Geezers rule! Closing Ceremony at WMG shows us rockin’!
M45 two-lapper Paul McGuire ran a forgettable 8 at Sydney — seventh in Heat 2, clocking 2:34.02 — but his latest video is quite memorable. Check out his Closing Ceremony montage. This proves one thing. Be nice to the guy you outkick. He might get you in the end on YouTube. Kidding. Everyone seems to be having a fun in the 3-minute clip — especially the pink-haired ladies. On the other hand, we’ll always have self-indulgent show-off journos, who wouldn’t know fun if it bit them in the butt. Check out this piece by Imre Salusinszky in The Australian, headlined “Reality sorely absent in ageless pursuits.” At least the dissing is played for laughs. Not so this piece by Rebecca Wilson in the Daily Telegraph, who wrote: “Does it come any better than seeing a 70-year-old woman in purple Lycra trying to pole vault half her own height (and miss)?” At least Rebecca was ready to compete. But she scratched. Pity.
Unidentified American athletes partied before Closing Ceremony on October 18.
Ed Whitlock, bum knees and all, thinking M80 world records
Michal “The Joggler” Kapral has written the best profile ever of Ed Whitlock, the 78-year-old distance phenom. Check it out here. Michael ends the piece in Canadian Running magazine thusly: “I ask him if he knows the marathon world record for 80-84 age group. He doesn’t. I ask him about his future ambitions. “Find out what that record is and get it,” he says. That evening, I get an email from Whitlock: ‘Managed to get in my 51 mins,’ the email reads. ‘The world record for M80 is 3:39:18 by an Australian. As with the sub-3 at 70, it should be ‘easily’ achievable, but will anyone who is theoretically capable be able to run a marathon at all when it comes time?’ We’ll find out in a couple of years.” Great writing. Greater runner.
Jud Logan’s world records documented in YouTube video
On a day so cold that officials wore jackets and gloves, Jud Logan warmed up Saturday with the 16-pound hammer — like the one he used in four Olympics. He said he went 63 and 65 meters with the big boy. That’s 206-8 and 213-3. Not too shabby at 50, since 65 meters would make him No. 35 on the 2009 USATF list. Jud writes: “The day was colder than expected — 43 (degrees) and 15 mile an hour winds that felt like 30.” He said his opening throw with the 6-kilo hammer of 71.71 “was what I wanted to do: 1) break the record on Throw 1 and 2) Be over 70 meters.” Then he began pressing, he says, and had three fouls over 72 meters (236-3). “Just could not hold the ring.”
Jud Logan watches measurement of his world record M50 hammer throw.
World Masters Games are ephemeral, but vaulting is eternal
So what did M55 vault champ Bubba Sparks do when he got home from Sydney? Kick back with some brewskis? Party like it’s 1999? Nah, he started training for 2010. And he launched a new blog to chronicle his progress. See it here. He writes: “The hardest thing to overcome but the easiest thing to do is to take a break
after a big meet. Can’t do it!! That’s too much ground to lose and then gain
back.” His new blog should be a go-to place for vaulters of all levels. Good onya, Bubba. Best of luck in your quest for more hardware and higher jumps.
World Masters Games ‘final results’ posted and parked here
The good folks at New South Wales Athletics have posted what they call “final results” of the World Masters Games in Sydney, just completed. Click here for the file. But just becuz I’m paranoid, I copied the file and stored it here as well. So finally, theoretically, you can search one Web page for anyone’s name or event — instead of having to hunt through morning and afternoon sessions of seven competition days. Lemme know if this file is missing anything trackish. (These files don’t list road races or cross country. But I don’t deal with these. Let someone else archive ’em. Sorry.)
Jud Logan destroys M50 world records in hammer, WT
Jud: WR holder
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Jud Logan told me two years ago that he was aiming to take down the M50 world records in the hammer and weight throw, plotting a two-year training program. A four-time Olympian, Jud said: “I am trying to surprise no one. Everyone that knows me is encouraging this attempt at the 6(KG) and of course the 25-pound weight. Jim Wetenhall (holder of the M50 AR in the weight throw) is my hero and the first to plant the seed.” Jud turned 50 in July, so the only surprise is: What took him so long? Maybe he was waiting to compete in a meet Jim put on. This weekend, Jud threw at the USATF-sanctioned Falcon weight meet at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. His best marks: 71.71 (235-3) in the hammer and 24.24 (79-6 1/2) in the weight throw. World records by 16 feet and 7 feet, respectively. These are mammoth throws. On the Age-Graded Tables, they correspond to open (ages 20-30) marks of 274 feet 3 inches and 88-5.
