From somewhere in UK came a Facebook post by Glyn Sutton, an M70 sprinter: “Have just lowered at Lee Valley (London) the M70 World Indoor Masters 60 metres record from the shared time (with Kenton Brown USA) from 8.18 secs to 8.12 secs. Absolutely delighted, chuffed, over the moon etc.” Haven’t seen official results, but the mark is listed on Glynn’s powerof10 page. At the Southeastern Regional meet over the weekend, M80 William Gramley threw the 12-pound weight 14.17 meters (46-6) to beat Bob Horsley’s listed American indoor record of 13.91 (45-7) back in 2002. Charles Allie had a great meet at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem. At 68, he ran the 60 in 8.11, the 200 in 26.27 and the 400 in 60.77. Watch out, Glyn. He has your number in two years. (Here are results.)
Alisa Harvey turned 50 in September, and it was only a matter of time that she added to her 800-meter legend. Saturday at the Potomac Valley Association Masters and Open Indoor Championships, she ran the 8 in an amazing 2:18.14 (results aren’t yet posted, but I learned the official time). That crushed the listed W50 WR of 2:21.09 by Britain’s Clare Elms in 2014 and the American record of 2:25.95 by Lorraine Jasper at 2014 Budapest worlds. So now Alisa owns every AR in the indoor 800 from W35 to W50. Her indoor time is even superior to the outdoor AR of 2:21.98 by DeeDee Grafius in 1999. (The listed W50 outdoor WR is 2:16.05 by Aussie Jeanette Flynn.) On the Age-Graded Tables, Alisa’s mark is worth an open time of 2:03.19. So in a year where the W55s will be showcased at IAAF worlds, watch out for the newbie W50 from Virginia.
Lapping runners, Southwest Sprinters TC claimed an M50 world indoor record in the 4-by-400 relay Saturday at the Millrose Games. They clocked 3:39.88 running by themselves (and around the Lane 1 M60 guys) to beat the listed WR of 3:40.21 by Frank Schiro, Carroll Blake, Roger Pierce and Ed Gonera way back in 2003. USATF.TV showed the race (and two others masters relays). The winners tried to pose with the digital trackside signboard, but it didn’t seem to be cooperating. (It showed a current race list but not their time.) USATF.TV posted the race (including Dave Ortman doing his oopsie start). Tony Echeandia started for Southwest, handing off to Marcus Shute and then Clinton Aurelien. Anchoring was David Jones, who maintained poise and focus as he threaded his way through slower runners. Nice run, guys!
USATF.TV did a great job livestreaming the masters relays at Millrose.
Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis, who didn’t run in London, is targeting an Olympic return at Rio 2016, says insidethegames. He turns 40 in April and should shatter the M40 WRs for the 100 and 200, both by Holland’s Troy Douglas, of 10.29 and 20.64. “Following the row over his London 2012 de-selection, which officials said was due to his leaving the Olympic Village to make an unauthorised overnight stay with his wife, Collins was left in the international wilderness. Although he returned to the national team for last year’s IAAF World Championships in Beijing, after political changes in his home country had enabled a reconciliation to occur, he still needs to convince his National Olympic Committee to consider him for selection in Rio de Janeiro, which would be his fifth Olympics. He believes his performance at next month’s IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland in Oregon could be decisive. ‘If I do well in Portland I think it will help my case,’ he told insidethegames, adding that no date had yet been set for him to discuss the matter with his National Olympic Committee.” Collins overcame a bad stumble out of the blocks to overhaul Mike Rodgers of the United States in 6.56 seconds Wednesday in Stockholm. That’s smoking. The M40 WR is Troy’s 6.78. “In 2012 I learned a valuable lesson,” he said, “the moral of which was that when life comes at you, you either take it and die or you fight back. I learned to fight back.”
The note from USATF came as a relief for Cheryl Bellaire, Lesley Chaplin, Julie Hayden and Nolan Shaheed — the American entries in the 800-meter exhibition races at IAAF Portland worlds in mid-March. Sandy Snow of Indy and Atlanta wrote our national masters chair Gary Snyder on Thursday: “I am happy to report that USATF will cover air travel and uniforms for the 4 masters athletes competing in the World Indoor Championships. For the two ladies that have purchased their tickets already, I have attached a reimbursement form. Ladies, please complete the reimbursement form attached with a copy of your travel itinerary receipt and send it to Aretha Thurmond … and she will process the payment after the World Championships are over and you have competed. For the other two individuals, I will send an email over in the next few days about how to book their travel. If they wish to book it themselves and then get reimbursed, they just need to let me know. We will cover up to what we can buy a ticket for at this time.” Given the fact, USATF paid for Anselm LeBourne and Renee Shepherd to compete at IAAF Beijing, this was no surprise. But it took more than two weeks to make it happen. So gracias, USATF, for doing the right thing — again.
If you’re rich (like the masters triathletes featured in this crazy-ass New York Times story), you can stop reading now. But if you count your track meet pennies, here’s your daily serving of dismay. “It’s game on!” say organizers of next year’s World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand. “Start the journey of a lifetime by taking your place in the world’s largest multi-sport event to be held across 10 days in one of the world’s most awe-inspiring and friendly countries.” It’s April 21-30, 2017. Prices have been posted in NZD (New Zealand dollars), and I’ve converted them to USD. The cheapest entry fee is $194 U.S. The gold package will set you back $542. But wait! There’s more! If you register before March 31, 2016, you get inducted into the Hall of Fame! Say what? Yes, you get some whizbang trinkets like a pin and picture for use on Facebook. See details here. This is like one of those medals you get for finishing a 5K. Anyway, now you have a chance to travel Down Under two straight years for world competition. Best of luck, and start saving now.
Masters records chair Jeff Brower has approved (for USATF annual meeting review) a W45 American record in the 1500 by Kara Haas and is reviewing a W70 indoor AR in the 800 by Paul Perry. I heard of Paul’s great 2:32.37 mark from Barry Lee, but Kara’s indoor 1500 of 4:49.71 made my radar via Jeff’s Google doc. Paul beat the listed AR of 2:33.36 by the great Sid Howard in 2009. (The WR is 2:20.45 by Canada’s Earl Fee.) The listed W45 indoor AR is 4:50.03 by Lesley Chaplin in 2006. Barry wrote about Paul’s run Feb. 4 at the Armory in New York City and added: “On March 4, also at the Armory, he is going to go for Scotty Carter’s American record in the mile, 5:32.4, set 29 years ago, which to my understanding is also the world indoor record, and superior to the American outdoor record of 5:37.8, set by Charles Rose in 2003. In the process, Paul will also be going after the 1500 American indoor record of 5:27.4, set by Austin Newman in 1986, which is decidedly inferior to the mile record.” Here’s Paul taking bronze in the Lyon 1500 behind an Aussie and Briton:
Mary during her second super weight throw Sunday (6.26). She went 6.35 (20-10) on her next try. Photo by Patrick Toland
For the second time in three years, Quenton Torbert has erased a shot record by the late great Joe Keshmiri. In 2014, Quenton claimed the M60 outdoor shot American record. On Feb. 7 at the Mid-America Regional Masters Indoor Track Meet at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, he added the M60 indoor mark with a 16.25-meter (53-3 3/4) toss, destroying Joe’s listed record of 15.77 (51-9) set in 1998. Joanne Marriott of Arvada, Colorado, broke the W75 record in the weight throw with a toss of 11.86 (38-11) meters, scorching the listed AR of 10.88 (35-8 1/2) by Mary Roman. Joanne also set an AR in the super weight, heaving the implement 7.30 (23-11 1/2). The listed record is 7.25 by Audrey Lary. On Sunday, at an ultraweight pent in Providence, Rhode Island, W80 Mary Roman extended the super weight (16 pounds).
Here’s what they throw at an ultraweight pentathlon — an American event.
Molly, a senior at Missouri Baptist, had great morning weather for her 3K walk.
