World records to Bergen, Wettenhall, Kortbeek over the weekend
Nothing like aging up to stoke your athletic fires. Just ask California’s Kathy Bergen, who turned 70 in late December. Competing at the USATF Mid-America Regional Masters Indoor Championships at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Kathy set world age-group records in the 60-meter dash and high jump on Sunday. Her 9.29 in the 60 crushed the listed WR of 9.70 by Germany’s Christine Schmalbruch in 2008. In the high jump, Kathy flopped 1.29 meters (4-2 3/4). That beat the listed WR of 1.24 (4-0 3/4), also by Schmalbruch. Meet results aren’t posted, but this info came from meet organizer Christel Donley, who claimed a prize of her own: an American record 14.90 in the 60-meter hurdles for W75. Kathy, a Masters Hall of Famer, also ran the 200 in Colorado — and broke Barbara Jordan’s listed American record of 34.58 by more than a second, clocking 33.46. Whew! Kudos to Kathy!
Kathy Bergen leads WR holder Nadine O'Connor in a 2009 race.
(Photo by Ken Stone)
Müller, Happ improve own WRs at German indoor nationals
Like clockwork, the German pair of Guido Müller and Christel Happ set new age-group PRs at German masters nationals this weekend. (See results here.) And PRs for them are world records for the rest of us. At Sindelfingen, site of 2004 worlds, Guido lowered his own M70 WR in the indoor 200 to 26.87, improving on his 26.88 a few weeks ago. Christel’s latest W80 WR in the indoor high jump is 1.08 meters (3-6 1/2), which on the Age-Graded Tables is equivalent to an open mark of 2.21 (7-3). She also beat the W65 winner in the process, as shown by this progression:
Christel made two heights on her third try. Nerves of steel.
Local masters help raise money at Leon Roach Vault-a-thon
Several masters vaulters, including M50 Charles Brown and M55 Mike Hogan, were among 40 taking part Saturday in the Leon T. Roach Vault-a-thon, a fund-raiser and memorial at UC San Diego. (Results are here.) Leon was a sophomore vaulter at UCSD who died in September after missing the pit during a rope drill. Leon’s father, Leon Roach Sr., also jumped Saturday, clearing 1.83 meters (6 feet). About $15,000 was raised at the Saturday event, which will go toward improving the vault facility at UCSD. Last summer, Mike posted a note on Becca’s site: “I coached Leon
Hayward Masters Classic returns in June after skipping a year
After a two-year absence, the Hayward Masters Classic returns this summer to the University of Oregon. A new Web site, based on the runnerspace video archive, features clips from the 2008 event, which included a half-dozen world age-group records. The 2009 Classic was canceled because of renovations at Hayward Field and an inability to move the meet. Here’s a video of Bruce McBarnette setting an M50 American record (1.91/6-3 1/4) at the 2008 Hayward Classic:
Cornell Stephenson injured, puts off comeback until 2013
Cornell Stephenson, a world-record sprint relayist and author of our only masters track novel, reports sad news: His track comeback has been delayed. Cornell writes:Â “I broke my (left) humerus bone (between elbow and shoulder, completely shattered) while at work and was hospitalized for three days due to complications. So I’ve decided to hang up my spikes at least until the age of 50.” He says 29 stitches have been removed “and rehab started today.” Besides rehab, his other preoccupation will be his son Ty, now 9:Â “My son is very talented, so maybe I will focus on making him the next USAIN BOLT!”
Cornell Stephenson and Usain Bolt's successor as WR sprinter.
Forbidden manual posted: All about ultraweight pentathlon
George Mathews and Ivars Ikstrums love the ultraweight pentathlon. For some age groups, this means throwing a concrete cylinder weighing 300 pounds. Over the past 25 years, this event (whose roots are in the Scottish Highland Games) has grown in popularity and acceptance. Now it has its own USATF masters national championships. But scoring, specs and officiating tips are hard to come by, so George and Ivars wrote a manual on the event, which tells you everything except how to recover from back strain. Officially, this monograph doesn’t exist. But my masters moles have provided a copy. (See it here.) Eventually, it’ll be posted on the USATF Officials Web site. For now, here’s a sneak taste of forbidden fruit.
These critters create quite a divot. Fortunately, the monograph explains how to measure a throw, given any divot shape or circumstance.
Sacramento masters nationals won’t be like the 2000/2004 Trials
One of the attractions of competing at Sacramento State University this July was to be running, jumping and throwing on the same surface as Olympians-to-be in 2000 and 2004. Now it seems only runners and jumpers at masters nationals will get that buzz. Throwers, you lose. According to a posting at Track & Field News, the infield at Sac State is getting an artificial redo. This means no shot, discus, javelin or hammer on that hallowed turf. A nearby practice field will be your venue. Of course, masters nationals have frequently been held at sites with artificial grass. But dang, some of us were looking forward to using the same runways and rings as those of the Trials. A week ago, I wrote meetfolk for definitive word. No reply. Sigh.
Climber Don McGrath reaches summit with masters book
Rock climber Don McGrath’s new book is coming out in March. Called “50 Athletes over 50: Teach us to Live a Strong, Healthy Life,” it features short interviews with a bunch of masters tracksters, including thrower Bob Meluskey, middle-distancers Jim Morton and Sid Howard, multi-eventer Kim Williams, hurdler Jim Broun, racewalker Bill Purves, distance man Jerry Smartt and high jumper/spearchucker Weia Reinboud of Holland. Nice little video promo:
Algeria to host WMA African regional masters championships
We still have no clue where the North, Central America and Caribbean WMA regional meet will be this year, but now we know the whereabouts of Africa’s: Biskra Town, Algeria, in late October. (See this info sheet.) WMA’s Africa rep Jean Hedley Edmond of Mauritius writes: “I am glad to let you know that Mr. Stan Perkins, the WMA President, will honour these champs with his presence and we do know that we will benefit of his precious help, support and advice. I am of opinion that the forthcoming Africa Championships will receive a big success and a massive participation.” Except for my literary hero Albert Camus (born in French Algeria), I don’t know much about the country. But it’s cool to see obscure nations dipping into masters track.
Darren Scott dazzles another deuce: M40 indoor WR of 21.71
Darren Scott
British authorities have posted news of yet another 200-meter world record for Darren Scott. Under the headline “Great Scott!” we are told: “Darren Scott, Northern Veterans AC, whizzed to a new World M40 200m record in a sizzling 21.71sec at the Birmingham Indoor Games on Saturday 6 February. Darren, the current European M35 Champion, erased the 21.94 mark set by Enrico Saraceni of Italy in Genoa, in 2005.” Of course, that BMAF report overlooks the 21.81 Darren ran a few weeks ago (and reported here). So another tenth comes off. The Age-Graded Tables consider 21.71 equivalent to an open time of 20.13. His local paper also details the deuce: Read the rest of this post »
