London making bid to host 2015 masters worlds at Olympic Stadium
Maurice Doogan, a British masters official eyeing venues at the 2012 London Olympics, sends this fabulous news: “Yesterday was the closing date for bid submissions for the WMACS 2015. . . . After weeks of phone calls, e-mails, meetings, late-night visits etc., since my return from Nyiregyhaza, with stress levels off the Richter scale, I have finally got support letters from the Mayor of London and UKA. This has enabled me to submit bid documents, on behalf of a ‘ghost’ LOC, to Winston (Thomas) as secretary of WMA, for the WMA Outdoor Stadia Championships in 2015 in the Olympic Stadium in London. We have also received support from Ken Livingstone, a prospective candidate for the Mayoral Election in 2012, which will take the ‘new’ Mayor through to 2016 and the hope of hosting the WMA Outdoor Stadia Championships in this multicultural city that is London. I understand there are three other cities bidding for these championships.”
M40 sprinter McCrossen runs down 18-year-old assault suspect
When police pointed to an escaping assault suspect in Cincinnati the other day, bystander Tim McCrossen said: “I can catch him if you want me to. They did, and he did. Check out this video report yesterday on local TV news. Tim, 43, wasn’t even at full speed. Last month he wrote me: “In March of 2009 I had a traumatic leg injury. I was doing plyometrics . . . bunny hops over barriers and landed and severed my left quadriceps tendon. My whole thigh muscle rolled up my leg. MRI showed I had degenerative arthritis in the tendon and it tore. Needless to say a very painful injury. Had surgery and 12 months of rehab. It’s better, but will never be what it once was. Just started doing some stride-outs. Everyone in the masters world has been supportive. Dr. Tissenbaum, Robert Thomas, Tony Disalvo and others have been great. Not sure if I’ll race again with this, but you never know.” Uh, we think a teen punk knows.
Click on image to see TV news report on Tim chasing down teen suspect.
National Senior Games Assn. already hyping 2011 Houston event
If you can put up with scenes of wimpy sports like horseshoes and bowling, this video is a treat. The NSGA is promoting its National Senior Games for late June 2011 in Houston. Track is featured (rightfully), with lots of throwers and runners. Even “pole vaulting” (Kay Glynn and her magical flying tresses) gets its own sports segment. In the soccer section, watch for trackster Kathy Jager. So who’s planning to go?
GeezerJock founder needs help on story about sexy geezerstuds
Sean Callahan, who founded GeezerJock magazine (later renamed Masters Athlete) and did the definitive Kathy Jager doping story eight years ago, says: “I’m writing a story about sexuality in older adults and part of the story is theorizing that remaining active and physically fit is nothing but a help in this department. The story is for the Tribune Co. I was wondering if you knew anyone in masters athletics who might talk about this or if you’d be comfortable placing a call for interested parties willing to talk. . . . I would create aliases for those who agreed to speak with me.” Sean is a friend, and a consummate journalist. I recommend him highly. You can trust him with your story. Write him at sean_f_callahan (at) yahoo.com.
Sean Callahan interviewed sprinter and multi-eventer Kathy Jager at the 2004 masters nationals in Decatur, Illinois. (Photo by Ken Stone)
Rain (but not hurricane) possible for Puerto Rico WMA regionals
Lane assignments and heat sheets have been posted for this weekend’s WMA regional meet in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Check out this detailed list. And here is the final entrant list — 289 athletes, from Guatemala’s Jose Francisco Aguilar to Mexico’s Jose Zepeda. “Weather report to date is Hurricane Earl will not affect the meet in Mayaguez,” says a masters mole. “It’s now pounding San Juan with rain/wind and will do so tomorrow also. Mayaguez is on west side of island and as of right now, scattered rain and cloudiness only.” Talky website (in Spanish) is cheesy but OK. Only five entrants in the M55 100-meter dash! Dang! I would have made the final! Best of luck to all Americanos!
Help wanted: Masterstrack.com seeks motivated advertising rep
In the past month, according to my Google Analytics account, masterstrack.com was viewed by 14,376 people — called unique visitors in the jargon. They came to this site 42,808 times and viewed 181,232 pages, spending close to 3 1/2 minutes at a time here, on average. During the peak summer season, we had 18,000 uniques a month. So if I’m so popular, how come I ain’t rich? Well, because I’m lazy. I haven’t solicited ads. But that could change soon, with your help. We’re looking for an experienced sales rep who can write potential advertisers and sell banner-ad space on this website. You keep a third of any revenues, and I split the rest with Dave Clingan, my co-webmaster. Interested? Write me privately. A resume and cover letter would help. Thanks for your attention.
Bernard Lagat’s 7:29 for 3000 meters is M35 world-age group record
USATF reports that “Bernard Lagat set the American record in the men’s 3,000m Saturday night at the Rieti 2010 meeting in Italy. In a race that saw Tariku Bekele (ETH) win in a world-leading 7:28.70, Bernard Lagat finished as the runner-up crossing the line in an American record 7:29.00. The previous record of 7:30.84 was set by Bob Kennedy in 1998. Kennedy once held every American record between 3,000 and 5,000 meters, but with the recent surge in American distance running his name has been replaced by the likes of Lagat and Dathan Ritzenhein.” Here’s another story. The listed M35 world record for 3K is 7:38.28 by Abdellah Behar of France. (But Bernard, 35, broke that in May with a 7:32.49.) Will anyone at USATF or WMA notice his latest WR?
Bernard took second to a kid, 23, but rules the masters world in the 3K.
Palmer, Maxwell reportedly smash American hurdle records in Colo.
W50 newbie Liz Palmer and M90 star Ralph Maxwell set American records in the hurdles over the weekend at the Rocky Mountain Masters Games in Fort Collins, Colorado, according to early reports. Official results haven’t been posted, but Liz reportedly ran the 80-meter hurdles in 12.44 seconds — beating the listed AR of 12.68 by Phil Raschker at the 1997 world masters meet in Durban, South Africa. (The listed W50 world record is 12.08 by Switzerland’s Christine MГјller.) Ralph “ran a spectacular 200 (hurdles) in 51.31,” says meet organizer Christel Donley. “I am still in awe how well he cleared every hurdle.” The 200 hurdles is still a new event, so USATF and WMA don’t list records. So Ralph’s 51.3 may be a WR as well.
Ralph Maxwell sets records at nearly every outing. Here he attacks a 27-inch barrier at the Sacramento masters nationals. (Photo by Chris Stone)
W50 sprinter, thrower Debbie Selby bravely fighting breast cancer
Debbie Selby
Jim and daughter Debbie have traveled to many meets (including 2006 Charlotte nationals) from their home in Fallbrook, Calif. (Photo by Ken Stone)
Neidig, Palmer seek national records at Rocky Mountain Games
M65 sprinter Donald Neidig and W50 cohort Liz Palmer are shooting for national age-group records in the 200 and 100, respectively, at tomorrow’s Rocky Mountain Masters Games, says a story in the local paper. The meet is at Colorado State University in Fort Collins — 5,000 feet above sea level. A big boost for sprinters. Altitude-aided. The listed M65 world and American record is 25.20 by Steve Robbins. Don ran 25.37 at this meet a year ago. The article, however, says: “(Neidig) will try to better his national record in the 200 meters.” Not sure what that’s about. Liz, possibly making her W50 debut, will be shooting for the AR of 12.50 by Phil Raschker in 1997.
Don (far right) lost to Steve Robbins and Peter Crombie in the 100 at Sacramento masters nationals. (Photo by Ken Stone)
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