Andy Hecker’s annual indoor-meet-held-outdoors again served to help open athletes as well as masters. In Santa Ana, California, on Valentine’s Day, he offered a 3000-meter race walk. Masters partook, but so did 22-year-old Missouri Baptist star Molly Josephs, getting coaching help from all-world walker Tim Seaman in San Diego. Check out this video interview. The Garden City, New York, native got a qualifying time for the USATF Indoor Nationals — the trials for IAAF Worlds in Portland. Molly walked 3K in 13:57, she told me. The NAIA record is a only a few seconds faster. A 52-foot triple jumper also needed a mark for indoor nationals, but I didn’t catch his result. Andy did a masters mitzvah (good deed) by giving the kids a chance. Molly will walk 20K as part of the 50K Olympic Trials a week from now in Santee (near San Diego), which I’ll be covering as well. Stay tuned for photos from Andy’s meet.
Molly had encouragement from a fellow walker at Mater Dei High School.
Trials winner Galen Rupp listens as Meb parries questions from the press.
Y’all should know by now that Meb Keflezighi held off all but Galen Rupp at the Olympic marathon trials in Los Angeles, which I covered for the USOC and also Times of San Diego (with a few photos). He ran 2:12:20. Good for him. He’ll be 41 at Rio in August — the oldest-ever American marathoner at the Summer Games. But a big Southland shoutout to Colleen de Reuck, who at 51 finished the race under hot conditions (mid-70s being brutal for road runners). She clocked 2:49:57. And 43-year-old Kevin Castille, the oldest in the men’s race, dropped out just after the half-marathon. He was on a killer 2:18 pace. (See his New Yorker profile.) Across the country Saturday, Sean Wade ran an indoor 3000 at Boston University in 8:43.63. (See results.) That slaughters the listed M50 WR of 8:49.37 by Britain’s Nigel Gates in 2004. Sean’s mark, set against collegians like the recent mile, is worth a 7:38 on the Age-Graded Tables. Amazing. Across the pond at Dutch masters indoor nationals, Rietje Dijkman raised the W75 high jump WR to 1.24 meters (4-0 3/4) and W65 Weia Reinboud boosted her own WR to 1.39 (4-6 3/4). But looking at my headline, are you thinking what I’m thinking? Keflezighi for president! (And if anyone says you’re not a natural-born citizen, just point to Ted Cruz.)
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...]
The note from USATF came as a relief for Cheryl Bellaire, Lesley Chaplin, Julie Hayden and Nolan Shaheed — the American entries in the 800-meter exhibition races at IAAF Portland worlds in mid-March. Sandy Snow of Indy and Atlanta wrote our national masters chair Gary Snyder on Thursday: “I am happy to report that USATF will cover air travel and uniforms for the 4 masters athletes competing in the World Indoor Championships. For the two ladies that have purchased their tickets already, I have attached a reimbursement form. Ladies, please complete the reimbursement form attached with a copy of your travel itinerary receipt and send it to Aretha Thurmond … and she will process the payment after the World Championships are over and you have competed. For the other two individuals, I will send an email over in the next few days about how to book their travel. If they wish to book it themselves and then get reimbursed, they just need to let me know. We will cover up to what we can buy a ticket for at this time.” Given the fact, USATF paid for Anselm LeBourne and Renee Shepherd to compete at IAAF Beijing, this was no surprise. But it took more than two weeks to make it happen. So gracias, USATF, for doing the right thing — again.
If you’re rich (like the masters triathletes featured in this crazy-ass New York Times story), you can stop reading now. But if you count your track meet pennies, here’s your daily serving of dismay. “It’s game on!” say organizers of next year’s World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand. “Start the journey of a lifetime by taking your place in the world’s largest multi-sport event to be held across 10 days in one of the world’s most awe-inspiring and friendly countries.” It’s April 21-30, 2017. Prices have been posted in NZD (New Zealand dollars), and I’ve converted them to USD. The cheapest entry fee is $194 U.S. The gold package will set you back $542. But wait! There’s more! If you register before March 31, 2016, you get inducted into the Hall of Fame! Say what? Yes, you get some whizbang trinkets like a pin and picture for use on Facebook. See details here. This is like one of those medals you get for finishing a 5K. Anyway, now you have a chance to travel Down Under two straight years for world competition. Best of luck, and start saving now.
