Dave Clingan turning the page, ceases calendar role on mcom
This website is 15 years old this month. Happy birthday to us! But with age comes change, and a big one has arrived. Dave Clingan — my partner in crime since 1999 (when we combined two sites and registered the domain name) — has decided to bow out of what we affectionately call mcom. He writes: “To all my good friends in the wide world of masters track and field: The time has come to relinquish my position as masterstrack.com calendar guy.  I simply can’t find the time to scour the globe for masters meets and keep up with the listings like I used to.  I trust that most info about USA meets can be found on the USATF website and anyone interested in international meets can find what they’re looking for with a wee bit of Googling. It’s been a joy working with Ken all these years and sharing information with all my fellow athletes!”
Dave and I plotted total world domination in 1999. Guess what? We achieved it!
Anyone entered at Albuquerque indoor nationals who lives in area?
Hi, folks. In the interests of better media coverage of indoor nationals, I’d like to hear about any athletes entered who live in or near Albuquerque. We already know that Patricia Porter, the high jump Olympian, is an Albu resident, but we’re looking for other names to feed the local press. If you’re shy, just email me the information. Otherwise, post it here as comment. Many thanks!
Straddler Sauers ties American indoor record in M60 high jump
Not everything righteous and good happens in Southern California. The Southeast has its masters moments, too. Our friend Bill Daprano writes from Atlanta about some recent record-setting. “James Sauers, who had been recruited by the meet’s namesake, University of Florida track coach Jimmy Carnes, tied the (American) masters indoor record in the (M60) high jump with a leap of 1.66 meters (5-5¼). (David Montieth first cleared that height in 2006.) ‘I knew I could jump it, and probably should have beaten it,’ Sauers said, noting the ‘fantastic surface’ of the O’Connell Center track. The layout of the event, however, kept him from taking his usual run-up. ‘My usual approach would put me behind that wall about 16 feet,’ he said. “I had to sort of zigzag my way up there, but I got it out of my head and went for it.’ ”
Jim is a picture-perfect straddler in this outdoor photo by Ozzie Binion.
Olympic champ Al Joyner entered in M50 triple jump at nationals
In viewing entries at Albuquerque masters nationals, I came across two Olympians. One is old reliable Patricia Porter, the 1988 Seoul high jumper. The other is a welcome surprise: Al Joyner. In 2006, he entered masters indoor nationals but didn’t show. This year, under the name of M50 Alfrederick Joyner, he’s entered in the 60-meter hurdles and his signature event: the triple jump. He won gold at 1984 Los Angeles. He’s the brother of hep legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee and was the husband of FloJo.
Al Joyner coaches at the Olympic Training Center southeast of San Diego.
Jeff Laynes finally 40 — and ready to do serious sprint damage
Here’s all you need to know about the M40 sprint landscape in 2011: Jeff Laynes. After years of elite action, especially over 60 meters, Jeff is ready to rocket as an M40. He turned the big four-oh in October. Although his name doesn’t appear in the entry lists for New Mexico masters nationals, he’s in terrific shape for summer. A couple weekends ago, he ran the 60 at a Berkeley all-comers meet (outdoors) in 6.78 seconds with a legal wind. The M40 world indoor record is 6.78 by Holland’s Troy Douglas in 2003. Troy also holds the M40 WR for 100 of 10.29. At the least, Jeff will threaten the M40 American record of 10.73 by Aaron Thigpen. Here’s Jeff two years ago in a jerky video:
WMA world records still train wreck: 1500/mile bests mashed up
Guess what, stat-mavens! We have a rare instance of not one but two women’s age-group records being the same in the 1500 and mile! Don’t believe me? Check out the latest update of the world outdoor records page on the official site—World Masters Athletics. Yeah, yeah. I know. It’s just a booger mistake. But when Andy Hecker first spotted this flub recently, he wrote to Eurovets chief Dieter Massin, who made no attempt to fix it. He just forwarded the note to his records man in Sweden.
This is a screen shot taken February 14, 2011 (with my added snarky question marks). By the time you read this, it might be corrected. One hopes.
Messages of love pour in for Michael Waller after loss of his wife
Michael Waller’s Facebook page shares some very sad news—the loss of his wife, Vanessa. He wrote Saturday: “Hey all, thanks for your prayers and cares. My lovely wife has gone on to be with the Lord.” Vanessa was active in Christ Life Center Church in Tacoma, Washington, and also had a TV show. Michael’s wall overflows with words of sympathy and care. Masters sprint friends from all over the country have posted, including Marty Krulee, Allen Tissenbaum, Kettrell Berry and Lonnie Hooker. Others posting notes include Ruthlyn Greenfield-Webster, Jai Black, Julie Hayden, Renee Henderson, Terry Rath, Sarah Lawson and Chris Reaser. Some apparently first heard the news from a Facebook posting by Maryline Roux. I don’t have details on cause of death or funeral arrangements. Probably too soon. But we join others in hoping M50 champion Michael can find strength in his time of grief.
Michael and Vanessa Waller from his Facebook photo profile.
Jerry Smartt’s wise use of shopping cart and tire on snowy day
Jerry Smartt, the Soviet-USA distancer of the 1950s, is now on the cusp of turning 80. And he’s still putting the hammer down (if not the sickle) near his home in Warsaw, Missouri. He shared some shots of his creative way of training in scary cold weather. (This one is the best.) Find a parking lot. Grab a cart or two. Stick a heavy tire in it. Push, push, push. And by the time it’s 95 degrees in Sacramento, reap the benefits.
Jerry gets his strength work while pretending to shuttle a shopping cart.
Alisa Harvey sets WR for indoor 800 as Navy girl’s pacesetter
Alisa Harvey’s record rampage continues. She reports that she ran tonight (Thursday) at the Naval Academy’s Sweetheart Multi-Mix Meet. “I ran 2:14.38 for second place. I broke the Masters W45 American Record (formerly 2:20.99 by Lesley Chaplin-Swann). (In fact, she beat the listed world record as well: 2:16.3.) I ran 63 seconds for the first 400. I slowed badly in the second half. I was hoping to give a challenge to the winner that was trying to qualify for the NCAA’s. I got out off the line in the lead, but the winner passed me at 100.” Alisa, who got an AR in the mile recently, says she plans on another try next weekend at her local Potomac Valley Championships. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for good health,” she says. “I have some type of virus right now. I figure that I may as well run sick. You never know what your body has in store for you.” Be smart, Alisa, and lissen to your body. Best of luck! Here’s a video of Alisa’s race:
Somebody took fourth in this incredible race! (Yet almost won it)
Doug Smith, the Ontario masters maven, got this amazing shot of an astounding finish in a mini meet up north Feb. 6. This actually was the end of a 200! M40 Malik Crepsac won in 24.96. Results are here. Anybody ever seen a closer finish in the deuce?
Ken Kudo, Malik, Andre Mitchell and Mark Smyth finished within a tenth.
