Tom Meyer of San Diego’s Scripps Ranch neighborhood isn’t a household name in masters track. Wait till Riccione. An M55 thrower, Tom set an American record in the 25-pound weight toss March 16 at Cal State Northridge with a heave of 18.04 meters (59-2-3/4). That beats the listed AR of 17.87 (58-7 1/2) by Hank Konen of Las Vegas in October 2006. Tom later won the M55 title at Boston indoor nationals, throwing 17.21 (56-5 3/4). How’d he get so good? His wife, Wendy, writes: “He credits Olympic hammer throwers Harold Connolly, Anatoli Bondarchuk and Juri Tamm with teaching him the techniques that have kept him in the sport since college.” Also credit Wendy herself. She paid his first masters entry fee. Read on.

Meyer was born August 28, 1951, in Highland Park, Michigan, and grew up in Southfield and Union Lake, Michigan. His all-time bests are 66.02 (216-7) in the hammer and 20.09 (65-11) in the 35-pound weight throw — both in 1980, when he competed in the Olympic Trials. He threw for Western Michigan University (1973-75) and the University of Chicago Track Club from 1975 to 1985.
His age-group bests include:
M50 6k Hammer 50.55m (165’-10”),
M50 25lb Weight 18.12m (59’-5 ½”)
M55 6k Hammer 51.01m (167’-4”) (8th in the World 06 M55)
I sent him some questions a month ago, and he replied promptly. (But I dilly-dallied posting this. Sorry, Tom.)

What was your height and weight back in your PR days?
6’-2” 235
What’s your current height and weight?
6-1.5 240
What was your best bench press in your PR days?
345 Dead Lift 650 Clean 345 Squat 505, Snatch 225
What’s your current BP?
3 reps at 245 DL 3×365 Squat 3×265.
Three back surgeries (L5-S1 laminotomy/discectomy) and four knee surgeries (arthroscopic — 1 left 3 right) have limited my lifting and throwing, but I am very grateful to be back in the circle. The main cause of my injuries were from other sports, Scottish Highland Games and surfing.
You would think surfing is a gentle sport. Not. Water can be pretty hard when it dumps on you, and the twisting and turning is rough on the joints, but it’s still a lot of fun surfing with the dolphins.
How did you discover masters track?
In the late70s at Glendale College at a Weight Pentathlon, threw with the Masters Throwers. I was good to see them still throwing and having fun.
Was the 18.04 a surprise?
No, broke the record 2 weeks earlier at 18.00.
Have you filed the requisite paperwork for record ratification?
Not yet. Still trying to get the paperwork from Cal State Northridge.
Do you train with anyone at UCSD?
Now, mainly by myself, sometimes Doug Tomlinson (M75 thrower) will come down from Fallbrook for some coaching and throwing. Back in 2001 to 2004 coached and threw with George Mathews when he was in San Diego. In 2003 to 2006 I coached two HS athletes in the hammer, Boldi Kocsor (’03-’04 now at UCLA) and Daniella Thu (’03-‘06 now at UC Santa Barbara).
What’s your line of work?
Computer programmer, self-employed. Own a small educational software publishing business (vocational education, automotive).
Have a family?
Yes, wife Wendy, Two kids — Chris and Leslie, One cat – Kahn and two (soon to be three) grandkids Jenna, Steven and Annika (coming out soon).
How do they support your track career?
Fully. My wife is the one that got me off the couch. We were in Portland OR (visiting relatives) back in ‘97 and she saw signs around town advertising the 1998 Nike World Masters Games. She said I should enter. I was just a year and a half out of my last back surgery, haven’t thrown in seven years and the entry fee was $110+. I said, “you pay the entry fee and I’ll do it”. My wife is very thrifty; I figured no way she is going to pay the entry fee, I can relax and stay on the couch.
She paid!
Got the OK from my doctor and trained for a year. Won the bronze in the hammer at the Games and that was the start of my masters career.
It seems runners and jumpers get most publicity in masters track. What needs to happen for throwers to get their due coverage?
We need to be nicer to the runners and jumpers. Seriously, maybe sending out more stats
and press release will help. Some throws meets never get coverage, we need to be more self promoters of the throws. The throws are exciting to watch, we need to promote this.
Where do you plan to throw this year?
All the SoCal Masters meets, Hayward Classic, Senior Games in Louisville KY.
Will you go to Orono as well as Riccione?
Yes
What are your distance goals this year?
53-55m in the Hammer, 19m+ in the Weight
Do you support George Mathews’ call for drug-testing in masters track?
Yes, it will keep things even.
What’s the best part about being a masters thrower?
The camaraderie, training and travel, seeing the country and the world, see old friends and
making new ones.
For newbies who threw years ago, what’s your advice on how to get back in the game?
Turn off the TV, get off the couch, get a physical and start throwing. Find other masters thrower. There is always somebody throwing . Go to the colleges, universities, all-comers meets, masters meets, talk to other throwers and start throwing.

Here’s Tom (center) with some thrower and official friends at Northridge, site of his American record: