In track, conventional wisdom dictates that as you age, you go for longer distances. Milers move up to 5K, and 10K’ers try the marathon, for example. (Even Carl Lewis is infected. He’s training for a marathon in 2012, when he turns 50.) ButOrville Rogers, a world recordman in the middle distances, is going in the opposite direction. At least he did over the weekend at the USATF Southwestern Association meet at Coppell, Texas, near Dallas. Orville did the 1-2-4 triple in 21.01, 47.64 and 1:50.90. Not bad at age 92. The M90 world records for those distances are 17.53, 38.57 and 1:35.04. But think of Orville’s kick in the 1500 at nationals! Orville also is featured in a five-part YouTube series of him sky-diving last year:
Three years ago, Dr. William Bell set an M85 world indoor record in the vault at Boston nationals. He went 2.44 (8-0). Now 88, Papa Bell (father of Olympian Earl Bell) cleared 2.29 (7-6) at the Bell Athletics indoor facility Sunday in Jonesboro, Arkansas, according to a masters mole. He was taking part in the annual Vaultstock event (think Woodstock without rain, drugs and naked girls). Not sure why the Bell Athletics website refers to “Grandpa Bell, new world record holder.” But maybe it’s a reference to his bettering the listed M85 outdoor WR of 2.24 (7-4 1/4) by Carol Johnston in 1997. A video of Papa Bell vaulting is on this site, BTW.
Carmel Papworth-Barnum of WomenRunningTogether.com shares some tidbits from Tahoe, where the USATF Pacific Association held its masters championships yesterday. Complete results eventually willshow up here. Among other highlights, Joy Upshaw Margerum won the 80-meter hurdles in 12.20 from W45 rival Liz Palmer in 12.22. “Great race,” says Carmel. “Liz got out early and Joy just got her at the end. In the 100, Liz turned the tables and won 12.88 to Joy’s 13.18. Liz has been training real hard and looks hard and fast!” In the 100 hurdles, B.J. Duhon clocked an impressive 14.29. The legendary M50 world record is 13.57 by Walt Butler in 1991.
From left: Karen Maxwell, Joy and Liz after the 80-meter hurdles.
Rod Jettran 14.99 in the 110s into a good wind yesterday at the California Invitational Relays at Sacramento City College. Then he came back and won the masters 100 as well — in 11.82 into a breeze. The meet used to be known as the Modesto Relays. (See complete results.) Notable in fourth was comebacking M50 Kevin Morning, who clocked 12.20. And in the open 100, M45 Aaron Thigpen ran 11.29 into a slight wind. Not too shabby. Finally, 37-year-old Olympian Derek Miles won the vault at 5.80 meters (19-00.25). The listed M35 WR is Jeff Hartwig’s 5.86 (19-2 3/4). Amazing. Congrats to all.
Rod Jett leads Richard Holmes in 110H. (Photo by Paul Kitagaki Jr.)
In masters track, the two most common questions are: Where’s the meet? And: How do I compare to the competition? So when meets drop out of the deck, it’s a shame. Yesterday, my Ventura friend Andy Hecker wrote about the demise of a Los Angeles series of all-comers meets. (If these meets could be monetized, wouldn’t it be cool?) Anyway, here’s a note Andy sent to friends. It began: “Folks, the 800 Lb Gorilla in the room is apparently dead. As you might recall, last year’s budget shortfall caused the cancellation of the nearly 50-year tradition of Los Angeles All-Comers meets. I hope we all know of the hard work Scott King has put in over the decades to make that happen. The program was so successful, few other players chose to “compete” with what was at times a 4-day-a-week program rotating around the city with free admission to the public.”
Canada’s Brian Keaveney, president of North and Central America and Caribbean World Masters Athletics, has announced that he’s just received a bid for his region’s WMA 2010 championships. Brian wrote Doug Smith of Ontario: “Mayagűez, Puerto Rico, which is on the west coast of the island, has just submitted an official bid to host this year’s track and field championships. It will be held Sept. 3, 4, 5, 6. This is a late bid as you know. A quick visit will be made to the site for an inspection.”
The 2003 world meet was held in Carolina, on the island's northeast coast.
This isn't Jesse Squire. It's just the photo he uses.
I should let this bounce off me, but I’ve had it. For years, an Ohio track fan namedJesse Squire has labeled his blog “The oldest track & field blog on the internet.” Pshaw. I beat him by more than three years. Here is Jesse’s Track and Field Superblog. He does good work. But his credibility is zilch if he continues with this fraudulent claim. I’ve
written him several times, and even posted a comment on his blog. Nothing works. So I’m wondering if you might nag him — post a comment on his blog. This blog officially started January 5, 2003. Jesse’s blog has a first entry dated June 11, 2006. So I beat him by 41 months. He might argue that masters track isn’t track and field. But who knows what’s in his mind? Would you please give him a piece of yours?
Steve Kleinstuber, an M50 multi-eventer, has shared details on the revived Chuck McMahon Memorial Masters meet, which wasn’t held last year. He writes: “I have attached an updated flyer for the Chuck McMahon Masters meet on July 17th (at Cal State San Marcos, north of San Diego). Spread the word to the other masters athletes that the meet is back this summer.” Consider it done. Click herefor the flyer (PDF).
Behind the scenes, officials at World Masters Athletics are struggling with Geraldine Finegan’s drug positive at Kamloops. They still don’t have enough information to deal with her case. Today’s Kamloops Daily News quotes WMA Prez Stan Perkins as saying: “The matter is still being investigated and whilst some decisions have apparently been made, there are still other matters to be determined. Until such time as there is a definitive outcome and all matters have been finalized, I am not at liberty to make any announcement.â€
It was only a matter of time. The listed world record for the M35 3,000-meter run is 7:38.28 by Abdellah Behar of France in 1998. But buried in a USATF news release yesterday about the Ostrava Golden Spike meet in the Czech Republic was this: “2010 World Indoor champion Bernard Lagat ran a strategic race, placing third in the men’s 3,000m in an outdoor personal best 7:32.49.” In other words, a WR by almost six seconds! The listed M35 American record is a pathetic 7:56.69 by Steve Scott in 1991. The Ostrava meet also featured a masters 100-meter race — won by M35 Roman Gomolain 11.72. The field also was timed at 100 yards. See results here.
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...]
