masterstrack.com

Older, slower, lower: Ken Stone's hobby blog for showcasing and watchdogging adult age-group track and field

Toronto 2020 unveils WMA bid site, including day-by-day schedule

In an era where learning a meet schedule is like pulling lion fangs, Toronto 2020’s bid site for WMA worlds is a revelation. Hoping to host the meet July 21-Aug. 2, 2020, organizers have posted a rough sked (events but not age groups) for the three major stadia. We even learn the names (and email addresses) of the LOC. Toronto Mayor John Tory is among 16 boosters with letters of support posted. And foreigners (including Americans) can learn about visa requirements. Nice work. Other bidders, get with it.

March 3, 2016  2 Comments

Sean Wade’s M50 goals for outdoors: WRs in four track events

How brave is Sean Wade? So brave he answers my questions. That’s my feeling after he boldly laid out his 2016 outdoor track goals in his first season as a 50-year-old. If he achieves them, he’ll have set seven world records by the end of the year — in the 800, mile, 3000 and 5000 added to his indoor 1500, mile and 3000. He tells his time goals in a quickie Q&A below. But first I asked whether Boston University noted his 1500 WR. He graciously replied: “My mile and 3000m records the announcer was pumping it up during the race and I could hear the crowd yelling for me. They did a great job announcing the record attempts and record setting. Too bad I didn’t have enough oxygen in my brain to enjoy it more.” His next major race is an outdoor 5K in California in a few weeks. “Then I would also like to run 1500/mile/3000m outdoors in March / April,” he says. “Eventually turning to 800 training in May and June, with possibility of running the [masters exhibition] 1500 at the Olympic Trials on July 2.”

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March 2, 2016  4 Comments

India’s masters nationals (Perth ‘qualifier’) may draw 4,000 entrants

After WMA worlds themselves, the biggest masters meet of the year may be in India, if The Hundu newspaper story is to be believed. “[Mysore] will play host to the 37th National Masters athletic championship to be held from March 2 to 6. About 4,000 athletes from across the country will participate in the championship. While the track events will be held at the city’s Chamundi Vihar Stadium, throwing events (hammer and discus) will be held at the University Oval athletic grounds.” Later comes the tear-my-hair-out declaration: “This championship will also be the trials to select the Indian team for the forthcoming World Masters Athletics championship to be held in Perth, Australia, from October 26 to November 6.” Of course, nobody has to qualify for Perth. The Indian affiliate apparently uses the meet to pick the subsidized athletes.

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March 1, 2016  No Comments

Frenchman Gomis hits 27 feet for M35 world indoor LJ record

Jumping with the French kiddies at their indoor nationals, M35 Kafetien Gomis became the oldest 8-meter long jumper indoors when he went 8.23 meters — exactly 27 feet. (See results here.) Thus he crushed the listed M35 WR of 7.98 (26-2 1/4) by Bogdan Tudor of Romania in 2005. The outdoor WR remains the 8.50 (27-10 3/4) by both Carl Lewis and Larry Myricks. Kafetien has a PR of 8.26 (27-1 1/4) from last summer. The listed American indoor record for M35, by contrast, is 7.07 (23-2½) by Gregory Foster at age 39 in 2001. Many thanks to Ventseslav “Ventsi” Ivanov for bringing this amazing mark to our attention. Here’s the jump of a guy almost 36:

February 29, 2016  3 Comments

Sean Wade makes it a WR trifecta, adding M50 1500 to 2 others

All-Universe Sean Wade, again riding his M50 superfitness, claimed a world record for the indoor 1500 Sunday at the Boston University Last Chance Meet. (See results here.) Running with collegians, Sean was fourth in his mile heat in 4:26.53. But someone graciously arranged to get his 1500 time, which was 4:07.01. That shatters the listed M50 WR of 4:09.98 by France’s Pierre Faucheur. in 2006 and the listed American record of 4:10.07 by Anselm LeBourne in 2011. Earlier this season, he snagged mile and 3000 indoor WRs. Age-graded, Sean’s 4:07 is worth an open time of 3:35.7. (The actual WR is 3:31.18.) On Facebook, Sean was modest, saying he could have done better and was looking forward to outdoors now. His likely goals: 1500 WR of 3:58.26 (by Britain’s David Heath) and mile WR of 4:25.04 by Nolan Shaheed. Go get ’em, Sean!

