been scarce on the track of late. But when the big game comes around, he’s a featured figure. Latest gig was taking part in a Wounded Warriors game Wednesday (indoors, thank goodness). ESPN has a great video showing Phil, and the New York Post ran a story quoting Phil. But San Diego-based Phil tells me: “I’ve got a busy travel schedule and probably won’t do any of the big meets, but hopefully be in shape for some late spring/early summer ones.” Great for him — and us. And enjoy Super Sunday, where masters trackos can feel superior about running headlong toward hurdles and pole vault boxes and not each other.

February 2, 2014 No Comments

Stephen Chantry’s winter mystery of 1973: Who saved my life?

M55 miler Stephen Chantry was a freshman tracko at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York some 41 years ago. In a Facebook posting Friday that ran nearly 2,000 words, Stephen tells an amazing story of being rescued by a “guardian angel” — a woman who allowed him, a freezing lost boy, into her home for the night. He never got her name. Stephen, who writes well, tried to retrace his steps later but could never find the warm lighted house that proved a lifesaver in 1973. By sharing this yarn, he’s hoping to find the woman, probably in her 70s or 80s now, and thank her. Any help would be appreciated. Share this story on social media.

Stephen (in Syracuse orange) took silver at Olathe nationals in the 1500. Photo by Dave Albo. See more here.

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February 1, 2014 8 Comments

World seasonal rankings site coming from datamaster John Seto

Placeholder for new world rankings site. Self-serve.

Placeholder for world rankings. Self-serve.

M50 thrower John Seto, the hero who launched and managed mastersrankings.com for Americans, plans to take his show on the global road. Today he announced (via comments here and Facebook postings) that he’s ready to take up the slack for the hobbled mastersathletics.net site by Austrian Martin Gasselsberger. John is getting help from several people. He’s already launched a proto-site, seeking support. Plans are being formulated to create a 2013 world list, since Martin wasn’t able to produce one. Martin is being consulted. Stay tuned!

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January 31, 2014 16 Comments

Olga Kotelko story (and two other Ken Stone samples) need views

Chris Stone photo of Olga at Sacramento worlds.

Sorry for the fire drill. If you have a moment, please check out three stories I wrote for TravelersToday.com. I submitted them Thursday, and they amount to a tryout for this national news site. The more pageviews, the better my chances. Please share these links on Twitter and Facebook, and Pinterest and other social media. Many thanks. The first is about Olga Kotelko, comparing her to Jesse Owens in 1935. The second is a skeptical look at Year of the Horse predictions. The third is about MyRA, called Obamaretire by one blogger. Here’s how I began the Olga story: “If Jesse Owens were alive today, he’d be 100 – and still jazzed over that day in May 1935 when he set three world records and tied a fourth in 45 minutes. He’d also be ogling Olga Kotelko of Canada. In March, Kotelko has a good shot at setting 12 world records in five days.” Thanks for posting, clicking and reading!

January 31, 2014 2 Comments

Christa Bortignon could be next great masters vaulter — at 77

Toronto’s Globe and Mail, the No. 2 paper in Canada, turned its attention this week to that other track star from Vancouver. Not Olga Kotelko but her W75 pal Christa “IAAF World Best” Bortignon, setter of 14 world records and a birthday girl Wednesday. We learn, among other things, that Christa wants to be a vaulter. Good on her! Another W75 vaulter got some attention this week in a major paper. Flo Meiler of Vermont was featured in the National Enquirer. Haven’t seen the story, but it sounds cool. Anyway, Christa is a study in self-motivation, telling writer Margaret Webb: Making it fun is the most important thing. “It really has to be,” Christa says, “or it’s a drag on motivation.” Olga started at 77, so Christa has plenty of meets ahead of her. (And belated happy bday!)

Christa during a training session May 2, 2012, in Surrey, B.C. Photo by Jonathan Hayward /The Canadian Press

January 31, 2014 No Comments

Mike Sullivan makes Massachusetts High School T&F Hall of Fame

Mike at 2011 Sacramento worlds with teen self (inset).

Mike helped set an M50 WR of 3:31.76 in the 4×4 at 2011 worlds. Just like his teen self (inset).

