Sacramento was sizzling, but Hungary was superhot and bothered
Shades of 1928. On July 15, the men and women’s 10K’s were contested at the 10-day European Veterans Athletics Championships in NyÃregyháza, Hungary. According to two U.S. officials and a European mole, an overzealous Hungarian doctor (acting as a safety official) pulled eight women off the track in one race. He thought the heat (worse than Sacramento’s, by some accounts) was too much for them. With only a lap or two left in the W60 event, for example, seven entrants were DQ’d — prompting the irrational panic that followed the Paris Olympic 800, when five women reportedly collapsed from exhaustion. But in Hungary, another doctor checked out the Eurovets and declared them fine. They didn’t rejoin the race, however. They got the shaft. Same thing happened in a 1500.
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Kathy Bergen leads record parade on Day 3 at Sacramento
Kathy Bergen raised the W70 world record in the high jump twice Saturday at Sacramento nationals. She cleared 1.28 (4-2 1/4) and then 1.30 (4-3 1/4) before three misses, some close, at 1.32 (4-4). Tom Surber of USATF’s press office chatted with her for his daily highlights report, which listed other American and world records set on Day 3. But Tom didn’t mention how Kathy won the 100-meter dash — in tennis shoes. She neglected to bring her spikes to the starting line. Kathy says she decided against sprinting to the opposite side of the field (where she had high jumped) to collect her spikes. It was hot early, and she didn’t want to waste energy, so her 15.88 winning time is a second off what she would have run. (But it’s a W70 world record for sneakers.)
Potentially any USATF-sanctioned meet could drug-test masters
When USATF Masters T&F dives into drug-testing in 2011, it could be off the deep end. According to a USADA drug-education session Friday afternoon at Sacramento, masters tracksters would be “subject to drug-testing” at all USATF-sanctioned meets — not just outdoor nationals. That’s the company line, at least. In practice, I doubt any lower-level masters meets would seek urine samples. One reason is cost. USADA (the U.S. anti-doping police) doesn’t charge USATF for testing up to a certain number (which isn’t publicly known). But beyond that number, called an allocation, costs would be borne by meet organizers. At Friday’s session, attended by nearly 40 athletes and officials at the Alumni Center near the track, USADA’s LaDonna Reed said: “We don’t need you to be fearful. We just want to educate you.”
Neni Lewis explodes for another W50 hammer world record
As Tom Surber details in his USATF press release, Neni Lewis let loose in the W50 hammer Thursday in Sacramento, Day 1 of masters nationals. (But he apparently got minsinformation on the “old” world record. Neni had raised the WR several times earlier this season.) Flo Meiler also set a W75 hammer record (AR and probably WR, since the implement is the new 2-kilo.) And W75 Mary Harada and M55 Rick Becker set AR’s in the 5K. The Sacramento Bee had a nice profile on locals entered at nationals, including Liz Palmer, Rod Jett and John Mansoor. See it here. Wife and I shot 1,000 great pictures (throws, jumps and running events), which we’ll showcase later. (Results are posted here.) Also, when time avails, I’ll tell the shocking story of M55 George Wolf, a newbie master with a prosthetic leg who finished the M50 5000 and was promptly DQ’d for having a “mechanical aid.” Long story. Stay tuned.
M50 shot putters gathered after a sizzling back-and-forth competition won by Rob Suelflohn (No. 1238) over Paul Ossmann (yellow and purple), 54-9 1/4 to 52-6 3/4. (Photo by Ken Stone)
Dozens of athletes evacuated by fire alarm at Larkspur hotel
Dozens of sleeping athletes were among guests evacuated from a Sacramento hotel late Wednesday night on the eve of Day 1 at masters nationals. Roused by a piercing fire alarm at the Larkspur Landing on Howe Avenue, pentathletes, runners and throwers (some in pajamas) huddled outside the 100-room hotel, which a night supervisor said was 90 percent occupied. The alarms — one to a room — began their incessant shriek and blink about 11:30 p.m. Folks on the third floor (including me and my wife) were at first told to stay in our rooms. But the noise was too much, and we joined many guests who fled to the quiet outdoors.
Sacramento firefighters from two engine companies entered the Larkspur Landing hotel just before midnight. (Photo by Ken Stone)
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Doug Logan’s run as chief exec of USATF nearing end?
The message board at Track & Field News is abuzz about news reports that Doug Logan, chief executive officer of USA Track & Field, is undergoing a tough job evaluation by the USATF board of directors and may lose his job. Among those directors is Willie Banks, the Olympian and masters jumper in Sacramento this weekend for masters nationals. Doug, a colorful writer, replaced the humorless, authoritarian Craig Masback in 2008 and brought some fresh ideas to USATF (but none that did much for masters track). How would Doug’s departure affect masters? Not sure. But his handpicked chief operating officer — masters liaison and occasional sprinter Mike McNees — might be worried about his gig as well (unless his contract protects him).
Douglas Kalembo makes a date with 400 history: a sub-50 at 50
Until this summer, the oldest man to break 50 seconds for 400 meters was probably Fred Sowerby, who at age 45 ran 49.89 in 1994. At the first world masters track championships in 1975, the M40 400 was won in 50.7 seconds by a gent named M. Garmish from Germany. So when Douglas Kalembo runs the 400 on his 50th birthday this Saturday (or in the finals Sunday), he has a chance to make history beyond our pioneers’ imaginations. Douglas says he’s entered in this Atlanta meet, which is USATF-sanctioned. His 49.77 of last weekend shows he’s ready. As an appetizer, here’s a video shot by his wife, Primrose Kalembo, of his 49.77 from lane 3.
Only 2 or 3 clubs have prayer of winning Sacramento team title
Quick: Who won the team title at Oshkosh masters nationals last year? Hint: It’s the same team that won in 2008 and 2004 and finished in the top three in 2007, 2006 and 2005. Answer: SoCal Track Club. Under coach and hyper-recruiter Mark Cleary, this powerhouse has totaled 1,654 points over the past three outdoor nationals. The No. 2 team in points over the same period? Florida Athletic Club with 957. No. 3 was Golden West AC with 713. But track is an individual sport, right? So why should we care who the top team is? Good question. I can only guess.
Team shot of SoCal Track Club, which won 2009 Oshkosh national title.
Masters sought for interviews for the new EverydaySprinter.com
Bob Griffiths
Oscar Peyton, top American M55 sprinter, shares training secrets
Oscar at 2006 Charlotte nationals.
