2009 Empire State Games may be back from the dead
Two months ago, I noted a press release saying that the Empire State Games (and its masters track meet) would not be held in 2009, on account of the dreadful economy. Now comes word from the Times Herald-Record of New York’s Hudson Valley that the Games may be held after all, with a full complement of masters events. Ken McMillan writes: “Previous hosts Albany and Rochester are two
sites being considered to host the annual Olympic-style competition. A
decision is expected on Monday or Tuesday. . . . Western Region director
Lou Reuter said he believes the 2009 plan calls for a full Games, with
open, scholastic and Masters divisions. ‘There
tends to be some anticipation in Albany, at least among Empire State
Games people, that the Games will come off,’ Reuter said.” Keep your fingers crossed, New Yawkers!
No matter what they do, cheer Henry & Joanie at Landover
We get a buzz when Olympians and former world record holders enter masters meets. One reason is simple appreciation for their history. Another is selfish hope that they’ll attract wider public attention to our niche. Then there’s Henry Rono. Search this blog, and you’ll find more than two dozen entries detailing his comeback from alcoholism and near-obesity. Now he’s taken the major step of entering his first masters nationals, where he’s certain to lose. This shows he’s broken through the Ex-Elite Ego thing. Trust me. Countless former elites shun masters track for fear of of falling short of their godlike standards Henry’s story is recounted in this Steve Nearman column in the Washington Times. Also deserving admiration is Joan Benoit Samuelson, entered in the Landover 3000. “I haven’t done any track work since the meet in 2003,” she told Steve. “I would like to run a fast mile one day, so I thought I’d start with the 3,000. Got to keep the carrot in front of you.”
Nolan Shaheed tunes up for Landover nationals with AR
Nolan Shaheed has miles of smiles.
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Hope for record ratification of Hinton’s 2008 indoor mile
Records, and John Hinton, deserve more respect.
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John Hinton, then 45, ran a 4:20.18 mile on Jan. 19, 2008. Nobody disputes this. But did he set a world indoor record? Well, yeah. The listed M45 age-group world indoor record was (and still is) 4:21.90 by Albin Swenson in 1993 (setting aside Tony Young’s 4:13 this year, which came on an “oversized” track). But USATF Masters T&F records chair Sandy Pashkin rejected the Hinton mark, citing the lack of a USATF sanction for the meet — the prestigious Hartshorne Memorial Masters Miles at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Now comes word that any masters runner who breaks an age-group record at the SISU Foundation 800 Meter Challenge Race on May 2 in Arizona will see the record ratified — even without a USATF sanction. Why? Because the SISU 800 is being contested as part of an NCAA meet, which confers its sanction status on the masters 800. (Here’s the email exchange that supports this.) How interesting! But wait! There’s more! Who issued the opinion that OKs masters records without an explicit USATF meet sanction? You guessed it: Sandy Pashkin.
Ontario’s Doug Smith shows the way in masters promotion
Nobody can touch Doug Smith of Canada for ways of promoting masters track. He has 15,000 photos on his ontariomasters.ca Web site, produces a newsy email newsletter and helps organize the group’s mini-meets. Now he has a YouTube video, about 7 minutes long, explaining Ontario masters track and what athletes can derive from membership. Why doesn’t USATF Masters T&F emulate this? (But with better lighting.) Thanks for the push, Doug! Get on the stick, Chairman Gary!
Heptathlon boasted 4 world bests: M55, M70, M75 and W60
As noted earlier, four world bests were set in the indoor heptathlon over the weekend in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Although USATF holds the masters lasix hep, no official world records exist for this two-day event because WMA contests the one-day pentathlon at its indoor championships. But let’s see the Euros beat these marks: M70 Emil Pawlik (5956), M75 Bob Hewitt (6273), M55 Bill Murray (6122) and W60 Phil Raschker (7003) — averaging 1,000 points per event! Phil sent the pictures below. She also notes that the indoor hep has been contested since 1997. “It has finally been declared an official IAAF event fo stromectol 3mgr MEN,” Phil writes, “but not for women. Additionally, as far as I know, we are the only masters in the world competing in this event.” Nice work, Phil. Now back to your tax biz.