Bob Marchetti graciously shares news about world-class M50 quarter-miler Mike Sullivan. He’s an Arizonan who frequently travels to California for competition. According to a Massachusetts paper, “Five well-decorated track stars from Brockton High School will be inducted today into the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame, including four national record holders. … Dennis Doucette, James MacKinnon, Paul Neves and Michael Sullivan, graduates of the Class of 1979, were the four members of the relay team that set the national high school record for the indoor one-mile relay with a time of 3:17.8. While other relay teams have run faster since the four Brockton men set the mark in 1979, the record remains unbroken and will likely stay that way in the future because most track teams have switched from the mile relay to the metric system’s [4x]400-meter relay.” What a thrill, Mike! Hope you had a chance to reunite with your Brockton buddies. Anyone else set a national HS record?

January 30, 2014 8 Comments

Norwegian indoor nationals expand into Nordic Championships

Site of Nordic Masters Championships.

Here’s a great way to expand your entry list: Rename your meet! The Eurovets website says a Nordic Masters Indoor Championships is set for March 7-9 in Haugesund, Norway. “All five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway) will participate,” the report says. “The Norwegian athletes will have their national championships at the same event. … The entry is now open until 31st of January 2014. We will do our outmost to create a championship of joy and friendship.” Fees are reasonable — 30 Euros ($41) for the first event, and 15 Euros for each additional. Here’s an entry form. The meet homepage is in some strange language. But users of Chrome can see an instant translation. BTW: “All Norwegian participants must register for BOTH championships.” Why not promote USATF masters nationals to all the Americas?

January 29, 2014 3 Comments

Grace Padilla showcased on masters-friendly British track site

Grace hugs Sonja Friend-Uhl as Lisa Ryan looks on after 9:18.33 WR.

W40 distance ace Grace Padilla, a Southern Californian known for her bikini briefs and world-class marks, is the subject of a delightful profile on a track site I never knew about. “In 2010 she became double masters 1,500 and 5000 Champion,” says a 1,400-word report on British-centric trackfield97.com. “The toughest thing about this double was 100 degrees weather they had in Sacramento, California, where the championships were held,” she told the site. “I thought I was going to die during and after the 5,000m. Pulling off the double national title was a great achievement for me. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was in my best shape.” In 2011, she ran a masters exhibition 3K at the Eugene open nationals. “Stepping on the Oregon track for the first time and hearing the crowd cheering gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes. I ran a smart race, fought to the finish line. Although I took second place, by a tenth of a second, I got a PR and felt proud of myself.” We’re proud of you, too, Grace! Don’t be a stranger to the oval.

Grace helped set a W40 world record in the 4×800 at 2013 Olathe nationals.

January 28, 2014 No Comments

Deadline extended for Budapest worlds; entry lists are posted

Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, you can always count on deadlines being pushed back for major international masters meets. The latest is Budapest. Despite a USATF statement that “the entry deadline is February 3, 2014 (no exceptions),” the LOC says: The deadline to enter for the 6th World Masters Athletics Championships indoors, to be held in Budapest between 25-30 March 2014 has now been extended due to the significant interest the event has attracted. The LOC has been receiving entries since the middle of December, yet many affiliates have indicated that more athletes are looking to sign up to the event that offers two 200m tracks under one roof. … The LOC has to receive the entries and the payments by midnight Central European Time on 17 February 2014.” Interest may be significant, but methinks money is the crucial issue. They need more entries to make it. A couple days ago, entry lists were posted. So far, no Olga Kotelko, the WR machine who turns 95 in March. She might be the oldest entrant.

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January 27, 2014 9 Comments

Mastersathletics.net dead? Huge loss to sport if reports are true

The most serious and comprehensive masters track statistical site in history has closed. Shut after seven years. That’s the word from an Eastern European friend, with access to other sources. Masters Mole 377(c)2 wrote me in late October 2013: “All masters athletes are probably extremely disappointed to learn that Martin [Gasselsberger] has given up maintaining his wonderful website: mastersathletics.net. As we all know, this site is the best (most accurate and comprehensive) online source about masters athletics statistics, with all-time and annual ranking lists. It is understandable that he probably got tired of (and fed up with) moving ‘mountains’ for nothing, doing HUGE free-of-charge work every year for preparing these detailed endless statistics. What for? Several ‘Thank you very much, Martin! You are doing a great job!’ per year.” In fact, visitors from 197 countries have viewed Martin’s site, whose map of pages inspires awe.