It’s been documented that the National Senior Games has bigger fields than USATF masters nationals — but not the most talented. Well, that depends. Besides the other records noted, W75 Kathy Bergen added yet another record to her resume Wednesday in St. Paul, Minnesota. She beat a National Senior Games field of 17 in the discus with an American record 22.38 meters (73-5), beating the listed AR of 22.01 (72-2) by Madelaine Cazel in 2013. The WR is waayyyyy out there — 30.80 (101-0) by Germany’s Anne Chatrin in 2012. Any other records I’m missing in Minnesota? See results portal here. USATF officials are fully engaged, so I expect her mark to be ratified. Also worth checking out: “cinemagraphs” from NSG. Animated still photos.
Fred Winter is all about the summer games. On June 1, he turned 100. And this week he ran the 100 in 42.38.Results show NWI (for no wind indicated). But the M95 guy he races had a wind reading of 0.0, so go figure. (Thank goodness it didn’t beat the listed M100 American record of 39.97 by Waldo McBurney at 2003 Puerto Rico worlds.) In any case, his mark wouldn’t be allowed. Only two in his race, not the three required (he’s shown in video below). Not sure how many women raced W95 Mary Kay, but at age 97 her 35.13 might be an American record, since none is listed at the moment. Here’s a great video, featuring Fred in the 100 and M75 Don Isett in the vault, setting an M75 world record of 3.01 meters or 9-10 1/2) (by beating Bud Held’s 3.00 from 2006.
Organizers of Lyon worlds have to pack 8,042 athletes into four stadia in hundreds of events over two weeks in August. A schedule-maker’s nightmare. One hopes they used a Cray computer. In any case, the detailed schedule is now posted. I’ve written to WMA, seeking an interview with the schedulers to learn what challenges were met. I doubt everyone will be happy. (I’m talking to you, throwers who run middle distances.) Take a look at your events and venue assignments. How will you manage?
Here’s the top page of Lyon sked, posted this week and hoping it fits y’all.
In July 2000, I took my family to the Sacramento Olympic Trials. Under a blazing sun, we saw blazing speed. In the stands I met Jimson Lee, a Canadian masters sprinter. Jimson, of course, went on to fame and fortune as founder of SpeedEndurance.com, the best sprint-centric site in existence. In March, we touched base again. He asked me to take part in a roundtable discussion (via email) on masters track. He was preparing an article for the IAAF technical journal called New Studies in Athletics. The English-language quarterly is produced in Monaco but printed in Germany. I was tickled to get the latest copy this week (Issue 1, vol. 30, mailed at a cost of 8 Euros!). And I was delighted to see the Q&A as part of a big package on masters athletics. I wrote to Vicky Brennan, the magazine’s editorial assistant, and she graciously gave me permission to post the seven-page Q&A called “The Future of Masters Athletics.” Here’s the PDF. (A website text version is below.)
Could it be the weather? Ambience? Status? For whatever reason, entry lists at the National Senior Games track meet now under way in St. Paul, Minnesota, are a lot fatter than those for Jacksonville masters nationals in a couple weeks. In Florida, a dozen are entered in the M70 100. At the University of St. Thomas, 28 men ran in today’s heats of the M70 100, led by Roger Pierce with a 13.79 mark. The meet cialis online began Tuesday with hammer throws. Results don’t note records, so let me know if you spot any great marks. (See results here.) According to local weather forecasts, it’s been in the 70s today in Minneapolis, with highs in the 80s the rest of the week. Not bad. Don’t ask about Jax. (In case you’re wondering, I am skipping outdoor nationals this year. Hope to see you next year in Michigan — home of my dad and many other relatives.) Anyhoo, best of luck to everyone everywhere!
The Greyhounds Track Club under coach Harold Morioka on Tuesday broke the Canadian W60 4-by-400 record with a time of 5:27.92 in the Ocean Athletics twilight meetin Surrey, British Columbia. For the second time this season, the team pulled in a ringer — 78-year-old Christa Bortignon. (The next thing you know, the W60s will recruit a 90-year-old.) The listed record was made at 2003 Puerto Rico worlds — 5:54.64. The new record-holders include Marie Johnson (61), Valerie Scott (60) and Elaine Whidden (60). Elaine and Christa were on the 4-by-100 record team as well.
New W60 relay record-holders for the 1,600-meter relay include Christa (the short one). Photo by Attilio Bortignon
Irie “Izzy” Hill did it again. Competing at a German meet on July 3, she raised her own W45 world record in the vault to 3.76 meters (12-4). It’s her third WR this season, after earlier efforts of 3.65 and 3.70. Irie tells me: “I feel like a gambler on a winning spree. … I competed in Regensburg, Germany, at the lovely new SWC stadium. Starting under lucky number 13, I enjoyed the hot summer weather and stuck to my vault rhythm, clearing the opening height of 3.56 (11-8) on the first and the new record height of 3.76 on the third attempt.” She says she had close calls at 3.86 (12-8) and she can’t wait until her next meet. Us neither, Irie.
While awaiting results link, here is Irie with her record height at Regensburg.
Add your name to petition. It might very well help.
Momentum is building. More people are joining my call for USATF to pay for Anselm and Renee’s way to Beijing for their masters races at IAAF worlds. (Fifty have signed my petition.) One notable supporter is Donald Schaefer, an Oregon-based USATF national umpire. On the USATF officials Facebookpage, he wrote: “After speaking to many of our masters athletes, and several officials I found that I am not the only one who feels this is an injustice. My answer to this was to phone the USATF office today and voice my complaint in as nice a manner as I could muster to say this was not right. Neither of these athletes asked me for any help — instead they are attempting to raise money on their own. I find this unfortunate. USATF can certainly find the $$ to send these two elite Masters representatives without them having to go to fundraising sites. I think we could all put a tad bit of pressure to help this along in the right way USATF 317-261-0500. They are in an all-day meeting today, but you can leave a message. Respectfully, and trying to do the right thing.” Thanks for doing this, Doug! I’ve also learned how other nations are handling costs of their Beijing-bound masters invitees.
In the 800 final of the British open nationals over the weekend, the field was made up of kids aged 19, 29, 32, 23, 21, 23, 21 and 43. Say what? Yup, masters mile recordholder Anthony Whiteman, at 43, was racing kids young enough to be his sons. He made it to the final with an amazing 1:49.42 in the heats. In the final, Anthony led at 400 in 57.63. His 19-year-old Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers teammate, Kyle Langford, won the July 4 race in 1:49.70. Anthony was sixth in 1:51.67. But he took the loss well, tweeting: “All reports that I set up fellow @SBHarriers @KyleLangford_96 for victory in exchange for a free cod and chips will be strenuously denied!” Good on you, Tony! That same day in Paris, M50 David Heath — training for the IAAF Beijing masters 800 — ran two laps in 1:58.90. (The listed WR is Nolan Shaheed’s 1:58.65 from 2000. I guess high-class competition makes one go faster. How do I get into the Olympics?
Tony might be the oldest track athlete competing at British open nationals.
After posting the news about Sergey Bubka pitching his masters ideas, I wrote to Stan Perkins, president of World Masters Athletics. Stan responded speedily (perhaps because I had gone out on a limb to predict Sergey was promising more money for WMA or a takeover of its recordkeeping role. Both may be a stretch.) Anyhoo, Stan says WMA is pleased to see masters athletics on the IAAF radar. Stan has contacted IAAF prezy hopeful Sebastian Coe for his stands on masters (as have I, via Facebook). I’ll let you know what Lord Coe says. But here’s my quickie Q&A with Stan on the Bubka revelations.
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...]
