masters runners who remember the works of Bud Winter. I am honored to be the technical editor for this book. Not much was changed other than some of the names, terminology, and metrics/imperial distances.” Check out the book site. Jimson adds: “(Bud) has a great rare audio that includes (coaching icon) Arthur Lydiard. Long distance folks will really love this audio. It’s over 3 hours long and great for those stuck in traffic during long commutes! I was so inspired I went out for a long 20 minute run!” Here’s where to buy the audio.

May 28, 2010  13 Comments

Adolph Hoffman aiming for vault world record — at age 87

“Most folks Adolph’s age are not pole vaulting. They’re under the ground instead of above the ground,” says Cris Allison, who coaches multi-eventer Adolph Hoffman of San Antonio, Texas. Adolph is 87, making him one of the oldest vaulters in the world. (Don Pellman, 94, may be the oldest.) But recent stories and videos of Adolph show him bending the pole and getting good lift. Here’s one story. He told a KENS-TV reporter in Houston that he’s not worried about hurting himself now. “It should have been high school,” he said. “We went 12 foot and only had sand to fall into.” The story says Adolph and his brother held the state HS record 70 years ago. Now he claims to go about 7 1/2 feet, and is shooting for the WR, which the story says is 8 feet (2.44). But the listed WMA record for M85 is 2.24 (7-4 1/4) by Carol Johnston in 1997. Whatever. He’s a stud. Go Adolph!

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May 27, 2010  7 Comments

Finegan blames nasal decongestant for Kamloops drug positive

Two days after being labeled a drug cheat, W40 world champion Geraldine Finnegan (or Finegan) issued a vigorous defense. According to Irish press reports, Finegan “insisted she has ‘never knowingly taken an illegal or legal substance to help (her) performance,’ after Athletics Ireland announced she had tested positive for the prohibited substance ephedrine (at Kamloops worlds) . . . . Finegan said she had used a nasal decongestant, purchased in a local health shop, before the race, and had been assured by the shop manager that it was legal and ‘supplied to adults and children alike.’ ”

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May 23, 2010  32 Comments

Canadian masters nationals are set for mid-July in Toronto

Masters everything Doug Smith has a new hat: meet director of the 2010 Canadian Masters National Outdoor T&F Championships. It will be July 17-18 in Toronto, Ontario — and may include a pentathlon. (Doug has posted a poll, seeking feedback on the pent.) Here is meet information. USA masters nationals are a week later in Sacramento, so folks might double-dip. Not sure why it’s taken so long to nail down the meet venue. The Toronto Track & Field Centre is operated by the city, York University and local track organizations. We still haven’t learned the final disposition of the WMA regional championships. Nice for travel planning.

May 22, 2010  5 Comments

Ireland’s Geraldine Finnegan loses Kamloops medals for doping

Geraldine Finnegan, a W40 star who won four medals at the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in Kamloops, British Columbia, tested positive for the banned drug ephedrine (a stimulant) and has been stripped of at least two medals, according to Irish news sites. Read the news here. If folks move up a spot, it would mean a gold for U.S. pentathlete Susan Weimer and a bronze medal in the 400 for America’s Maryline Roux, who took fourth in that event at Kamloops in March. (There was no fourth in the 60-meter hurdles.) At Lahti worlds, Geraldine was the W40 gold medalist in the 80-meter hurdles and silver medalist in the heptathlon. She’s a decorated athlete who also competed at 2005 San Sebastian and 2007 Riccione worlds. I’m still awaiting official confirmation from WMA on precisely which medals Geraldine gives up. Nothing on the WMA site yet.

