Rosario Iglesias dies at 98; held five masters world records
Rosario was the class of the W90s.
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Mexican masters legend Rosario Iglesias has died, according to news reports. Rosario, a tiny woman with a giant reputation, was 98 and set many records from 200 meters to the middle distances. “After winning a series of local and national championships at 200, 400,
800 and 1,500 metres, Iglesias (in her 80s) began competing abroad. She won races in
Canada, Japan, South Africa, Barbados, Britain, Australia, Puerto Rico
and the United States,” said one report. I think I saw her at a masters outdoor nationals, or perhaps at 1999 Gateshead worlds. The Mexican National Sports Commission, which reported here death in Mexico City on Saturday, said: “With her example as a fighter, she motivated Mexicans to become active and she showed through her discipline, commitment and love that it’s possible to make dreams come true. (Iglesias proved that) barriers don’t exist when one sets out to reach a goal in life.”
M55 recordman Alastair Dunlop targets 800 world record, too
Alastair Dunlop, who broke a Nolan Shaheed M55 world record last month, says he’s not quite done yet. Up next: a run at the M55 world indoor record for 800, which stands at 2:08.15 by Britain’s Reginald Phipps a decade ago. I got Alastair’s email address through a UK friend (thanks, Pete Mulholland!), and Mr. D began his reply: “I will endeavour to answer your questions without giving too much away. We Scots have a reputation for keeping things close to our chests and I am definitely in that category. I am highly competitive and hope to retain that edge. I have never been beaten by a North American and intend to keep it that way.” Here’s Alastair at the 2006 Eurovets championships in Poznan, Poland:
Girard latest to crush W40 world record in 60-meter hurdles
The IAAF website, a reliable source of news on masters track, reports from Mondeville, France: “Patricia Girard, 40, is aiming for her 10th participation at the European Indoor Champs, 21 years after her first entry to that competition. After a 8.17 sec run in the heats, she won the 60m Hurdles final in 8.18 from Nigerian Toyin Augustus 8.22.” Phil Raschker points out that 8.17 easily beats the listed W40 world indoor record of 8.55 by Britain’s Clova Court. Of course, the elites run 33-inch hurdles instead of the age-groupers’ 30, and the spacing between hurdles is different. But still. But don’t forget Gail Devers, who in 2007 ran this same race in 7.86 at the Millrose Games as a 40-year-old. So many elites, so little time.
Tony Young, back on employment track, hopes for sub-4:10
I wrote M45 Tony Young after his spectacular 4:13 indoor mile over the weekend. When he replied, the best news wasn’t that he thinks a sub-4:10 outdoor mile is possible. It’s that he won’t sweat meet expenses. Last October, I wrote about how he had lost his bank job as a loan officer. Now he informs us: “I have been employed at Peoples Bank in Washington now for the past three months as a business loan officer. Times are tough all across the board (in every industry) with no real relief in sight. We are still looking to loan $$ — (it) just has to make sense. Going to be a tough 2009, though.” Whew! That’s a relief. Now Tony can focus on track and his superstar son Mack. So without further ado, the interview:
Hubby jumps the gun on wife’s ‘W40 world vault record’
German-born Irie Hill turned 40 on January 16, but didn’t take long to claim her first age-group record. The key word is claim. She didn’t actually beat the record. Now a British citizen, Irie jumped 3.50 meters (11-5 3/4) Saturday at Aberfeldie in Melbourne, Australia, where she trains during the brutal UK winter. However, the listed WMA world outdoor record for her age group is 3.60 (11-9 3/4) by Larissa Lowe of the Netherlands in 2004. (The indoor best also is 3.60 — by Italy’s Carla Forcellini, according to mastersathletics.net.) Irie’s “record” was announced on a polevaultpower.com message board, apparently by Warren Hill, her coach and husband. But nice jump, Irie! Do it again, but higher!
Maryland lawmakers honor ‘Rocky’ Rosen, M85 track star
Last Monday, M85 multi-event and multi-sport star Al “Rocky” Rosen was honored on the floorof the Maryland Legislature. Rocky’s motto is: “If you can dream it, you can become it.” And his friends attest to his inspirational presence, including Keith Mathis, and M55 multi-eventer. Here is Rocky at the Maryland ceremonies:
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq-WJ9L5LT0
Tony Young runs 4:13 mile indoors at 46! Record to be nixed
Tony Young, still trying to be the fastest miler in his household, clocked an ungodly 4:13.25 this morning at a University of Washington indoor meet to beat the listed WMA indoor mile world record of 4:21.90 by Albin Swenson in 1993 and his own outdoor world record of 4:16.09 he set last year in Gresham, Oregon. Of course, it won’t go into the record books. It came on an “oversized” track of 307 meters, instead of the maximum 200 meters per lap. We learn from Runnerspace.com, which posted this video interview by Kevin Ullman: “Just after 11 a.m., Tony Young and his almost 47 years of life experience dragged a chase pack back into contention with the leaders in the second heat of the men’s mile.”
Travel agency hits Left Coast to hype World Masters Games
Nicky Cox of Goway Travel Groups in Vancouver, British Columbia, is the point lady in promoting her agency’s tours to the World Masters Games in Sydney, Australia, in October 2009. How serious is she? Well, she writes that “we are hitting the West Coast in February to promote the Games and talk Australia. World Masters Travel Information Roadshows: Tues. 10 Feb – San Diego – Morgan Run Golf Club – 7pm to 9pm; Wed. 11 Feb – Irvine, CA – Doubletree Irvine Spectrum – 7.30pm to 9:30pm; Thu. 12 Feb – San Francisco – Presidio Golf Club – 7pm to 9pm; Sat. 14 Feb – Seattle – Doubletree Guest Suites – 3pm to 5pm; and Sun. 15 Feb – Portland – Embassy Suites, Tigard – 3pm to 5pm.” For more info, visit goway.com/venues/trav_exp_us.html
National Senior Games lowering standards to raise entries?
I’m on the mailing list of the National Senior Games Association — which is organizing the National Senior Olympics this summer in the S.F. Bay Area. And today’s email has this intriguing declaration: “The NSGA has announced that 4th place finishers in all 2008 Qualifying Games in all individual sports (except tennis, cycling and golf) are now eligible to register for the 2009 Summer National Senior Games. Third place finishers in 2008 Qualifying Games in tennis and cycling are also eligible. . . . Congratulations! See you in San Francisco.” So are the NSGA folks getting softhearted? Not really. I suspect some hardheaded bean counters are pushing for higher attendance. In earlier years, a flood of entrants overwhelmed Senior Olympics organizers. Now the economy is slowing interest to a trickle, I gather. Hang tough, fifth-placers. Your invite may come, too!
Dragila tops 15 feet at Millrose for W35 world indoor record
Stacy Dragila, who turns 38 in March, took second to the Beijing silver medalist tonight at the Millrose Games in New York City. Stacy’s consolation prize was setting a W35 world indoor record in the vault. She cleared 4.61 meters (15-1 1/2) on her second try, destroying the listed WMA world indoor record of 4.25 (13-11 1/4) by Romania’s Gabriella Mihalcea in 1999. Tonight’s jump was Stacy’s best indoors since 2004, when she set the American record of 4.81 (15-9 1/4). She had three misses at 4.71 (15-5 1/2). On the Age-Graded Tables, Stacy’s 4.61 corresponds to an Open (ages 20-30) equivalent of 5.21 (17-1). Another masters vaulter, 36-year-old Derek Miles, took second in the open men’s vault with his 5.70 (18-8 1/4). And W45 superstar Neni Lewis, competing at Manhattan College, took third in the women’s weight throw with a spin of 16.19 (53-0 1/2) — just short of her W45 world record of 16.28 (53-5).
