Never hurts to ask: M45 jumper seeking sponsors for Sacto trip
M45 jumper Greg Smalley, a pastor from Morrisville, New York, isn’t merely praying for a trip to Sacramento worlds. He’s hoping to find sponsors. Says his local paper: Smalley is hoping to participate in the long jump and triple jump at the World Masters Athletic Championships to be held July 6 through 17. . . . Smalley has been helping the Morrisville-Eaton Central School track team for five years. . . . Last summer Smalley was unofficially 12th in the world for his age group (40-44) in the triple jump (there is no official ranking for Masters). He also broke the record for his age group at the 2010 summer Empire State Games in the triple jump. Businesses and individuals that are interested in sponsoring Smalley for the world meet in July, may contact him at 893-7518 or 684-9010 for more information.” Anyone else looking for sponsors?
WMA Sacramento meet still on track for 5,000+ entries, chief says
McCasey
Final call for Sacramento world meet: Entry deadline is Sunday
USATF has been emailing reminders that the registration deadline for the World Masters Athletics Championships in Sacramento is this coming Sunday, April 24. Yup, for a meet in July. I wrote to meet rep Bob Burns, and he provided some fun facts to know and tell. As of Monday morning, 2,614 athletes have entered. That could grow big time. But it’s a little shocking how short of 5,000 the figure is. Bob says the top countries by entrants are USA (830), India (187), Germany (171), Australia (143), Mexico (119) and Canada (102). “Hotel Rooms are still available within the 24 Contracted LOC hotels,” Bob writes. “These hotels are in close proximity to the various venues for the Championships and include a free transportation pass along the Regional Transit system during the entire event. Visit wma2011.com and click on the Accomodations/Transportation tab to start making your reservation. Dorm rooms are still available at the main stadium at CSUS. Visit wma2011.com/en/dorms.htm to make your reservation.”
A belated cheer for Dave Bickel: Mt. SAC masters hammer champ
The least appreciated track and fieldsters? I nominate hammer throwers. So thankfully, Joy Upshaw sent me some shots of the masters throwers at the Mt. SAC Relays, who competed Saturday morning while I was driving up from San Diego. To recap: M40 David Bickel won the masters hammer event at Mt. SAC with a best throw of 46.82 meters (153-7), and a series of 45.28, 46.63, 46.82, FOUL, 46.49 and 46.40. And speaking of hammer studs: I was resting in the shade near the “Where the world’s greatest athletes compete” sign at Mt. SAC when two guys approached me, asking if I could take their photo in front of the sign. Sure, no problem. I guessed they were shot putters. The said, “No, we just took one-two in the hammer.” I guessed: “So did you throw 220?” Think again. Libor Charfreitag of Slovakia (not Slovenia, as originally told) went 76.18 (249-11) and Jerome Bortoluzzi of France threw 73.02 (239-7). I’ll be watching for these gents in London, fersure.
John Edmonston (left), Richard Watson, Steve Hill, Dave Bickel and John Ryer.
Nolan Shaheed WR for 800 meters crashes the 2:10 barrier at 61
Few men over 60 can run a 400 in 62 seconds. None has ever done it after running a lap in 67 seconds. But that’s what Nolan Shaheed did yesterday at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California, when he went straight to the back of the pack in the first lap of the masters men’s 800 but stormed back to a final time of 2:09.02. He thus became the oldest man to run sub-2:10 for 800 meters. He’s 61 (and turns 62 in mid-July). A little after 6 p.m., with temps in the 80s, Nolan crashed that barrier by beating the listed M60 WR of 2:10.42 by Australia’s Alan Bradford in 1999. He said he’s running Achilles’ pain-free for the first time in three years. It showed. With meet announcer Bill Fitzpatrick noting the record attempt as it happened, Nolan delivered big time for his second record of the young outdoor season (after an AR in the 1500). Here’s video of Nolan’s amazing race, with wonderful race call:
W50 jumper Joy Upshaw stars again — in San Francisco Chronicle
Much has been written about Joy Upshaw — daughter of a high school record holder, sister of an Olympian, etc. But I like the latest take by the San Francisco Chronicle, which focuses on her training with fellow W50 trackster Debbie Deutsch. See the story here. Writer Sam Whiting notes Joy’s world indoor records in the 200 and long jump at Albuquerque (but doesn’t mention the records snafus.) No worries. That’s Joy’s creed, BTW. Check out the print version of the article. Joy is reportedly ticketed for this Saturday’s Mt. SAC Relays. She’ll be a favorite in the 100 (and maybe the 200, if she runs it). See you soon, superstar!
Joy and Debbie, photographed by Laura Morton, both have track star daughters.
USATF masters deca champs for men and women set for Dallas
Officially, it’s called the USA Masters Combined Events Championships. But it’s the mecca for masters decathletes and heptathletes. This year, reports Jeff Watry, the event is June 11 and 12 in Dallas, Texas. Website home is listed as sites.google.com/site/texasexpresstfclub/ — but should eventually be listed on the USATF calendar. It’s being held at Hunt Family Stadium, which has a Rekortan track and grass infield. Thank goodness for tradition.
Hunt Family Stadium is known for football, but trackos are allowed.
Snafus costly to Albu meet organizers — USATF withholds $5,000
Gary Snyder
Under the radar, Reggie Pendland is over-the-top fast in M40 sprints
Reggie on Facebook
Record chase: Will Alisa or Nolan end up with the most in 2011?
In a postal meet of my own concoction, W45 Alisa Harvey nipped M60 Nolan Shaheed in the 800 Saturday — Alisa clocking 2:13.67 in Fairfax, Virginia, to Nolan’s 2:13.94 in Claremont, California. But that’s not the fun part. Running against the kiddies at collegiate invitationals, Alisa and Nolan both notched their latest American age-group records. Alisa smashed the listed 800 AR of 2:18.72 by DeeDee Grafius dating back to 1997, and Nolan ran a 1500 at the same meet in 4:30.39, lowering his own AR of 4:31.93 from May 2010. Yowza! Further coincidence: Both were USATF Masters Athletes of the Year in 2007. Each shared details of their latest records.
Alisa and Nolan are middle-distance marvels. Who will be the top record-setter?
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