Bruce Rash, Bill McNelis claim Philly track, throws pentathlons
Chuck Shields of the Greater Philadelphia Track Club graciously writes: “Attached are the results of our event held on August 7 at Larry Wilson Stadium. Gwynedd Mercy Academy, Lower Gwynedd, PA. We lucked out with the weather as predawn storms subsided by meet time but it remained overcast and muggy. Winners were determined by applying the age graded tables to each person’s result. Cash awards for the top four in each competition. We also tweaked the event order this year for the Track Pentathlon per the suggestions of many sprinter participants from the 2010 event. Last year the order was 3000,800, 200, 1500 and 400. This year we added the 100 and made the last event a choice between the 400 or the 800. That made the 2011 order 3000, 200, 1500, 100, 400/800. Bill McNelis (M59) of Altoona, PA successfully defended his 2010 crown in the Throws Triathlon. Sprinter Bruce Rash (M49) of Cherry Hill, NJ came from behind to beat distance runners Lorraine Jasper and defending Pentathlon champ Kevin Forde. Running event results are here. Throwing events results are here. Kevin detailed his day at the races on his entertaining blog.
European Masters Games (open worldwide) nearly as big as Sacto
So we’ve had the National Senior Games, Sacramento and Berea. But coming Sep. 10-20 is one of the 2011’s biggest meets yet — and possibly bigger than worlds. It’s the European Masters Games in Lignano, Italy. And it’s open to Americans (and other non-Eurovets). They also face a Facebook page and a Twitter feed (in English). How modern. How many entered in the meet? I don’t know. But the overall event may hit 4,000. Says an EMG newsletter: “The participants in the European Masters Games 2011 are about to reach 4,000. If, at first, people expected to equal the record of the EMG of Malmoe in 2008 (2950 entries), at the end of July the competitors in Lignano’s event were already over 3,300 and the many requests have led the Organizing Committee to postpone the deadline from 31st July to a date to be arranged.”
English version of European Masters Games homepage. (Also in Italian).)
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Masters relay exchange of 1943 posted on Dutch Wikipedia entry
Weia Reinboud, masters high jump superstar, writes that she’s added a photo of a masters relay exchange from 1943. She says: “On the Dutch wiki I added a short note about this. Interesting is that also a picture of a relay during the war has been found. I added that too.” She was reminded by a Tom Phillips note from 2010: “I’m no historian of the sport, but my Club (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC) published a centenary history in 1969, when known simply as Blackheath Harriers. In this, in the section covering the 1890s, there is a pen and ink drawing of the “Veterans 100yds Handicap” race, and the athletes are clearly over 40.” English notation under this photo is: “Kick Sierhuis and Michel Oostermeijer. Special masters relay on the track at Olympiaple in Amsterdam. Likely Swedish relay, but 4×100 has been done also that day.”
Masters relay exchange of 1943 is posted on a Dutch masters track entry.
New explanation for medal shortage: ‘No team medals’ at Sacto
Lesley Richardson, shooter and sprinter at Sacramento.
USATF winnows out results for all Americans at Sacto worlds
Andy Martin of USATF Mother Ship in Indy writes: “Just wanted to let you all know we have posted all of the USA (only) results from Sacramento at this page. … There are 3 sets of results: 1) alpha, 2) by place, 3) by Association. We are sending an email out to all Associations to encourage them to use the “By Association” results to promote the athletes within their Associations via newsletters and website postings.” Good work, Andy. Alert the media! (But how much do you want to remove my NH in high jump?)
Joy Upshaw downs a Phil Raschker USA record: W50 300 hurdles
It might not count for record consideration, but let the world know that a long hurdle mark by Joy Upshaw is among the best in history. At the Pride Meet in San Francisco on Aug. 13, Joy ran the 300 hurdles in 46.38 seconds, demolishing the listed U.S. W50 record of 49.20 set at 1997 Durban (South Africa) worlds. (See results here.) Owner of that 14-year-old record was Phil Raschker, who would go on to set a W55 record of 49.14! (The W50 WR is 45.05 by Christine MĂĽller.) Sadly, the Pride meet isn’t listed on the USATF events calendar, hence it’s probably not sanctioned. In any case, Joy had a great weekend, running the 100 in 13.05 into a wind and a 26.51 deuce. She also long-jumped 4.90 meters (16-1). Nice work, Joy!
Joy had such a great time at Sacto worlds, she's keeping the season going.
For SoCal masters, season-ending meets include cool Point Loma
That's the Pacific Ocean out yonder in the blue distance.