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May 21, 2010  16 Comments

Year after WMA presidency, Monty Hacker returns to health, sport

A year ago this month, South Africa’s Monty Hacker resigned as president of World Masters Athletics. He was acting prez, taking care of business in the wake of Cesare Beccalli’s death in December 2007. Monty quit because of his own health concerns. His resignation letter said: “I was struck down with an unknown and unidentified viral infection which lasted some six weeks. . . . (My) specialist . . . advised that this (elevated blood pressure) condition was caused by stress. He thus recommended that I avoid stressful situations if I wished to limit the risk of succumbing to an early heart attack.” So how is Monty doing? Quite well, thanks! He’s even thinking of resuming sprints as an M75!

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May 21, 2010  No Comments

Allen Johnson, Danny McFarlane, nearing 40, still superhurdlers

Atlanta Olympic champ Allen Johnson and Athens Olympic silver medalist Danny McFarlane of Jamaica still got game. Allen turned 39 in March, and at Wednesday’s IAAF meet in Daegu, South Korea, he ran the 110 hurdles in 13.81. Took seventh, but what of it? Danny turned 38 in February, and he ran the 400 hurdles at the Ponce Grand Prix in Puerto Rico a couple Saturdays ago in 49.36. How to appreciate this? Consider this. Allen’s time would have been a world record until 1950 (taking hand-times into consideration). And Danny’s mark would have been the world record until 1962. These cats won’t stop until they’re dragged off the track.

May 20, 2010  3 Comments

Coaches catering to masters fall through USATF Registry cracks

USATF has announced its version of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval — a registry to “identify and acknowledge coaches who represent the profession’s highest standards.” What’s behind all this? Well, a spate of child-molestation cases involving track coaches might have something to do with it. (One in Oregon in 2009, another in South Florida in 2008, a third in Illinois in 2007.) I have no beef with USATF doing background checks for sex offenders or terrorists. Nobody wants these monsters leading little girls and boys in high-knee drills. But I’m concerned that masters-only coaches are getting the brush-off. In fact, USATF has announced that if you don’t pay the $35 fee every two years for the registry, you’re automatically barred from all “benefits of USATF membership.”
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May 19, 2010  11 Comments

Jim Oglesby’s latest surgical strike: upping own American record

Dr. James Oglesby, the throwing phenom we introduced last winter, is busting out this spring. After setting two M75 American shot records (13.08 and 13.19) in December and January, he went ballistic again Sunday. This time he blasted the 4-kilo ball 13.38 meters (43-10 3/4) — only 18 inches away from the listed world age-group record of 13.84 (45-5) by Germany’s Heiner Will in 2002. The throw came at the NTC Classic at Clermont, Florida. (See results here.) Dr. O wrote me: “I have been working quite hard in the gym, especially on upper body strength — still have an issue with my right knee. I am trying to chip away at the all-time world record but am only No. 4 still, so will be trying to exceed 13.46 which is No. 3 currently.” I’m also informed, by gracious correspondent Thomas Sputo: “Ken Jansson threw what I think was the second-best all-time U.S. mark in the M50 weight throw (behind Jud Logan’s monster throw last fall.)” Ken spun 21.37 — and joined the exclusive 70-foot club. Kudos to Jim and Ken!

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May 18, 2010  One Comment

Response from Joel Dubow: ‘Penn Relays not an open meet’

In the minds of some, masters track is divided into two groups: those who volunteer their time to the sport, and those who merely enter meets. In other words, administrators and athletes. Over the years, we’ve heard each side take potshots at the other. The latest example is the Penn Relays debacle, where Joel Dubow read the riot act to a rival Philadelphia club: Help at meets or forget about your relay entry. When I heard this, I naturally sided with the runners. I mocked Joel, likening him to Jimmy Carter circa 1980. But Joel and others resolved the matter. He also gallantly replied to my request for comment. In a phone chat lasting well over an hour, Joel recently shared his side, and briefed me on the history of the Penn Relays masters events. The upshot is this detailed response to my blog entry of April 21. It’s nearly 3,000 words. Among other things, he paints certain athletes as “Peter Pans” — those who play while letting others do the work.

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May 17, 2010  34 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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