W50 Philly quartet claims American indoor record in 4×800
Chuck Shields reports an American record in the W50 indoor national 4×800 club relay Sunday. The quartet of Wendi Glassman, Mimi Newcomer, Cheryl Bellaire and Phyllis Yester ran 11:37.15 at the USATF Mid-Atlantic Open and Masters Indoor Championships at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.They smashed the listed record of 12:49.94. (The nonclub 4×800 American — and world — record is 10:49.68 by an all-star team ofВ Kathy Martin, Eileen Troy, Coreen Steinbach and Carolyn Smith-Hanna at 2006 Boston nationals).В “Greater Philadelphia Track Club entered a W50-59 in hopes of surpassing the 2001 Indoor cialis American club mark set by Liberty AC in Boston,” Chuck writes.В “The time to beat was 12:49.94. Wendi Glassman led off in 2:54, Phyllis Yester ran second leg in 3:00 followed by Mimi Newcomer in 2:53.В The anchor leg was run by Cheryl Bellaire in 2:50.” Nice run, gals! В В
Mimi Newcomer, Cheryl Bellaire and Phyllis Yester.
Be prepared for a rush at Landover: tight nationals schedule
Record turnouts are great. But the Landover masters nationals this month will be severely tested, if the detailed meet schedule is any indication. At Penn Relays, we’re used to seeing an assembly line of races — one after another by minutes or less. But at masters nationals, events usually arrive at a more leisurely pace. Not this time. “For example, the M40 400 on Saturday has 17 runners (16 in listed entries plus 1 foreign),” writes a friend. “That event is given a total of 3 minutes on the schedule. I doubt that even the Penn Relays could run three 400s in less than 9 minutes. Three minutes. Wow.” So be forewarned: Be ready for anything at Landover — meet delays as well as zero-tolerance for people checking in late. Hope they can squeeze everything in!
W60 weight throw records under assault by Myrle Mensey
Records are supposed to fall by tenths of seconds or by inches. Tell that to W60 Myrle Mensey of St. Louis. Competing at the USATF Midwest Regional Meet in Kenosha on Sunday, Myrle demolished two American records. In the 12-pound weight throw, Myrle went 16.64 meters (54-7 1/4). The old record by Carol Young was 14.04 (just over 46 feet). In the 25-pound superweight throw, Myrle heaved the sucker 9.18 (30-1 1/2), breaking Carol’s listed American record of 8.16 (26-9 1/4) by nearly 3 1/2 feet. Next up: Landover nationals and the listed WT world record of 17.57 (57-7 3/4) by Dutchwoman Annie van Anholt. Let’s hope Myrle finally gets recognized for her amazing marks. A couple years ago, she tried to get ratification of her W55 superweight record. It never happened, despite meeting all the rules. We hope she doesn’t encounter similar roadblocks this time around. Stay focused, MM. Good things happen to good people.
Details given on Payton Jordan memorial dinner May 1
Mary Jo Alexander, meet director of Stanford’s Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational, writes: “As you know, the track & field world suffered a great loss last month when legendary coach Payton Jordan passed away at the age of 91. As a longtime Stanford track & field coach (1957-79), Payton Jordan produced seven Olympians, six world record holders, six national champions, and lead the Cardinal to an NCAA runner-up finish. Most people talk about Coach Jordan in reference to track & field, but those fortunate enough to spend time with him personally know there was much more to this great man. He was an outstanding leader, a father to all of his athletes, and a wonderful human being. Coach Jordan had the exceptional ability to inspire people to expand their wings and fly to new heights both on and off the track. Please join us in celebrating Coach Jordan’s incredible life in conjunction with the Payton Jordan Cardinal Track & Field Inviational: Payton Jordan Memorial Dinner: A Celebration of the Ol’ Coach Friday, May 1, 2009, Stanford Faculty Club. 6:00 p.m. Business Attire. RSVP to Mary Jo Alexander at paytonjordaninvite@gmail.com by Monday, April 13, 2009″
