Family, friends recall Al Sheahen, ‘a man of great social conscience’
Bob Sheahen, 13 years younger than his eldest brother Al, noted the irony of holding his Celebration of Life at a swanky country club. “He would never dream of having an event at a place like this,” Bob told 70 family members and friends a week ago Sunday. “My brother would have been fighting down in the streets below, protesting against the well-to-do.” (This story tells of $11,000 initiation fees and $568 monthly golf dues.) Those and other remarks are captured in this 70-minute video from that memorial to Al, who died Oct. 29 at age 81. (I also spoke, delivering a message from David and Linda Pain.) Photo gallery also is posted.
Nick Newton dances at his 80th birthday party: See video highlights
To me, the highlight of Nick Newton’s 80th birthday party was seeing him stand up, step aside from his electric cart and dance to the music. First he held hands with family members. Then he swayed under his own power. His face became serene, despite his painful hip. “Papa” Nick was loving it. My 16-minute video features that moment and others, especially 8-year-old Amailee, one of his 21 grandchildren and great-grandchildren attending the Nov. 9 event, performing a Karaoke version of Taylor Swift’s “Eyes Open.” Nick’s wife, Sheila, dances with her cousin Greg Bush. I also include an interview with Amailee’s dad, Covelli “Coco” Crisp, the Oakland A’s star who recently completed perhaps the best of his 12 years in Major League Baseball. Coco recalls how Grandpa Nick taught him how to run and still reminds him not to watch the ball while racing to first base. At the end of the clip, Nick waxes nostalgic about his life. “I’m probably one of the luckiest persons in the world,” Nick says. “I’ve got the most beautiful family in the world.”
Let’s honor 50th anniversary of masters track at 2016 indoor worlds!
USATF shared big news today — that the IAAF had chosen Portland, Oregon, to host the World Indoor Track & Field Championships in 2016. Of course, my one-track brain automatically thought “masters exhibitions!” So I mulled what event might be good for WMA and USATF to push. No contest: a masters mile! Turns out that 2016 will be the 50th anniversary of the first Masters Mile exhibition organized by David Pain — the Big Bang of our sport. He persuaded organizers of the San Diego Invitational to include an over-40 mile at Balboa Stadium on June 11, 1966. (Winning time: 4:47 by 44-year-old Jim Gorrell.) David will be 93 when IAAF indoor worlds are held in March 2016 at Portland’s Oregon Convention Center, so why not get him to shoot the gun? WMA could also use the IAAF meet to promote Perth worlds later that year. In any case, this is a perfect opportunity to get folks like Bernard Lagat, who will be 41, and other stars, such as Tony Young, Brad Barton and Nolan Shaheed. I also nominate Dave Clingan to be the miler wrangler. He has contact info for everyone and operates his own Masters Mile at the Portland Track Classic. Any other masters events suitable for 2016?
David Pain, shown at 2011 Sacramento worlds with his wife, Linda, would be 93 at 2016 IAAF indoor worlds in Portland, Oregon.
Major marks missing in list of masters records submitted for OK
Sandy Pashkin, as USATF masters records chair, has submitted a list of 127 American age-group records for approval by the overall Records Committee at the annual meeting next month in Indy. (See list here.) Included were high jump marks from the 2012 Olympic Trials — Amy Acuff’s W35 1.95 (6-4 3/4) and Jamie Nieto’s M35 2.31 (7-7). Better late than never. But Willie Banks, Pat Manson, Kevin Castille and Christian Cushing-Murray may be disappointed to learn that their record efforts aren’t on the list. Perhaps they didn’t submit applications, or did so with gaps. Willie did M55 triple jump, Pat did M45 vault, Kevin did M40 10K and Christian did M45 1500. Of course, Laurie Rugenstein’s W65 mile was ineligible for lack of a rival racer. And the Olathe throws were tossed because of a sloping field. Women beat the men 66-61 in number of indoor, outdoor and relay records submitted. That’s just for track. Road and race walk records are separate. Let me know if any other records were left out.
Orville Rogers set six American indoor records at Landover nationals in March. He had seven overall in 2013, the most by any masters track athlete.
145 friends and family surprise Nick Newton with 80th birthday party
Coco Crisp (right) greeted guests at first full family gathering at his Rancho Mirage estate.
Nick gets hug from one of his 21 grandchildren and great-grandchildren at his party in Rancho Mirage, at a home provided by his ballplayer grandson.
Budapest indoor worlds deadline is Feb. 3, 2014, website reports
Click to see charges for Budapest worlds.
Why M65 star Roger Pierce scratched from worlds 200 semifinal
Roger takes baton from Bruce Covey in 4×4 at worlds. Photo by Doug Shaggy Smith.
Thousands of Porto Alegre photos posted! Not too shabby, Shaggy
Doug Smith aka Shaggy
Ad’s mystery M100 WR holder inspired by marathoner Fauja Singh?
Singh is shown at top and vague runner (centenarian or not?) is in bottom shot used in the Athletic Greens story.
IAAF rejected Daegu indoor track, but it’s fine for 2017 worlds
Indoor track at Daegu ready for 2017 worlds?
Daegu officials posed with WMA inspection team last summer, including VP Stadia Serge Beckers (second from left) and WMA President Stan Perkins (third from right).