February 28, 2016  3 Comments

Kris Paaso lowers W45 American outdoor mile record to 5:02

Running at Saturday’s Johnny Mathis Invitational at San Francisco State University, Kris Paaso of Strava TC took more than 5 seconds off the W45 American outdoor record in the mile, clocking 5:02.23. The listed record is 5:07.76 by Jeanne Lasee-Johnson in 2002 — also run in The City. (The WR is 4:48.42 by Russia’s Yekatarina Podkopayeva.) Kris’ mile is equivalent to a 1500 of 4:40 — or almost 10 seconds better than Kara Haas’ recent indoor AR 4:49.71. Kris’ splits were 1:12.3, 1:16.2, 1:17.8 and 1:15.9 (rounded off), and results are posted here. Meanwhile, masters miles are being promoted in San Diego County, including one March 27 at San Diego State’s Aztec Invitational. (See details here.)

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February 27, 2016  4 Comments

Meet Kara Haas, new W45 record-holder in 15, pointing for W90s

I love people coming out of the woodwork — high schoolers, collegians and especially masters. So when I saw W45 Kara Haas coming out of “nowhere” to claim the 1500 American indoor record of the great Lesley Chaplin, I had to learn more. So I wrote Kara. “I’d love to stay healthy (!) and enjoy masters track into my 90s!” she said to my delight. “I’d like to become more connected with the masters track community in general as I’m fairly new to the track scene. I’ve met so many amazing runners already, and I hope to be able to travel and experience some of the national and perhaps international meets.” Kara is a K-8 teacher living in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.  She’s also a middle school cross-country coach, children’s book author and writer for New England Runner magazine.

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February 26, 2016  3 Comments

800 headed to ABQ for indoor nationals, 44 from New Mexico

Albuquerque nationals begin a week from Friday, and Bob Weiner’s masters media team assembled a nice summary of locals and superstars entered — including Olympic high jumper Chaunté Lowe. USATF New Mexico Masters Chair Dave Lopez wrote “New Mexico Leading Masters T&F Profiles” of athletes entered, and announcer Peter Taylor added a section called “MTF Albuquerque 2016 Stars.” USATF Masters Awards Chair Mary Trotto contributed “MTF Albuquerque Stats on Outstanding Athletes.” “Four Olympians, including 1984 Flagbearer/three-time Olympic thrower Ed Burke, still setting age records, [will be joined] by more than 30 world champions, and more than 40 New Mexico participants including many of the star athletes among the nearly 800 participants from across the nation,” a news release says. “This is only the second time the national championship meet has been held in Albuquerque and the first time since 2011, five years ago.”

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February 25, 2016  18 Comments

Multi-eventer with singular focus: Finding a roommate for N.M.

My old friend Dave Ortman (we once supped on salmon at his Seattle home) is planning to compete at New Mexico nationals next week but could use some lodging help. Dave, 62, writes that he signed up for Albuquerque and had planned to share a room at the main USATF hotel next to the track Thursday-Saturday evenings. But his roommate scratched. Would anyone be willing to share their room (even a cot would do, he says) or split the current reservation room costs with him? If so, please write Dave at deortman@msn.com. (Here’s a 2009 story about Dave.) I won’t be attending indoor nationals — since I’m already ticketed for IAAF Portland, Grand Rapids outdoor nationals and likely the Eugene Olympic Trials. But I wish everyone well in ABQ. Anyone else need help with transit or lodging? Post a comment below.

February 24, 2016  5 Comments

Southwest Sprinters eye own M50 WR at New Mexico nationals

How loaded is Southwest Sprinters TC? After breaking the 3:40 barrier in the 4-by-400 relay at Millrose over the weekend, they think they can go even faster in the M50 age group — with a different makeup. Leadoff man Tony Echeandia writes: “Yes, I believe the team will look to break the record again at this year’s indoor nationals, but with other runners; myself and Clinton [Aurelien] won’t be at indoor nationals.” According to the Status of Entries, other SWTC legs might be James Lawson and Francois Boda — both in the 55-flat range. Tony graciously responded to other queries as well.

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February 23, 2016  11 Comments

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• About Ken Stone

  

  Ken Stone

  Ken has followed track as an athlete, writer and web-master since the late 1960s, and saw most sessions of track and field at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He also attended the 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Trials, the last three as a blogger and Patch correspondent. [More...]
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