Christa Bortignon crashes 6,000-point barrier in W75 heptathlon
Christel, Christa and Phil Raschker (right) at recent meet.
Christa is celebrated after smashing W75 heptathlon record in Germany.
Peter Hlavin ties Willie Banks’ USA record in M55 high jump
A 7-foot jumper at the University of Iowa, Peter Hlavin has made history at 6 feet — joining Willie Banks as the M55 American age-group record holder. He cleared 1.83 meters Saturday at the Pasadena Senior Games at Caltech. Even more amazing — it was his first 6-foot jump since 2008! But Willie remains the oldest American 6-footer, since Peter turned 55 on January 7 and Willie was 56 when he went 6. Peter was a walk-on at Iowa, but earned a scholarship his sophomore year. He competed against Noel Rubel, now a masters multi-eventer. Peter entered masters in 2007 at age 49 and says: “During my first week of coaching high jump at a local high school, I saw these kids jumping and said to myself ‘If they can do it, then so can I.’ I ordered high jump shoes that evening (Tuesday), the shoes arrived on Thursday, and I competed in my first meet that weekend. I made 5-4 (1.62m) and strained my hamstring too!” When I informed Willie of the new mark, he replied: “Fantastic! I know Pete, he is much deserving!” Fellow jumper Annelies Steekelenburg shot this delightful video:
Charlie Ross gets big M90 PR — another world steeple record
Not content to be the oldest human steeplechaser, Charlie Ross broke his own 2,000-meter record over the weekend, clocking 18:27.44 at the USATF Georgia Association Open and Masters Meet. (See results here.) He lowered his previous age-group WR in the 2K steeple of 18:54.10. And here’s a great series of photos from the May 18 debut record. Thanks to Don Burkett for sharing the news!
Charles Ross, 90, competes in the 2000 meter steeplechase at a Southeastern Masters track meet Saturday May 18, 2013, in Raleigh. Ross set a new world record for his age group for finishing the race. (Liz Condo photo)
American Record falls twice in the M50-59 shuttle hurdle relays
A friend graciously filed a report on a masters shuttle-hurdle relay record broken outside USATF masters nationals. He writes: “The M50-59 American Record was broken (twice) in the Shuttle Hurdle Relay on May 19 at the 7th Annual Gateway Games. (See results here.) There were two shuttle hurdle relay races—each race with two teams. The winning M50-59 mark was set in the first heat in a time of 1:03.15. The relay team consisted of Robert Stanley, Mark Williamson, Eugene Anton and Darnell Gatling setting the new record. The second heat consisting of Robert Stanley, Mark Williamson, Keith McQuitter and Darnell Gatling had a time of 1.03.25 which also broke the prior American Record of 1:04.29. Hurdlers journeyed from Massachusetts, California, Illinois, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Oklahoma to participate in the event.”
Hurdlers and organizer Jeff Davison (center top) involved in records.
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Porto Alegre worlds portal registration working now, WMA says
Online registration for worlds messed up? News to me. But I’m not going to Brazil, so no wonder. In any case, WMA reports a fix: “Thanks to the dedication of [former USATF webmaster] Keith Lively, the WMA Stadia Championships Online Entry Form has been fully adjusted and is now ONLINE again. It is displayed on the WMA2013 website for the Porto Alegre Championships. WMA thanks all athletes, officials and others for their patience and WMA sincerely trusts that no one has been unduly inconvenienced whilst the problems have been fixed. Entries will now be processed in Brazilian REAL (currency) as US Dollars are not acceptable within the Brazilian banking system.”
WMA worlds website shows bells and whistles. Aug. 10 appears to be deadline.
