masterstrack.com

Older, slower, lower: Ken Stone's hobby blog for showcasing and watchdogging adult age-group track and field

Louis Beadle dies at 82; beloved SoCal middle-distance runner

Louis Beadle, a longtime masters runner beloved in Southern California, died this week at age 82, according to friends and his track club, the Southern California Striders. Club president Brenda Matthews shared the news with members this morning: “It is with great sadness to inform you of the passing of Louis Beadle …. (who) represented the Southern California Striders always with honor and dignity. … Please join me in offering the Beadle family our condolences. … Note: The family has not shared memorial services or funeral arrangements. ” Louis competed as recently as June 2010, when he ran 400 meters at the California Senior Games in Pasadena. His surviviors include his loyal trackgoing wife, Doris, and son, Ron. Brenda included an article.

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January 28, 2011  6 Comments

Just another Story on road to 2011 Sacramento world masters meet

Down Under, folks are looking ahead up yonder — to Sacramento worlds. In New Zealand, a local news site tells the story of Vanessa Story, now 36. The article says: “Some call her ‘Grandma’ and she calls herself ‘the good comedy show.’ … Story said some adults get quite a shock when they see her lining up for a race and then realise she can run. She was running 100 metres in 13.03 seconds at the start of the season.” Not a world-beater but ready for a world-class experience.
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January 27, 2011  2 Comments

Millrose Games attracts regulars for masters 4×400 relays

Friday’s Millrose Games in New York — with officials in tuxedos and empty seats in the Madison Square Garden stands — will again play host to men’s and women’s masters relays. The 4x4s are part of the USATF masters invitational circuit. Rosters of entered teams are here. The men’s race is set for 4:21 p.m. and the women’s at 4:52 p.m. (So catch the subway early, guys.) The usual suspects are entered — Southwest Sprinters, Greater Philly TC, Shore AC and Central Park TC. Last year the Greater Philly TC W50 team set an American club record at Millrose. The rosters below include alternates.

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January 26, 2011  6 Comments

M95 superstar featured in documentary ‘Over 90 and Loving It’

Don Pellmann speaks! And he’s looking fine in a new documentary called “Over 90 and Loving It.” Shows him setting a world age-group vault record of 1.57 meters, or 5-1 3/4 (but isn’t on the books.) M95 multi-eventer Don is among a slew of ladies and gents in the movie, which will air on Public Broadcasting TV affiliates in early 2011. (Check local listings.) The DVD is being sold starting this weekend. See the website.

January 25, 2011  2 Comments

Masters figure prominently in USATF annual meeting video

Our official website at usatfmasters.org has a link to a video (actually a slide show) shown at last month’s USATF annual meeting in Virginia Beach, Virginia. (See show here.) It was screened at the awards breakfast and it’s a feast of champions. Many are masters. You’ll recognize many friends from Sacramento outdoor nationals and also indoor nationals. The video, by USATF’s Adam Schmenk, is a little overly produced, with lots of fancy-shmancy transitions and special effects. The music selection — “Give a Little Bit” by The Goo Goo Dolls — is strange. But what the heck. We see ourselves.

January 25, 2011  3 Comments

Peter Taylor’s Hartshorne Diary 2011: Nice moves at afterparty

Masters announcer Peter Taylor made his fifth trek to Ithaca, New York, over the weekend for the annual mile-palooza called the Hartshorne Memorial Masters Miles. His journey from Virginia to Cornell is a story in itself. He graciously shared his latest adventure and thoughts on the races and athletes. (News coverage is here.) He also was impressed with the traditional afterparty, where he says one lady miler “asked me to come out onto the floor to dance with them. I am enough of a traditionalist that if any woman asks me to get out there I will answer in the affirmative.” Anyone have photos of this milestone event? (Pete dancing, not masters miling.)

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January 24, 2011  8 Comments

Fitness icon Jack LaLanne dies at 96 — one of my favorite subjects

Jack LaLanne died today at his Morro Bay home at age 96, according to press reports. What a character and what a loss. He didn’t do masters track, but he was a hero to many of us, especially those who remember his TV show of the 1950s and 1960s. My wife and I, plus son Bobby, visited him about six years ago at his home. Chris was on photo assignment from GeezerJock magazine. He was “on.” A showman who took Chris into his arms and danced. He and his wife, Elaine, were gracious hosts, and said farewell by giving us an armload of souvenirs — ballcaps, pens, autographed photo (see below) and other items. He was funny and totally focused on our project. RIP, Jack.

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January 23, 2011  12 Comments

Charlie Kern, Alisa Harvey, Nolan Shaheed star at Hartshorne miles

In a duel of 41-year-old national champions, Charlie Kern beat Nick Berra in the M40 elite mile by 3 seconds (4:20.50 to 4:23.48) at Hartshorne on Saturday at Ithaca, New York. But the best age-graded men’s mile was 4:58.21 by 61-year-old Nolan Shaheed. That was a tick off his M60 world record of 4:57.06, set in this race last year. Alisa Harvey’s 5:08.11 was the easy winner of the women’s elite W40 race. Tom Cawley and Suzanne Myette won the M/W50 elite races in 4:43.89 and 5:48.74, respectively.

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January 22, 2011  4 Comments

Hartshorne mile fields Saturday suffer from cold and injuries

The best indoor miles fields of the season line up Saturday in Ithaca, New York, for the annual Hartshorne masters miles at Cornell University. Quality is high, but depth isn’t as good as previous years, organizers say. Tom Hartshorne, son of the event’s namesake, says: “Weather has been tough on us with a quick-moving snowstorm that raced through here this morning headed eastward. But injuries have been a much bigger issue in the elite fields, which are smaller than last year although we have some excellent races to look forward to. Last year was an amazing year. For instance, the first six W40 women running between 5:00 and 5:16 for the mile — truly a world championship kind of turnout! I’m sure we will have lots to talk about by early tomorrow afternoon.” Best of luck to all!
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January 21, 2011  4 Comments

Martin Gasselsberger posts world masters rankings for 2010

Martin Gasselsberger, a serious stat guy across the Pond, has posted what he calls world masters rankings—actually seasonal lists based on his web-surfing. He says: “Hello, the first version from the World Rankings 2010 is online. Many results from Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Netherlands, Asia Championships, South American Championships and smaller Countries became included later. Please send me corrections until 30 March 2011 (deadline). The All-Time Rankings Update coming in May 2011. Greetings to all over the world.” However, several masters have written me about flubs in these lists. That’s understandable. This is a hobby and has no official status. So be nice when you write him. (I also discovered Martin’s Facebook page.)

January 20, 2011  12 Comments

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• About Ken Stone

  

  Ken Stone

  Ken has followed track as an athlete, writer and web-master since the late 1960s, and saw most sessions of track and field at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He also attended the 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Trials, the last three as a blogger and Patch correspondent. [More...]
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