Jearl Miles Clark suffers MES (masters embarrassment syndrome)

Jearl Miles Clark

USATF is well-trained now. In its interview with Track & Field Hall of Fame inductee Jearl Miles Clark, the M-word arises: “In recent years you’ve dabbled some in masters track and field. Will that continue?” Jearl replied: “I may just to see what my body can do. I just might, I don’t know. The ladies are very competitive. They have a great spirit and I don’t want to go out there half-steppin and get my butt spanked. I don’t like losing, and if I’m going to do something I’m going to put 100% into it. The camaraderie and the passion is great and it’s a great spirit to be around. It would be interesting to go back and see what I could do in masters track.”

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November 13, 2010  32 Comments

Hall of Fame runner Archie Messenger saluted on Veterans Day

Archie Messenger

Archie Messenger, inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame in 2001, was the subject of a Veterans Day profile in his Massachusetts hometown newspaper. He hasn’t been ranked for about six years, but he’s still a legend. The bulk of the story is about his military career. But we also learn: “He would continue to perform in various Masters Competitions regionally and all over the globe until just three years ago where, at the tender age of 84, he decided to hang his runner’s cleats up once and for all.” Still, he stays in shape.

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November 12, 2010  2 Comments

Geb rethinking his retirement, but says nothing about masters

Haile Gebrsellasie made a retirement announcement after dropping out at Mile 16 of the New York City Marathon. But recent reports suggests that he’s having second thoughts, reading Tweets as tea leaves. We also learn from his manager: “Jos Hermans said he was hoping that the legendary Ethiopian distance runner will reconsider his decision to retire from international sport. Hermans is quoted in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf as saying that he would be flying to Ethiopia to meet the 37-year-old runner, who announced Sunday after pulling out during the New York marathon with an injury that he was quitting running. ‘If he spends some time with his family, I am sure that Haile will say that he really wants to run. He must first come to rest. He was very emotional Sunday,’ Hermans said.” I bet he sticks around.

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November 11, 2010  4 Comments

Irish Times uses ‘masters’ and ‘Gebrselassie’ in the same breath

Distance God Haile Gebrselassie — world record holder in the marathon — is mentioned in a masters context in the Irish Times. The story notes: “Strictly speaking, Gebrselassie now qualifies as a veteran — or a “masters” runner, to give them their more correct title. And believe me, masters running can be every bit as competitive as the so-called standard age group, sometimes even more so.”

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November 10, 2010  No Comments

Dexter McCloud responds to comments on Diversity Committee

Dexter McCloud

Dexter McCloud, newsletter publisher of the USATF Committee on Diversity and Leadership Development, has responded to the comments posted on this blog. Dexter, a world-class M50 hurdler, writes: “As you are aware, I was appointed as the Masters Diversity Chair in 2006 by then Masters chair George Matthews. Since that time, I have spoken on numerous occasions to the Masters Committee and the athletes on what Diversity Committee. Last year, I was appointed as the chair of the Committee and Leadership Development. Subsequently, James Smith was appointed as the Masters Diversity Chair to fill the vacancy created by my appointment. I’ve read all of the comments posted on this blog and I’d like to respond to a few comments.”

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November 9, 2010  15 Comments

Masters media czar Bob Weiner debates GOP flak on Fox TV

Bob Weiner, a nominee (along with moi) for the David Pain Award for service to masters track, appeared this morning on Fox TV’s “Fox and Friends” segment, interviewed by Dana Perino. See it here. Bob’s day job is with Robert Weiner Associates Public Affairs and Issue Strategies shop on Pennsylvania Avenue, not far from the Obama residence. “She’s done a spectacular job of getting (laws passed),” Bob said of Nancy Pelosi, who is up for the leadership of minority House Democrats.

Bob Weiner, M60 miler and steeplechaser, also runs a PR firm backing Dems.

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November 8, 2010  8 Comments

Give Allen Johnson, Stacy Dragila free pass to Sacramento worlds

The December issue of Track & Field News features a nice career profile of retiring M35 hurdler Allen Johnson and an itsy bitsy status report on vaulter Stacy Dragila, who turns 40 in March 2011. T&FN says of Stacy, an Olympic champ like Allen: “Vault pioneer Stacy Dragila is considering trying to qualify for the ’12 Olympic Trials, when she’ll be 42.” Allen has recurringly pledged to run masters, but now he’s talking coaching, broadcasting or “agenting.” But I’d like to see them both at a little meet in Sacramento next year. What might we do to persuade them? How about free entry?

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November 8, 2010  13 Comments

U.S. records set at nationals and worlds automatic? Not quite yet

USATF annual meeting site

USATF delegates meeting at Virginia Beach next month have a boatload of rules-change proposals to consider. But one should be a slam dunk. Under Item 83, submitted by New England’s Steve Vaitones, a new rule would say: “When a Masters Record has been equaled or bettered in a World Masters (Athletics) Championship, a USA Masters Indoor or Outdoor Championship, or any event listed in Rule 261.4, that record may be ratified based on the official results of that meet without the need for a formal record application. However, an application and/or other appropriate documentation shall be required by the Records Committee whenever it has received information creating some reasonable doubt as to the correctness of the official result.” YESSSSSSSSSSS! Thank you, Steve!

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November 7, 2010  10 Comments

Tom Phillips takes positive step against illness: admits depression

Tom Phillips

Nine months ago, I posted a note about a masters athlete with severe depression. Your comments, public and private, helped. Now the athlete has decided to tell his own story — on his own blog. His name is Tom Phillips. And besides being one of the best masters track photographers in the world, he’s also a world-class M55 sprinter. His British team won gold in the 4×100 at Lahti. He says on his blog: “Depression is ghastly. It will change your life, maybe for a short while, maybe for a long time, but you can live with it. It need not define you as a person. Indeed, you must not let it define you. I am still an athlete. I do not see myself as a depressed athlete, just an athlete coping with depression.” God save the Queen, and God bless Tom for the courage to tell his story.

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November 6, 2010  8 Comments

First for WMA worlds: Online registration offered for Sacramento

A scene in “Herbstgold,” the German documentary on masters track, shows five older athletes struggling with the print entry form for 2009 Lahti worlds. Kind of cute. But that may be ending for many. For the first time, a WMA world masters championships is offering online registration. Press release from the LOC says: “We’re confident that the WMA entrants will find online registration a big improvement,” said John McCasey, chairman of the 2011 WMA Championships. “It’s going to make for a better-organized and athlete-friendly competition.” SimplyRegister, a company based in Indiana and founded by former USATF webmaster Keith Lively, is the company behind the online signup form. Of course, masters meets everywhere have been doing online signups for years. So welcome to the 21st century, WMA. Read more here.

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November 4, 2010  One Comment