4×200 relay discussed for USATF masters indoor nationals
People love relays, so it’s no wonder that more are in the pipeline. And if you don’t run middle distance (4×800) and can’t stand gratuitous pain (4×400), how about a 4×200? This also is known as short-track speed skating, since exchanges on an indoor track at high speed are good for some great pileups. According to the latest newsletter from national chair Gary Snyder: “An exhibition 4×200 relay will be added to the schedule in Boston, probably on Saturday (of the meet in late March). Final details will be made on January 20th the date of the next LOC meeting.” Also good news on the Millrose Games front. Both the men’s and women’s 4x4s will be competitive, with four teams in each race January 29 in New York. Entries are below, and they boast many stars, including Darnell Gatling, Roger Pierce, Alston Brown, Charmaine Roberts and Cheryl Bellaire.
Jody Hawkins shaves her W40 American indoor record for 3K
Jody Hawkins
|
Competing against the youngins at the Texas A&M Invitational, W40 Jody Hawkins yesterday lowered her own American indoor record for 3,000 meters, clocking 9:51.60 to break the 9:56.24 she ran in 2007. Jody is 43, so her age-graded equivalent to an open time is 9:09.2. See results here. As it turns out, the listed W40 world record is 9:02.83 by Russia’s Lyubov Kremlyova in 2002. Unbelievable. Still, Jody’s time may be a single-age record. Jody and her husband have three kids, and she coached at the high school and college levels. Her biggest achievement, however, was overcoming a bout of bone weakness, as one site reported: “Her running career was stalled by osteoporosis brought on by the rigors of military training in the Army’s World Class Athlete Program.”
Another M75 shot record reported for Dr. Oglesby in Florida
Gary Dixon of Sarasota reports: “At the Winter Sun Meet in Clermont, Florida, Dr. James Oglesby increased his American (M75) record in the shot. I don’t have the complete results (throwscoachflorida.com will soon) but I believe he went 13.17 meters (43-2 1/2). (Roald) Bradstock and (Mike) Brown were also chucking the jav, but they had to deal with a strong crosswind, so nothing wonderful in the javelin department.” Photo below indicates USATF was keeping an eye on things at the Florida meet. Also check out yesterday’s results from a University of Washington indoor meet in Seattle. Mike Waller took up where he left off in the M50 sprints last year, clocking 7.40 in the 60 and 23.75 in the deuce. And W45 Alyssa Tower ran the 3K on that “oversized” track in 10:44.85. (The listed American record is 10:02.55.)
Here’s Dr. O putting at Clermont, Florida, in a photo provided by Gary Dixon.
Roger Pierce burns up track at Dartmouth in new age group
Roger Pierce, a Masters Hall of Famer, ran the 60-meter dash last weekend in 8.58 up in Hanover, New Hampshire. But that’s not the news. It’s the fact he turned 65 last October and is looking good after some health issues. In fact, he ranks first this young indoor season in the 200 and 400 as well. (See Dartmouth results here.) So go, man, go — all the way to a sweep of the 60-200-400 at Kamloops. The same day — January 10 — a great series of miles were contested at the site of the 2009 Landover indoor nationals, with W45 Joan Hunter of Purcellville, Virginia, clocking a nifty 5:31.8 mile. (See the Sportsfest results here) So forget football. Track season is here!
Here’s Roger exulting upon winning a long sprint at Orono nationals in 2007.
New system for comments: I’ll be decider of what’s posted
My colleague Tom Mallory at The San Diego Union-Tribune has a name for people who post rude/crude comments anonymously: trolls. And he has a word for the removal of said commenters: detrollification. And starting tonight, I’m instituting a system for regulating comments on this blog. Despite my interest in what the Supreme Court calls “free and robust” speech, I’ve had it with folks who use anonymity to attack fellow athletes. They are a tiny fraction of our community, but they annoy us all. So from now on, or until I get another system in place, all comments will be approved by me before going public.This means a delay of many hours for some comments. But that’s the way it is. BTW, using your real name and email address will greatly improve your chances for posting. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
Entries being posted for Kamloops 2010 world masters meet
In the last day or two, the official Kamloops site has begun posting entries by event. See the current list here. The biggest field so far at the fourth World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships is the M55 60-meter dash — and the American entries (including Bill Collins) haven’t even been added yet. As expected, W90 Canadian superstar Olga Kotelko is entered. How many events? Her usual nine, mostly throws, but also the 60, high jump, long jump and triple jump. Expect a rain of records under her name.
USATF masters site debuts at long last: usatfmasters.org
With no USATF fanfare and barely a mention on its own site, Dave Clingan’s labor of unpaid love has gone live: usatfmasters.org. With M45 miler Tony Young in the logo, the site was supposed to have been unveiled months ago. But it got mired in USATF’s bureaucratic swamp. Even now, I’m surprised that it wasn’t “absorbed” into usatf.org as the official USATF Officials site was. Instead, the domain name registered in December 2008 by USATF Masters Secretary Jeff Brower has been put to use. The site has huge ambitions — including hosting blogs from all major officers and committee chairs. That may be the biggest challenge of all — now that Dave has taken leave of the job, and national chair Gary Snyder has taken leave of his own blog. Who will take over this vast new stand-alone site? Haven’t a clue. (Update: It’s Jeff Brower.)
Italians have great idea: frosh and soph masters of the year
What’s the point of annual masters awards? To honor the best by age group, of course. But the Italians have another idea: Awards should encourage newbies as well. So they’ve started freshman and sophomore categories, mainly meant for M35 and W35 athletes just starting out in masters. “This year we want to make a little thing that goes much higher in the USA,” says the awards page. “Webatletica Awards, namely a series of awards that go beyond that conferred the “Master of the Year” and affecting the best athletes master category-by-category. In addition we added the best freshman year (the rookie of the year, all to the class W or M 35) and the sophomore, the athlete that is the second year, which obtained the best performance. Both awards to encourage “young people” to break through the veil of secrecy that still surrounds part of this world so active. If someone has to propose some other prize, there write it to our e-mail info@webatletica.it.” Ottimo lavoro, i miei amici italiani.
All-star field listed for masters shot exhibition in New Mexico
Jamie Koch
|
Jamie Koch, organizer of the masters shot exhibition at USATF open indoor nationals, wrote me today to list the bulk of his 8-man field in Albuquerque. “The participants include Paul Economides in the 60s; Steve Ross in the 60s; Tim Miller from Arizona in the 55s; Mike Charas in the 55s, Jerry Vaughn in the 70s and my close competitor for over a decade, Bob Ward in the 75s; and myself,” he says. “I will be moving in to the 75s this year so am leaving the younger whipper snappers behind.” Except for Tim and Mike, I see great marks for everyone. This may be the first time that athletes in their mid-70s have been invited to compete at the open indoor (or outdoor) nationals. These gentlemen have great technique and will put on a wonderful show. Best of luck to all on February 28!
Source: Masters shot field to showcase some of nation’s best
|
A well-connected masters thrower spoke Wednesday with Jamie Koch, organizer of the masters shot exhibition at USATF open nationals next month in Albuquerque. My source says the thrower will be “working with (Jamie) to construct the field.” Further, says my source: “It was never intended to be just a bunch of his local friends and will be a showcase of some of the best M50+ shot putters in the country. The preliminary list is still pretty long and draws