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Throwing greats honored as future ones set records in New London
Records fell like rain over the weekend in Connecticut as throwers had their hour in the spotlight. Masters nationwide gathered for the Ultra Weight Pentathlon Championship, Throws Pentathlon Championship and Super Weight Throw Championship. See results here. Gloria Krug led the assault with six W80 records, according to Jerry Bookin-Weiner. Jerry also notes special honors bestowed on throwing legends Jim Chamberas, Len Olson and Ruth Welding.
From left are Jim, Len and Ruth. (Jerry Bookin-Weiner photo)
Jerry shares this information from throws nationals at Silfen Family Track Complex at Connecticut College:
Here are the records set in New London — all by women:
· Jennifer Stephens W35 20# Weight Throw – 11.21m (old record by Jennifer Stephens was 10.60m in 2009)
· Jennifer Stephens W35 Ultra Weight Pentathlon – 2769 (old record by Jennifer Stephens was 2703 in 2010)· Carol Young W70 Ultra Weight Pentathlon – 3489 (old record by Carol Young was 3212 in 2010)
· Gloria Krug W80 2kg HT– 20.95m (old record with 3kg hammer by Mary Norckauer was 15.66m in 2006)
· Gloria Krug W80 2kg SP – 7.36m (old record with 3kg shot by Mary Bowermaster was 6.86 in 1998)
· Gloria Krug W80 4kg Weight Throw – 8.15m (old record with 12# weight by Lillian Snaden was 6.93m in 2009)
· Gloria Krug W80 Throws Pentathlon – 3911 (old record was 3033 by Betty Jarvis in 1996)
· Gloria Krug W80 16# Super Weight – 5.69m (old record with 25# weight by Lillian Snaden was 4.87m in 2009)
· Gloria Krug W80 Ultra Weight Pentathlon – 3260 (no old record; first 80 year old woman to contest the event since records began to be kept in 2009)Saturday was a gorgeous day with lots of sun and temperatures in the low 80s. Sunday morning we awoke to a deluge that continued for most of the day, making conditions for the Ultra Weight Pentathlon and Super Weight Championships trying for athletes and officials alike. Fortunately there was no lightning and the meet came off without a hitch, though performances were undoubtedly held down by the weather.
At the Athletes Dinner on Saturday night the following awards were presented by the Masters Throwing Events Committee:
Lad Pataki Award, recognizing an individual for outstanding achievement in a lifetime of masters throwing — Len Olson, from State College, PA, who was competing in his first meet in M80 in New London. Len is one of the pioneers in masters track and field and has won numerous US and world championships and medals in his career, which is as long as masters track and field itself. Previous winners of this award have been Carol Finsrud (2007), Oneithea Lewis (2008), Betty Jarvis (2009), and Tom Gage (2010).
Ken Weinbel Award, recognizing outstanding service to the masters throwing community — Jim Chamberas, from Chelmsford, MA, who is the founder and guiding light behind the Twilight Throwers that started in 1998 as a vehicle for masters throwers to have regular competitions and has grown into a major throwing club in the New England area, competing for East Region team championships and paving the way for other similar clubs and regular meet structures throughout the country. Previous winners of this award have been Tim Edwards (2009) and Ray Feick (2010).
Tom Gage Award, recognizing the masters thrower of the year — Ruth Welding, from Elk Grove, IL, who this year “won out” at all the major competitions she entered as a W55 thrower, winning three golds at the indoor nationals in Albuquerque (shot, weight and super weight), two golds at the WMA Championships in Sacramento (hammer and weight throws), four golds at the outdoor nationals (shot, discus, hammer and weight), and three golds at the throws championships (throws pentathlon, super weight, and ultra weight pentathlon). This is the first time this award has been given.
Sacramento shoe drops: Two drug cases at masters worlds pending
Stan Perkins
Waiting for Sacramento medals—and M35 4×1 world record listing
The natives are getting restless. It’s been almost a month since the end of Sacramento worlds, and some folks have yet to get their promised medals. (The meet ran out of hardware in the last couple days.) I made inquiries and was told that folks missing medals should write to info@wma2011.com. Kylee Blatz of the Local Organizing Committee writes: “I will be answering their questions and taking down information if they did not fill out the forms at the competition. The medals are currently being shipping and we should be seeing them within the next week or two. Once we get the medals, we will be sending them out immediately so they should be receiving their medals within the next month or so.” More disturbing is how the M35 American 4×1 team is being treated. The American M35 team of Demitrius Snaer (36), Thachvu Ho (35), Lyndell Pittman (39) and Antwon Dussett (35) combined for an incredible 41.89 — under the listed WR of 42.51 by a British team in 2008. But the WMA list of records set at Sacto leaves them out.
M35 sprint relay team (from left) Demetrius, Antwon, Thachvu and Lyndell.