Taking a break to mourn Al Stone, my brother and webmaster
Friday morning, my brother Al rang the bell near his bed in his Santa Monica apartment — a signal for me, sleeping on an air mattress in the adjoining living room, to come relieve his pain and anxiety. He was hours away from starting hospice care for the ocular cancer that spread to his liver. The previous night, when the bell rang in the middle of the night, I massaged and scratched his feet (which he loved) and helped him with sips of water and other comfort. Then I returned to bed. But Friday was different. All I could do was give him some painkillers, help him sit up and hug him for perhaps 20 minutes as he went into agonal breathing, wrote me some notes and whispered to me. He died in my arms around 4:50 a.m. So forgive my absence from blogging. Al Stone was a huge part of this site. He designed it and did background maintenance. I have to learn how to do this myself now. Masters track has seen some amazing records (see below), but I don’t have time to do them justice. Thanks for understanding.
Al attended his last Venice Beach drum circle on April 13, 2013. He took part every Sunday and called it his church. He died of liver cancer May 24, 2013.
Reward for being oldest human steepler: M90 WR for Charlie Ross
Charlie Ross has been on our radar before, but he really lit the place up Saturday when he became the first M90 runner to complete the 2K steeplechase — or at least any we know of. The local paper reported: “Ross jogged the first 50 meters or so before settling into a fast walk. He’d accelerate as he approached the hurdles, then clamber over, left hand on top, left leg over, then right leg over. On the water jump, he’d plop into the thigh-deep water and stagger out. Five times he did that. The leader lapped him twice. Woods left him far behind. … Ross clambered over the final barrier, only a few dozen meters from the finish line. The crowd, well aware of the circumstances, cheered him on. He started pumping his arms and ran the rest of the way to the finish. His time of 18:54 was the new world record. He hoped to get close to the 19-minute mark. He never figured he’d beat it.” Story says other records were set, but I haven’t seen results. Anyone have a link? In any case, congrats to Charlie!
Charlie is congratulated by Sam Benedict (left) and Bob Weiner after finishing the 2000-meter steeplechase at the USATF Southeastern Regional Masters meet in Raleigh. Photo by Liz Condo — newsobserver.com
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Hal Higdon on losing a record: Don’t also lose memory of setting it
I’m lucky that nobody at Valencia High School in Southern California will ever again run the 120-yard low hurdles. That’s because my 1970 sophomore time of 13.7 seconds for a “C” school record will never be beat. Hal Higdon can’t say that about his steeplechase records. In a wonderful essay called “Losing a record,” this contributing writer for RunnerÂ’s World magazine tells of the world masters meet where he set the just-beaten American record in the 3K steeplechase. “I recall little of what should have been a memorable victory,” Hal says. “[But] my memory from 1977 is not totally a wash. I have near instant replay for what happened on the backstretch of the final lap.” Truth is, we have many record-holders in masters track, but few as eloquent and with such great institutional memory as Hal. My eternal thanks for his gracious submission. Here’s Hal recalling his 1952 Olympic Trials 10K and 1960 Trials steeple:
Brad Barton takes down Hal Higdon’s legendary M45 steeple record
Hal Higdon
Brad says he felt rusty over hurdles, but this shot by Scott Bassett indicates he was pretty nifty.
Wolfgang Ritte begins potential record rampage with WR vault
So it begins. Germany’s Wolfgang “Wolfie” Ritte has been a world champ and world record holder in the vault for years. Now he’s added to his legend with an M60 WR in the vault of 4.11 meters (13-5 3/4) in his first outdoor meet of the year, according to World Masters Athletics. He turned 60 in January. WMA says: “During the indoor-season Ritte … failed to better the indoor record of John Altendorf (Kamloops, 2010). However at the first outdoor competition (1 May) the German pole vaulter … improved the old record of Altendorf (USA) by seven centimeters.” It was a family affair at Wipperfürth: Ritte’s W60 wife, Ute, jumped 2.61 (8-6 3/4) and his M30 son Thomas cleared 4.81 (15-9 1/4). Here’s the video, posted on Eurovets site. On the Age-Graded Tables, Wolfie’s 4.11 is worth a 6.07 as an open mark — 19-11. And the season is young.
Wolfie clears M60 WR 4.11 in May 1 meet where homes overlook vault.
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