Bill Fitzgerald dies at 86; masters pioneer had Hall of Fame career
Bill Fitzgerald, a World War II veteran who survived D-Day and competed in the first USA masters nationals in 1968, died Monday of a massive stroke in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, says his longtime friend and neighbor Avery Bryant. Bill was 86. A former systems analyst, Bill won the 440 (54.4) and 880 (2:04.3) at age 43 in the inaugural San Diego nationals, and went on to set world records in the middle distances — even running a 2:01.1 half-mile at age 50. In 1969, he was named the national meet’s outstanding athlete, reported Sports Illustrated. In 2000, he was inducted into the USATF Masters Track Hall of Fame.
Bill (far left) competed in early world masters meets and won many titles.
Floodgates open on fotos from Sacramento worlds by top shooters
Masters sprinter Tom Phillips of the UK writes: “Good news! All of my Sacramento photos are now on my website.” (See them here.) But you should see Tom’s homepage for essential info. “This has been rather an epic,” he writes. “As you will see, there are thousands of photos.” Also exhausted from uploading photos is our Canadian amigo Doug Smith, whose shots are posted here. And David Albo’s Flickr gallery.
Thad Wilson in full flight caught by Tom Phillips; Thad later set an M60 WR.
Gerry Davidson dies at 90; Hall of Famer was a distance marvel
Gerry and Bob at Hawaii nationals.
Gerry ran for several clubs, including the San Diego Track Club.
Place your bets: List contains IAAF World Masters Athletes of Year
A friend called me the other day, asking: How do they pick the IAAF World Masters Athletes of the Year? You know, the male and female supergeezers who get free tickets to the IAAF Gala in Monaco every November. My answer: Officially, the process involves every WMA region nominating a pair of athletes (with help from NGBs), who go into a hopper for final selection by the WMA Executive Council. Unofficially, it’s a simple of matter of who set the most impressive records at worlds (indoors or out). So if you set a gazillion records early in the season (like Nolan Shaheed) but didn’t snag WR’s in Sacto, fuhgetaboutit. So who really is eligible? Easy. Check out this list of 38 WR setters at worlds, updated only a week ago by records czar Sandy Pashkin.
Nolan Shaheed set a bunch of M60 records last spring, including this 1500 WR at the Striders Meet of Champions, but they don't mean squat to WMA honchos.
Photos, videos of major masters meets explode on the Internets
I’ve posted a smattering of shots from Sacramento worlds (and still have hundreds in my to-do bin), but an explosion of great photography is percolating through the Internets elsewhere. (But not on the WMA website, of course.) See this USATF gallery of Berea nationals, for example. Check out this Flickr series on world champ high jumper John Dobroth (and others). Meanwhile, British speedster Tom Phillips is promising thousands of his own Sacramento shots at his own website. And UK’s Lesley Richardson may upload some at her Eurovets site. And finally, YouTube is crazy with videos from worlds. Here’s a general search of 2011 WMA clips. More added daily. Let me know of any other galleries out there — from any major meet. But if you can watch this 12-minute clueless clip without falling asleep, you’re a stud.
Cross your fingers for Carol Frost on W65 American record in shot
Carol Frost
Bernard Lagat crushes M35 world record in mile in IAAF tuneup
The listed M35 world record for the mile dates back to 1988: 3:52.48 by New Zealand’s John Walker, when he was 36. Yesterday in London, 36-year-old Bernard Lagat went the Kiwi a second better, clocking an incredible 3:51.38 in taking second to fellow Yank Leonel Manzano at the Emsley Carr Mile at Crystal Palace. See Paul Merca’s eyewitness report. Bernard will run the 5K at IAAF Daegu worlds in three weeks. On the Age-Graded Tables, Bernard’s time corresponds to an open (age 20-30) mark of 3:45.1. His actual outdoor PR is 3:47.28. Nice race, Bernard!
Leonel Manzano (shown at Berlin worlds in 2009) beat Bernard in London.
USATF releases annual report for 2010: Any masters revelations?
Haven’t had time to study the financials, but masters track is mentioned (thank goodness) in the just-released USATF annual report for 2010. See it here. Why was the report released eight months into the year? Your guess is as good as mine. But I suspect some legal challenge could have led to the posting of something that normally is made public much quicker. Read it and let me know if you see anything interesting.
Masters of the future? Maybe hurdler Oliver and sprinter Felix will join us.
Nineteen geezers due at Daegu (masters-age entrants at worlds)
Jesus Garcia
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Riccione world discus champ won M55 discus in his back yard
Ralph Fruguglietti didn’t need a dead Italian Olympian’s help in Sacramento. He won gold in the discus anyway. And just up the road from his Bakersfield home. Matt Martz tells Ralph’s story from worlds (plus training mate’s Cameron Bolles) in this great story in the hometown paper. My favorite part is Cameron’s reflections on making the Olympic Trials at age 40 vs. now: “That was pretty exciting, and an honor to be invited to compete at that level. But I have to say I am having just as much fun now.”
Ralph won the M55 discus at Sacramento worlds at 171 feet, 5 inches.
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