And the gold for best quote at the World Masters Games . . .
Goes to Adelaide swimmer Margo Bates, 99, who won seven golds and told the Brisbane Times: “Don’t ever mention the word old to me unless it’s got a G in front of it.” The Sydney multisport spectacular ended today, with Earl Fee crushing the listed M80 world record in the 300 hurdles. His time of 56.92 shreds the 62.61 by American Dan Bulkley at 1999 Gateshead worlds. Relays took place today, with funny way of grouping teams — by sum of legs’ ages. For example, Michael Waller anchored a winning team in the “Men 4×400 metre Relay 200-239.” It’s basically M50. Bill Collins anchored a winning 4×1 and took the M55 200 in 23.95. Still no word on archrival Steve Peters of Britain. He ran a 100 prelims and dropped from sight. Waller also took the deuce in 23.73. Phil Raschker won close to a dozen W60 events. Bruce McBarnette concluded a season of seasons with a 1.90 (6-2 3/4) in the M50 high jump.
Aussie runner Paul McGuire captured the Games spirit with his world-class video.
2009 world rankings posted, revealing potential USA record
Martin Gasselsberger of Austria has posted his 2009 masters rankings — combining world indoor and outdoor season lists — at his ever-amazing site, mastersathletics.net. While skimming the lists, I noticed at least one potential American age-group record. It’s the W35 5000-meter run. The listed American record is 15:15.2 by Francie Larrieu back in 1988. But Martin lists a 15:07.78 by Jen Rhines at Stockholm on July 31, 2009. Also, Martin shows an incredible 31:40.97 for the W40 10K by Russia’s Alla Zhilyayeva on July 23, 2009 — smashing the listed WMA world record of 32:12.07 by France’s Nicole Leveque in 1994. Martin’s list has omissions, however, including several M95 and M100 marks. And Duane Gosa’s 49.92 isn’t mentioned in the M40 400 list. (And marks made at the Sydney World Masters Games are absent.) All are fixable. Meantime, check your event and note any errors.
Bradstock gets IAAF permission to compete for Brits in 2012
Roald Bradstock, a naturalized American citizen who has competed in seven Olympic Trials and two Games, has received IAAF permission to throw again for his native country, Britain. His goal: London 2012. The news came yesterday from Pierre Weiss, IAAF general secretary. In an email, Pierre wrote: “Dear Athlete, We have studied your request and came to the following conclusions: You were born on 24.04.1962 and you hold the dual citizenship USA and GBR. Your last competition in an event under IAAF Rule 1.1a/b/f with USA was at the World Championships 1997, more than three years ago! You asked to compete for GBR. Based on these facts, IAAF grants you the eligibility from today to compete in all kind of competitions for GBR & NI. Best regards.” Roald says: “I have been waiting for weeks for a response from the IAAF as to steps I needed to take and then….Bam…I get the email. Done!”
Roald took on a 16-year-old thrower in this wacky televised competition in June.
WMG cancels ocean swim event, fearing water was too cold
Glad this didn’t happen to us! Aussie news site reports: “Hundreds of open water swimmers were left boiling mad by a decision to cancel their World Masters Games race because the water was too cold. Many slammed the ruling as ‘crazy’ and ‘unbelievable’ as they stormed off from the Sydney Harbour starting point, where one swimmer abused a Games volunteer.” Hypothermia was the fear. We learn: “A Games spokeswoman said regulations of the world swimming body FINA barred ocean events in water temperatures below 18 degrees, and the water in Chowder Bay, Mosman, was around 13 degrees (celsius or 55.4 Fahrenheit). . . But Australian ex-pat Gerry King, 56, who lives in California, questioned the accuracy of the official temperature.. . . ‘But like everyone who has swam out there, it was nowhere near 13-and-a-half. It was a lot warmer.’ ”
